How to Monitor GitHub for Repository Changes and Updates
Set up GitHub watches, email and mobile notifications, and failed workflow alerts to track repository changes without the noise.
To monitor a GitHub repository, open its Watch menu and subscribe to all activity or choose the event types you want, such as releases, pull requests, issues, security alerts, or discussions. Choose whether notifications arrive in your GitHub inbox, GitHub Mobile, or email in your account notification settings. A star is for bookmarking or signaling interest; use Watch when you want updates.
For workflow failures, configure GitHub Actions notifications separately. For many repositories, periodically review your watched repositories and remove subscriptions that no longer matter.
1. Choose what you want to monitor
Start with the change that would make you take action. Watching every event can create more notifications than you can use.
| Your goal | Watch or notification choice |
|---|---|
| Know when a new version ships | Releases |
| Follow active development or review | Pull requests |
| Track bug reports and discussion | Issues; discussions if the repository offers them |
| Follow security-related activity | Security alerts, when available |
| Know when a workflow you triggered fails | Actions run notifications, configured separately |
Repository owners can enable or disable some features, so the event choices shown can vary by repository. GitHub describes watching as subscribing to repository activity. See [GitHub’s notification configuration guide](https://docs.github.com/en/account-and-profile/managing-subscriptions-and-notifications-on-github/setting-up-notifications/configuring-notifications).
2. Watch a repository and choose event types
- Open the repository on GitHub.
- Select Watch near the repository controls.
- Choose the broad notification option if you want all activity, or open the custom/event selection and select only the categories you need.
- Confirm the selection and repeat for other repositories you want to follow.
Use the narrowest selection that still answers your question. For example, choose releases for shipped versions rather than all activity if you do not need issue and pull request notifications.
3. Pick where notifications arrive
GitHub notifications can appear in the web inbox, GitHub Mobile, and email. Review your account’s notification settings and enable the delivery channels you actually check. Email is useful for updates you need outside GitHub; the web inbox is useful when you want one place to triage GitHub activity; mobile can surface updates while away from a computer.
Also review notification defaults and repository-specific subscriptions if delivery does not match what you expect. The available settings and labels may change; use GitHub’s current [notification settings documentation](https://docs.github.com/en/account-and-profile/managing-subscriptions-and-notifications-on-github/setting-up-notifications/configuring-notifications) as the reference.
4. Monitor GitHub Actions failures separately
Watching a repository and receiving workflow-run alerts are separate settings. To hear about CI failures, open your GitHub notification settings and configure Actions notifications. GitHub supports web or email delivery and an option to limit notices to failed workflows. Choose failed-only if successful runs would add noise and failures are the events that need your attention.
These notifications concern workflow runs you triggered, according to GitHub’s [Actions notification documentation](https://docs.github.com/en/actions/monitoring-and-troubleshooting-workflows/notifications-for-workflow-runs). They are not a general alert for every repository workflow or every change in repository state.
5. Keep a large watch list manageable
- Open your list of watched repositories from GitHub’s subscriptions or notification settings.
- Review whether each repository still has a clear purpose in your monitoring list.
- Unwatch repositories whose updates no longer matter, or adjust their selected event types.
- Repeat the review when your notification volume becomes hard to manage.
Unwatching does not suppress notifications for conversations you participate in or where you are mentioned. If a notification continues after you unwatch a repository, check whether it is tied to a direct conversation or mention rather than the repository subscription. See [GitHub’s subscription management guidance](https://docs.github.com/en/account-and-profile/managing-subscriptions-and-notifications-on-github/viewing-your-subscriptions).
6. Automate monitoring with the REST API
Use GitHub’s REST API when you are building a custom monitor or integrating subscription information into another system. First decide whether your automation needs to manage a subscription or enumerate repositories watched by a user; those are different operations and have different endpoint behavior.
GitHub’s current [REST API reference for watching](https://docs.github.com/en/rest/activity/watching) describes access restrictions announced for July 2026 on subscriber and subscription listing endpoints, and says the endpoint that lists repositories watched by a user is being deprecated. Because these details are time-sensitive, check the reference at implementation time and avoid making a new integration depend on the deprecated listing endpoint. Use the API only when the built-in watch and notification controls do not meet the need.
The API reference is the source for endpoint paths, authentication requirements, permissions, and request examples. Those details depend on the particular operation and can change, so do not copy an endpoint or permission from an older snippet without checking the current reference. Treat API errors such as forbidden or not found as a signal to verify endpoint status, token access, and repository visibility.
7. Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No notifications after starring | A star does not subscribe you to repository activity. | Open the repository’s Watch menu and select the activity you want. |
| Too many emails or inbox items | The subscription includes more event types than you need, or too many repositories remain watched. | Choose custom event types and review the watched repositories list. |
| No alert for a failed workflow | Actions notifications are separate from repository watch settings, or delivery is disabled. | Configure Actions notifications in account settings and choose web or email; select failed-workflow-only if appropriate. |
| Still notified after unwatching | You may be participating in or mentioned in the conversation. | Check the notification’s conversation context; unwatching does not mute direct participation or mentions. |
| A watch event is missing from the menu | The repository may not have that feature or event type available. | Use the choices GitHub exposes for that repository and check its feature configuration if you administer it. |
| A custom API integration starts returning access errors | Endpoint access rules, token permissions, or endpoint lifecycle may have changed. | Check the current REST API watching reference, including the July 2026 access and deprecation notes, and verify the exact operation and credentials. |
8. Reliability, performance, and cost
GitHub’s built-in watch, inbox, mobile, email, and Actions notification settings are the lowest-effort route for personal monitoring. They avoid maintaining a polling service, but notification delivery depends on your account preferences and the event type you selected. Keep the scope focused and review the watch list periodically.
A custom API monitor adds implementation and maintenance work: authentication, endpoint access, error handling, and checking for API changes. The research for this guide does not establish polling limits, latency guarantees, or API costs, so consult the current GitHub documentation and applicable account terms before designing a high-volume monitor. Do not treat notification settings as a guaranteed real-time alerting or incident-response system.
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FAQ
Does watching a repository notify me about every change?
It depends on the watch option and event types you selected. Choose broad activity or a narrower set in the Watch menu.
Can I follow only releases?
Yes. Use the repository’s event selection and subscribe to releases without enabling unrelated activity.
Can I get an email when a GitHub Actions workflow fails?
Configure Actions notifications separately in your account settings and select email delivery and failed-workflow-only notifications as needed.
Will unwatching stop notifications for a pull request I joined?
No. Participation and mentions can still generate notifications independently of the repository watch subscription.
Should I use the REST API just to follow a few repositories?
Usually the repository Watch menu and account notification settings are simpler. Use the API when you need a custom integration, and check its current endpoint restrictions before building around it.
