# GitLab

> Connect your GitLab repository to Mintlify for automated documentation deployments, merge request previews, and continuous synchronization.

Mintlify uses access tokens and webhooks to authenticate and sync changes between GitLab and Mintlify.

- Mintlify uses access tokens to pull information from GitLab.
- GitLab uses webhooks to notify Mintlify when you make changes, which enables preview deployments for merge requests.

## Set up the connection

When you open [Git Settings](https://app.mintlify.com/settings/project/git-settings) for the first time, a setup wizard guides you through connecting your GitLab repository.

:::::steps
:::step{title="Select GitLab as your provider"}
On the [Git Settings](https://app.mintlify.com/settings/project/git-settings) page, click **Connect to GitLab** and then click **Continue**.
:::

::::step{title="Download your content"}
:::callout{intent="tip"}
If you already have a GitLab repository with your documentation, you can skip the download and click **Continue setup** directly.
:::

If Mintlify hosts your documentation, download it as a zip file.

- Create a new repository in GitLab.
- Extract the zip contents.
- Push the contents to your repository.

Click **Continue setup** to proceed.
::::

:::step{title="Find your project ID"}
In your GitLab project, navigate to **Settings** > **General** and locate your **Project ID**.
:::

::::step{title="Generate an access token"}
Navigate to **Settings** > **Access Tokens** and click **Add new token**.

Configure the token with these settings:

- **Name**: Mintlify
- **Role**: Maintainer (required for private repos)
- **Scopes**: `api` and `read_api`

Click **Create project access token** and copy the token.

:::callout{intent="note"}
If Project Access Tokens are not available, you can use a Personal Access Token instead. Personal Access Tokens expire, so you must update them when they do.
:::
::::

::::step{title="Connect your repository"}
Back in the setup wizard, fill in the following fields:

- **GitLab instance URL**: Leave blank for `gitlab.com`, or enter your self-hosted instance URL (for example, `https://gitlab.your-domain.com`). Your instance must be publicly accessible for Mintlify to reach it. The URL must use `https://` on the default port 443 and can't include a username or password.
- **Project ID**: The project ID from your GitLab project settings.
- **GitLab deployment token**: The access token you generated.
- **Branch**: Select the branch to deploy your documentation from.

Click **Connect**.

:::frame
![The GitLab configuration panel in the Git Settings page of the Mintlify dashboard.](../img/site-assets/mintcdn.com/mintlify/s5oOjnzImG1zHVbH/images/gitlab/gitlab-config-light-de1ulf.png)
:::
::::
:::::

## Update an existing connection

To modify your GitLab connection settings after the initial setup, go to [Git Settings](https://app.mintlify.com/settings/project/git-settings) and update your project ID, access token, branch, or instance URL directly.

## Revalidate Git settings

If your project shows unexpected behavior, such as missing branch options or stale configuration, you can force Mintlify to refresh your Git source.

::::steps
:::step{title="Navigate to Git Settings"}
Go to [Git Settings](https://app.mintlify.com/settings/project/git-settings) in your dashboard.
:::

:::step{title="Revalidate your settings"}
Click the green **Active** badge in the corner of the GitLab settings box to revalidate your Git source.
:::
::::

## Create the webhook

Webhooks notify Mintlify when you push changes so that deployments trigger
automatically.

::::steps
:::step{title="Add new webhook"}
1. In GitLab, navigate to **Settings** > **Webhooks**.
2. Click **Add new webhook**.
:::

:::step{title="Set up URL and webhook"}
Name the webhook **Mintlify**.

In the **URL** field, enter the endpoint `https://leaves.mintlify.com/gitlab-webhook`.
:::

:::step{title="Get the webhook token"}
In your Mintlify dashboard, click **Show webhook token**. Copy the webhook token.
:::

:::step{title="Paste the webhook token"}
In GitLab, paste the webhook token from your Mintlify dashboard in the **Secret token** field.
:::

:::step{title="Select events"}
Select the following events to trigger the webhook:

- **Push events** (All branches)
- **Merge requests events**
:::

:::step{title="Verify the webhook"}
You should see the following settings after configuring the webhook:

- **Name**: Mintlify
- **URL**: `https://leaves.mintlify.com/gitlab-webhook`
- **Secret token**: The webhook token from your Mintlify dashboard
- **Events**: **Push events** (All branches) and **Merge requests events**

Add the webhook.
:::

:::step{title="Test the webhook"}
After you create the webhook, click the **Test** dropdown. Click **Push events** to send a sample payload. If the test returns `Hook executed successfully: HTTP 200`, you configured the webhook correctly.
:::
::::

## Related topics

- [Automations overview](/docs/automations/index.md)
- [Deployments](/docs/deploy/deployments.md)
- [Migrate from GitBook](/guides/get-started-migration-gitbook)

## Related pages

- [GitHub](./manage-your-site-deploy-github.md)
- [GitHub Enterprise Server](./manage-your-site-deploy-ghes.md)
- [Bitbucket Cloud](./manage-your-site-deploy-bitbucket.md)
- [Preview deployments](./manage-your-site-deploy-preview-deployments.md)
- [Rollbacks](./manage-your-site-deploy-rollbacks.md)

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