GitHub · Pull requests · Repository settings · Checked October 27, 2026

GitHub: pull requests cannot be opened in this repository

A repository can turn pull requests off entirely, or let only collaborators create them (GitHub's disabling pull requests, checked October 27, 2026). A public repository can also limit for a while who may create pull requests, and cap how many pull requests people without write access may have open at the same time (GitHub's limiting interactions in your repository).

turned off                 Settings, Features: Pull requests deselected
collaborators only         Settings, Features: Pull requests, Collaborators only
interaction limit          public repositories, 24 hours to 6 months
open pull request limit    public repositories, people without write access
REST                       has_pull_requests, pull_request_creation_policy

Why it is refused

Turned off: under Features in the repository's Settings, Pull requests is deselected. GitHub's documentation says that if pull requests are turned on again later, the pull requests added before are available.
Collaborators only: the dropdown under Pull requests is set to Collaborators only. In a repository owned by a personal account, a collaborator is anyone who has been invited to the repository; in an organization's repository, a user with the write, maintain or admin role.
An interaction limit: on a public repository, a temporary limit of 24 hours, 3 days, 1 week, 1 month or 6 months stops certain users from creating pull requests, commenting, opening issues and more. By type, it limits accounts less than 24 hours old without prior contributions, users who have not contributed to the default branch before, or users without write access. A limit set for the whole personal account or organization covers all its repositories (GitHub's temporary interaction limits). For comments, see comment or reply refused.
The open pull request limit: in a public repository, a user without write access can have only a set number of pull requests open at the same time, drafts included when the repository counts them. At the limit, an existing pull request has to be closed or merged before a new one can be opened. Users with write access are not affected, and up to 100 users on the bypass list may exceed it (GitHub's limiting concurrent open pull requests).

Reading and changing the setting

Read: GET /repos/OWNER/REPO answers has_pull_requests and pull_request_creation_policy, which is all or collaborators_only (GitHub's get a repository).
Change: PATCH /repos/OWNER/REPO with has_pull_requests true to allow pull requests or false to prevent them, and pull_request_creation_policy all or collaborators_only (GitHub's update a repository).
The limits: in Settings, under Moderation options, Interaction limits holds both the temporary interaction limits and, under Pull request limits, the maximum, whether drafts count, and the bypass list (GitHub's configuring the pull request limit).

What to do

Turned off: ask the maintainers how the project takes changes; they can select Pull requests under Features again.
Collaborators only: ask to be invited as a collaborator, or for a collaborator to open the pull request.
An interaction limit: after the duration passes, users can resume normal activity in the repository.
The open pull request limit: close one of your open pull requests, or wait until one is merged; maintainers can add regular contributors to the bypass list instead of giving them collaborator access.
Abuse from strangers: GitHub's documentation asks you to contact GitHub Support if you want to turn off pull requests because of abuse from strangers.

GitHub pull requests in IntelliJ IDEA

Pull Request Inbox for GitHub, a plugin by Lesstep for JetBrains IDEs 2024.1 or later, creates a pull request from the branch you have checked out, into a target branch it offers from the repository's branches on GitHub. When pull requests are turned off for the repository, it says so before the dialog opens, as none can be created there; when only collaborators can create them, the dialog says so. When GitHub refuses to create it, the plugin shows GitHub's answer. It shows a pull request's reviews, checks and conversations next to the diff. The review inbox, diffs and conversations are free; creating pull requests, approving, commenting, resolving and merging are Pro (US$1.50 a month, with a 30-day trial).

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