---
# This is the new landing page for Merge Protections after split
# (frontmatter title intentionally left same for nav purposes)
title: Merge Protections
description: Go beyond GitHub's native branch protections and craft custom, advanced rules using Mergify.
---

> Mergify Merge Protections extend GitHub's native Branch Protections & Rulesets with fine‑grained, dynamic rules.

Merge Protections let you:

- Enforce advanced success criteria on pull requests (title patterns, labels,
  CI signals, file changes, authorship, etc.)

- Express dependencies between pull requests (block merge until others are
  merged)

- Schedule when merges may occur (or enforce freezes)

- Provide consistent, explainable feedback via a single required check

<Image src={commentScreen} alt="Merge Protections comment" />

## Why Use Merge Protections Instead of Only GitHub Rulesets?

| Capability | GitHub Native | Mergify Merge Protections |
| ---------- | ------------- | ------------------------- |
| Conditional logic (complex AND/OR on PR metadata) | No | Extensive |
| Depends‑On relationships | No | Yes |
| Time / schedule based merge windows | No | Yes |
| Repository freeze (manual or scheduled) | No | Yes |
| Single composite check gate | Partial | Yes |

## How They Work

1. You enable Merge Protections in the dashboard.

2. A single `Mergify Merge Protections` check appears on every PR, or a
   deployment of the same name if you set
   [`reporting_method: deployments`](/merge-protections/setup#reporting-method-check-runs-vs-deployments).

3. Your protection rules determine whether that check passes.

4. You mark it as required in GitHub Branch Protection or Rulesets.

5. PRs cannot merge unless all active protection rules succeed.

## Next Steps

The feature is composed of several building blocks documented in dedicated pages:

- [Enabling & Configuration](/merge-protections/setup)
- [Auto-Merge](/merge-protections/auto-merge)
- [Built‑in Protections](/merge-protections/builtin)
- [Custom Rules](/merge-protections/custom-rules)
- [Scheduling Freezes](/merge-protections/freeze)
- [Examples & Patterns](/merge-protections/examples)