Outcome. Work a "waiting for status to be reported" pull request through a decision tree — missing check versus failed check, trigger versus filter versus name — and fix the configuration without weakening protection.
Before you start: GitHub Actions fundamentals · Branch protection
The duration is an estimate of engaged work, not a timer — nothing here waits. Steps marked "Check" and "Practice" are verified in the browser; "Read" and "Lab" steps are yours to confirm.
Read this section and "Verifying protection actually works". Note that a required check is identified by its *name*.
Read the tree and the three scenarios. Diagnose each scenario before opening its explanation.
- Predict
Predict: filtered workflow, required check
≈ 1 min✓ doneA subtle one, straight from GitHub's own troubleshooting page.
A failing check is the other branch of the tree. Do the lab; mark this step when the workflow passes.
Closes the loop on what protection does and does not cover.
Completes when the knowledge check on that page has been attempted.
Session complete
Next: Lab: Design a pull request workflow — You can now debug required checks; this lab has you design the ruleset that requires them.
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When you are done: Lab: Design a pull request workflow. You can now debug required checks; this lab has you design the ruleset that requires them.
How did this go?
Unexpected output. Compare your output with the expected block line by line; the first differing line is usually the cause. Then check the version-sensitive notes.
Missing prerequisite. Most "stuck" moments here come from one earlier concept. The prerequisites list names it; the learning path puts it in order.
Unclear explanation. Read the explanation section, then the mental model, then retry the step — the command usually makes sense once the model is in place.
Instructions did not match my environment. Check `git --version` and your shell (Git Bash vs PowerShell vs zsh). Platform notes on the page name the differences that matter; the verification step confirms you are back to a known state.
Good. The next step is to do it without the page open — or move to the recommended next activity below.
All help on this page: Git troubleshooting decision tree · Find the lesson that comes before this one · How Git works — the model behind the commands · Recover a lost commit (lab)