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Clarify that Dependabot workflows bypass Actions policy checks and disablement #38421

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May 19, 2025
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Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
---
title: About Dependabot on GitHub Actions runners
intro: '{% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %} automatically runs the jobs that generate {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot %} pull requests on {% data variables.product.prodname_actions %} if you have {% data variables.product.prodname_actions %} enabled for the repository.'
intro: '{% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %} automatically runs the jobs that generate {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot %} pull requests on {% data variables.product.prodname_actions %} when {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot %} is enabled for the repository. These jobs run even if GitHub Actions is disabled or restricted by policy.'
shortTitle: About Dependabot on Actions
product: '{% data reusables.gated-features.dependabot-on-actions %}'
versions:
Expand All @@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ topics:

## About {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot %} on {% data variables.product.prodname_actions %} runners

> [!IMPORTANT]
> If {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot %} is enabled for a repository, it will always run—**bypassing both GitHub Actions policy checks and disablement**. This ensures that security and version update workflows run even when Actions is disabled or restricted at the repo or org level.

{% data reusables.dependabot.dependabot-updates-and-actions %}

{% data reusables.dependabot.dependabot-on-actions-future-note %}
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Expand Up @@ -35,6 +35,9 @@

## About {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot %} and {% data variables.product.prodname_actions %}

> [!IMPORTANT]
> If {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot %} is enabled for a repository, it will always run—**bypassing both GitHub Actions policy checks and disablement**. This means Dependabot workflows will still execute even if GitHub Actions is disabled or restricted by enterprise or organization policies.

{% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot %} creates pull requests to keep your dependencies up to date. You can use {% data variables.product.prodname_actions %} to perform automated tasks when these pull requests are created. For example, fetch additional artifacts, add labels, run tests, or otherwise modify the pull request.

{% data reusables.dependabot.working-with-actions-considerations %} For more information, see [AUTOTITLE](/code-security/dependabot/troubleshooting-dependabot/troubleshooting-dependabot-on-github-actions).
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> [!NOTE]
> If you use status checks to test pull requests, you should enable **Require status checks to pass before merging** for the target branch for {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot %} pull requests. This branch protection rule ensures that pull requests are not merged unless **all the required status checks pass**. For more information, see [AUTOTITLE](/repositories/configuring-branches-and-merges-in-your-repository/managing-protected-branches/managing-a-branch-protection-rule).

## 📌 Dependabot and GitHub Actions Policies

Normally, whether a workflow can run in a repository depends on GitHub Actions **policy checks** and whether GitHub Actions is **enabled** at the organization or repository level. These controls can restrict workflows from running—especially when external actions are blocked or GitHub Actions is disabled entirely.

However, when {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot %} is enabled for a repository, its workflows will always run—**bypassing both Actions policy checks and disablement**.

* {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot %} workflows are not blocked by Actions disablement or enterprise policy restrictions.

Check failure on line 199 in content/code-security/dependabot/working-with-dependabot/automating-dependabot-with-github-actions.md

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GitHub Actions / test-changed-content

Error

Unable to find Page by '/en/enterprise-server@3.17/code-security/dependabot/working-with-dependabot/about-dependabot-on-github-actions-runners'. To fix it, look at content/code-security/dependabot/working-with-dependabot/automating-dependabot-with-github-actions.md on line 199 and see if the link is correct and active.
* The actions referenced within these workflows are also allowed to run, even if external actions are disallowed.
* This behavior aligns with GitHub's organizational ruleset workflows, which may override repository-level settings.

For more information, see [AUTOTITLE](/code-security/dependabot/working-with-dependabot/about-dependabot-on-github-actions-runners).

## Investigating failed workflow runs

If your workflow run fails, check the following:
Expand All @@ -194,7 +209,7 @@
* You are running the workflow only when the correct actor triggers it.
* You are checking out the correct `ref` for your `pull_request`.
* Your secrets are available in {% data variables.product.prodname_dependabot %} secrets rather than as {% data variables.product.prodname_actions %} secrets.
* You have a `GITHUB_TOKEN` with the correct permissions.

Check failure on line 212 in content/code-security/dependabot/working-with-dependabot/automating-dependabot-with-github-actions.md

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GitHub Actions / check-links

Error

Unable to find Page by '/en/enterprise-server@3.13/code-security/dependabot/working-with-dependabot/about-dependabot-on-github-actions-runners'. To fix it, look at content/code-security/dependabot/working-with-dependabot/automating-dependabot-with-github-actions.md on line 212 and see if the link is correct and active.

Check failure on line 212 in content/code-security/dependabot/working-with-dependabot/automating-dependabot-with-github-actions.md

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GitHub Actions / check-links

Error

Unable to find Page by '/en/enterprise-server@3.14/code-security/dependabot/working-with-dependabot/about-dependabot-on-github-actions-runners'. To fix it, look at content/code-security/dependabot/working-with-dependabot/automating-dependabot-with-github-actions.md on line 212 and see if the link is correct and active.

Check failure on line 212 in content/code-security/dependabot/working-with-dependabot/automating-dependabot-with-github-actions.md

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GitHub Actions / check-links

Error

Unable to find Page by '/en/enterprise-server@3.15/code-security/dependabot/working-with-dependabot/about-dependabot-on-github-actions-runners'. To fix it, look at content/code-security/dependabot/working-with-dependabot/automating-dependabot-with-github-actions.md on line 212 and see if the link is correct and active.

Check failure on line 212 in content/code-security/dependabot/working-with-dependabot/automating-dependabot-with-github-actions.md

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GitHub Actions / check-links

Error

Unable to find Page by '/en/enterprise-server@3.16/code-security/dependabot/working-with-dependabot/about-dependabot-on-github-actions-runners'. To fix it, look at content/code-security/dependabot/working-with-dependabot/automating-dependabot-with-github-actions.md on line 212 and see if the link is correct and active.

Check failure on line 212 in content/code-security/dependabot/working-with-dependabot/automating-dependabot-with-github-actions.md

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GitHub Actions / check-links

Error

Unable to find Page by '/en/enterprise-server@3.17/code-security/dependabot/working-with-dependabot/about-dependabot-on-github-actions-runners'. To fix it, look at content/code-security/dependabot/working-with-dependabot/automating-dependabot-with-github-actions.md on line 212 and see if the link is correct and active.

For information on writing and debugging {% data variables.product.prodname_actions %}, see [AUTOTITLE](/actions/learn-github-actions).

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