The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →A pull request can show a column of green checks and still refuse to merge. In most cases the merge rule is waiting on a specific required check that never reported a result for the commit GitHub is evaluating, or on a branch that is behind the base branch the rule requires it to include. Those are different problems, and the usual fix for one does nothing for the other.
A write-up titled “The Commit That Wouldn’t Merge,” dated September 9, 2026, walks through a clear example of the first problem. The details below follow that author’s account. They have not been independently reproduced against a live repository, so treat the case as an illustration of a failure mode that GitHub’s documentation also describes, rather than as verified repository history.
What the blocked pull request looked like
In the account, pull request #48 targeted develop. Other checks were green, but the merge button was gray. The merge box said: “This branch is out-of-date with the base branch and must be updated.” The repository also required a check named lint-python, and that check stayed in the expected state with no matching job run in the Actions history.
The cause was a workflow condition that only ran the lint job when the pull request’s base branch was main. Because the pull request targeted develop, the required check was never created.
#1 Best Overall
- Brilliant Color Illumination- With 11 unique backlights, choose the perfect ambiance for any mood. Adjust light speed and brightness among 5 levels for a comfortable environment, day or night. The double injection ABS keycaps ensure clear backlight and precise typing. From late-night tasks to immersive gaming, our mechanical keyboard enhances every experience
- Support Macro Editing: The K671 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard can be macro editing, you can remap the keys function, set shortcuts, or combine multiple key functions in one key to get more efficient work and gaming. The LED Backlit Effects also can be adjusted by the software（note: the color can not be changed）
- Hot-swappable Linear Red Switch- Our K671 gaming keyboard features red switch, which requires less force to press down and the keys feel smoother and easier to use. It's best for rpgs and mmo, imo games. You will get 4 spare switches and two red keycaps to exchange the key switch when it does not work.
- Full keys Anti-ghosting- All keys can work simultaneously, easily complete any combining functions without conflicting keys. 12 multimedia key shortcuts allow you to quickly access to calculator/media/volume control/email
- Professional After-Sales Service- We provide every Redragon customer with 24-Month Warranty , Please feel free to contact us when you meet any problem. We will spare no effort to provide the best service to every customer
The author rebased the feature branch and reran CI. The block remained. The out-of-date message pointed toward branch freshness, but freshness was not the real blocker: the required check still had nothing to report. After the author removed the restrictive condition so the job ran for both main and develop, the check appeared, passed, and the merge went through.
Why “all checks are green” is not the same as “mergeable”
A green summary only covers checks that actually ran. A required status check is different: it must pass before a pull request can merge into a protected branch, and GitHub treats a required check that has not yet reported as expected, meaning it is waiting for a status that may never arrive. A pull request can therefore look almost finished while one invisible check holds the merge button shut.
When you look at a blocked pull request, the question to answer is not “are the checks passing?” but “which checks does the protection rule require, and has each one reported on the commit that matters?”
Rank #2
- Tri-mode Connection Keyboard: AULA F75 Pro wireless mechanical keyboards work with Bluetooth 5.0, 2.4GHz wireless and USB wired connection, can connect up to five devices at the same time, and easily switch by shortcut keys or side button. F75 Pro computer keyboard is suitable for PC, laptops, tablets, mobile phones, PS, XBOX etc, to meet all the needs of users. In addition, the rechargeable keyboard is equipped with a 4000mAh large-capacity battery, which has long-lasting battery life
- Hot-swap Custom Keyboard: This custom mechanical keyboard with hot-swappable base supports 3-pin or 5-pin switches replacement. Even keyboard beginners can easily DIY there own keyboards without soldering issue. F75 Pro gaming keyboards equipped with pre-lubricated stabilizers and LEOBOG reaper switches, bring smooth typing feeling and pleasant creamy mechanical sound, provide fast response for exciting game
- Advanced Structure and PCB Single Key Slotting: This thocky heavy mechanical keyboard features a advanced structure, extended integrated silicone pad, and PCB single key slotting, better optimizes resilience and stability, making the hand feel softer and more elastic. Five layers of filling silencer fills the gap between the PCB, the positioning plate and the shaft,effectively counteracting the cavity noise sound of the shaft hitting the positioning plate, and providing a solid feel
- 16.8 Million RGB Backlit: F75 Pro light up led keyboard features 16.8 million RGB lighting color. With 16 pre-set lighting effects to add a great atmosphere to the game. And supports 10 cool music rhythm lighting effects with driver. Lighting brightness and speed can be adjusted by the knob or the FN + key combination. You can select the single color effect as wish. And you can turn off the backlight if you do not need it
- Professional Gaming Keyboard: No matter the outlook, the construction, or the function, F75 Pro mechanical keyboard is definitely a professional gaming keyboard. This 81-key 75% layout compact keyboard can save more desktop space while retaining the necessary arrow keys for gaming. Additionally, with the multi-function knob, you can easily control the backlight and Media. Keys macro programmable, you can customize the function of single key or key combination function through F75 driver to increase the probability of winning the game and improve the work efficiency. N key rollover, and supports WIN key lock to prevent accidental touches in intense games
Three separate conditions that block a merge
| Condition | What you typically see | Usual cause | First response |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-date branch | Merge box says the branch is out of date and must be updated | The protection rule uses strict required status checks, and the feature branch does not include the latest commit from its base branch | Merge or rebase the base branch into the feature branch, then wait for checks on the new commit |
| Required check never reports | Required check stays expected or pending with no matching run | The workflow was skipped or never triggered for this event and target branch, or the required check name or source does not match the job | Compare the required check name and source with the workflow job, then correct the trigger or condition |
| Required check fails | Check shows a failure | The job ran and did not pass | Open the job logs and fix the failing step |
| Job skipped by a job-level condition | Job appears as skipped | An if: condition on the job evaluated to false; GitHub documents that such a job reports success |
Confirm the skip is intended. It does not block by itself, but a required check tied to a different job name still will |
The first two rows are the ones that confuse people, because a rebase can make the first look fixed while the second persists.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
How to find the blocker
- Read the merge box exactly. Identify whether it names an out-of-date branch, a missing or pending check, a failed check, a required review, or another protection rule.
- Open the details of the required check. Compare its exact name and expected source with the workflow job name and with the branch protection rule or ruleset that targets the branch. GitHub lets a required check be tied to a specific GitHub App as its source, so a check with the right name from the wrong source will not satisfy the rule.
- Confirm that the workflow is triggered by the pull request event for the target branch in question. Review branch filters, path filters, commit-message skip instructions, and job-level
if:conditions. - If the only problem is branch freshness, update the feature branch from its base and wait for checks on the applicable commit. This will not help if the workflow never emits the required check.
- If the repository uses a merge queue, confirm that the required workflows also run on the
merge_groupevent (see the merge queue section below). - After any change, confirm the required check reports for every protected target branch and every event where it is required.
Which commit the required check has to report on
GitHub’s troubleshooting guidance says a required check must report against the relevant latest commit, or the applicable test merge commit for pull requests. When a check looks stuck, work out two things: which commit is expected to carry the result, and which event triggered the workflow. A check that ran on an earlier commit before a rebase will not satisfy the rule for the new head.
Workflow conditions that leave a required check pending
Branch filters and target-branch conditions
This is the failure in the reported case. A workflow limited to one target branch never runs for pull requests aimed at another, so any check that the protection rule requires for that branch stays pending. The fix is to make the workflow cover every branch where the check is required. For example:
Rank #3
- The Keychron C2 (non-backlight version) is a 104 keys full size wired retro color keycaps mechanical keyboard made for Mac and Windows. Engineered to maximize your productivity with most popular full size layout with number pad.
- With a layout optimized for Mac, the C2 has all necessary multimedia and function keys (Num Lock works with Windows only), while compatible with Windows, and comes with a dedicated Siri or Cortana key. Extra keycaps for both Mac and Windows operating systems are included.
- Designed with reliability in mind, the C2 comes with USB Type-C wired connection with a braid cable, which ensures a constant power supply, and best to fit home and light gaming. Inclined bottom frame and 2 level adjustable feet (6˚ & 9˚) makes the C2 more comfortable to type.
- The pre-installed tactile Keychron switch providing unrivaled tactile responsiveness with up to 50 million keystroke durable lifespan.
- Outfitted the C2 Non-Backlight version with retro-inspired color scheme looks as good in the office as it does in the game room.
on:n pull_request:n branches: [main, develop]Use the list that matches your own protection rules. The point is that the trigger and the required policy should describe the same set of branches.
Path filters
GitHub documents that when a workflow is skipped by path filtering, its associated required check can remain pending and block the merge. A docs-only change, for instance, may skip a path-filtered workflow entirely. GitHub’s advice is to avoid requiring workflows that can be skipped. If a path-filtered workflow must remain optional, it should not be a required check.
Commit-message skip instructions
A workflow skipped by a commit-message instruction behaves the same way for merging purposes: its required check may stay pending. Do not require a check that a commit message can switch off.
Rank #4
- 【Dreamy Rainbow Gaming Keyboard】K521 Gaming Keyboard Adopts a Different LED Backlight Design, Upgraded on the Traditional LED Backlight Effect, Making the Light More Penetrating, Giving You a More Dazzling Visual Effect, Making Your Gaming Process More Enjoyable
- 【One Touch Opens & Visual Feast】The K521 Red Dragon Keyboard has a One-Touch on/off Lighting Button for Added Convenience. It also has a Three-Position Adjustable Breathing Mode and a Four-Position Adjustable Brightness Lighting Mode
- 【Mechanical Feeling & Fast Tapping】The PC Keyboard Keys are Designed for Mechanical Feeling, Giving You a Better Feel During Use and the Ability to Trigger Keys Quickly, Allowing You to Win All Your Games
- 【19 Keys Anti-Ghosting Keyboard】Anti-Ghosting Ensures Every Button Can Be Triggered. This Allows You to Trigger Key Combinations In The Game Accurately, And Each Skill Can Be Accurately Released to Increase Your Winning Rate. Redragon K521 Will Be Your Perfect Partner
- 【12 Multimedia Combination Keys】The K521 Wired Gaming Keyboard is Equipped with 12 Multimedia Keys That Can Greatly Enhance Your Gaming/Office Efficiency and Make It More Convenient to Use
Job-level conditions
A job skipped by a job-level if: condition is a different case. GitHub’s troubleshooting page says that such a job reports success, while a skipped workflow can leave its checks pending. Knowing which kind of skip you have determines whether the skip is a problem at all.
Merge queues and the merge_group event
If the repository uses a merge queue, GitHub documents merge_group as a separate trigger from pull_request. A required GitHub Actions workflow that only listens for pull request events may pass on the pull request and then fail to report when the queue builds its own candidate commit. Add the merge_group trigger to any workflow whose check is required in a queued repository, and verify it runs there.
Fixing the block without weakening protection
When a merge button is stuck, the tempting move is to remove the required check or relax the rule. That clears the symptom and removes the protection. The better fix is to align the policy with the check’s actual coverage: make the workflow run wherever the check is required, keep the check name and source consistent, and remove any requirement on a workflow that can legitimately be skipped.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Best Value
- Tactile Quiet mechanical key switches with a satisfying tactile bump you feel - for precise feedback, reactive key reset, and less noise so your typing doesn't disturb those around you
- Low-profile keys, more comfort: A keyboard layout designed for effortless precision, with a full-size form factor and low-profile mechanical switches for better ergonomics
- Smart illumination: Backlit keys light up the moment your hands approach the cordless keyboard and automatically adjust to suit changing lighting conditions
- Faster workflow, more customization: Customize Fn keys, assign backlighting effects, enable Flow cross-computer, multi-device control, and more in the improved Logi Options+ (1)
- Multi-device, multi-OS: Pair MX Mechanical Bluetooth wireless keyboard with up to 3 devices on nearly any operating system via Bluetooth Low Energy or included Logi Bolt receiver(2)
To validate a change, open a test pull request against each protected target branch and confirm that the required check appears, runs, and reports on the head commit before you rely on the rule.
The Bottom Line
A pull request is blocked when a required check or a freshness rule is not satisfied, even if every visible check is green. Read the exact merge box message, then check that every required check is triggered for the pull request’s target branch and event, reports on the head commit, and matches the name and source in the protection rule. Rebasing only fixes the freshness part.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
