# GitHub

Connect GitHub to copy markdown and text files from a repository into a brain. As of 2026-10-15, that is all ako uses GitHub for.

ako only reads from GitHub. It can't push, open pull requests or change anything there, and it can't see a repository the connected account can't see. GitHub's own screen will ask for access to your repositories, because that is how GitHub grants read access to private ones.

## Connect your own account

Any member can do this. ako then acts as you in GitHub, and sees the repositories you can see.

1. Select **Connections** in the sidebar.
2. Under **Your accounts**, find GitHub and select **Connect with GitHub**.
3. Sign in to GitHub and approve.

You're back in ako, with GitHub connected.

## Connect GitHub for your organisation

An admin or the owner can connect one GitHub account for everyone, under **Settings**, then **Connections**. It acts as that account, shown as **Acts as Ako**. Anyone importing then sees what that account can see, so use an account with access only to repositories everyone may copy from.

When you have your own connection, ako uses it. Otherwise it uses the organisation's.

## Copy a repository into a brain

1. Start [Create a brain](/brains/create-a-brain), or open an import.
2. Choose **Import from GitHub**. If GitHub isn't connected yet, select **Connect GitHub** first.
3. Under **Pick a source**, choose the **Source** repository and the **Branch**.
4. Optionally, enter a **Folder inside it**, such as `docs`.
5. Select **Read this source**.

ako copies the `.md`, `.markdown` and `.txt` files once. It's not a running sync: later changes in the repository don't reach the brain, and nothing is written back to GitHub. Disconnecting GitHub later doesn't affect the brain.

## Disconnect GitHub

1. Open GitHub's connection page from **Connections**.
2. Under **Configure**, select **Disconnect** and confirm.

ako deletes its stored copy of your GitHub sign-in straight away. GitHub may still list ako as an authorised app on your GitHub account. To remove it there too, revoke it in your GitHub settings.

See [Import existing files](/brains/import-files) for the other ways to bring files in.