Git gh006-protected-branch-update-failed GitHub refused the push because branch protection rules blocked updating the target ref.

dev@local: ~/project — git

dev@local~/project$git status

error: gh006 protected branch update failed

Diagnostics Translation

GitHub refused the push because branch protection rules blocked updating the target ref.

waiting for resolution...

MediumVersion Control System

Reviewed for reference consistency: August 11, 2026

Code is Safe

SECURE

Git has paused the operation to protect your code. No data has been lost or corrupted.

What To Know

This rejection means the push reached GitHub and was judged by branch protection: the ref update itself was blocked, and the path forward runs through the repository's protection rules or a pull request.

Where Did It Fail?

Working Tree

Your local files

add

Staging Index

Prepared changes

commit

Local Repo

Commit history

push/fetch

Remote Server

GitHub/GitLab

Git halted to protect the uncommitted files in your active working directory.

Commands That Trigger This

A CI pipeline pushing a version bump straight to a protected main branch

A force-push attempt to a branch where force pushes are disallowed

A service account pushing without being on the restricted push-allow list

Technical Background

GH006 is GitHub-specific vocabulary inside the generic push-rejection family. Git itself only relays it: the client shows 'remote: GH006: ...' because the refusal was decided on the server, after the pack transfer, by the branch protection engine.

The rules live in the repository's settings, so the way forward is procedural rather than technical — route the change through a pull request, or have an administrator adjust the protection rules or the bypass list. No local Git flag changes the outcome.

Underlying Causes

The branch requires changes to arrive through a pull request

The pushing account is not in the allowed-pushers list

Force updates are disabled for the branch

Required status checks or reviews are not satisfied for the new commits

Frequently Asked Questions

Protection rules attach to full ref names; the prefixed form (refs/heads/main) identifies exactly which ref the rules rejected.

Only if the protection rules grant an exception, such as inclusion in the bypass list; otherwise the same rejection applies to every account.

Related Git States

failed-to-push-some-refsMedium

Git rejected your push because the remote repository contains commits missing from your local branch.

remote-rejectedMedium

The remote server actively refused to accept your pushed commits due to server-side rules.

refusing-to-update-checked-out-branchMedium

A push into a non-bare repository's active branch was denied by that repository's settings.