> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://ayakaleaf-pro.mintlify.site/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # GitLab Synchronisation > Link your GitLab account, import or export a project, sync changes both ways and unlink. Connect a project to a GitLab repository. Changes go both ways, and only when you click **Sync**: nothing syncs on its own. > [!NOTE] > > An administrator has to turn on [GitLab Synchronisation](https://ayakaleaf-pro.mintlify.site/on-premises/configuration/overleaf-toolkit/integrations/gitlab-synchronisation.md) first. ## Link your GitLab account You do this once. **1. Open your account settings** Click **Account**, then **Account settings**. Under **Project synchronisation**, find **GitLab** and click **Link**. ![The GitLab section of the account settings with a Link button](https://mintcdn.com/ayakaleaf-pro/IsGnx0wnzqtV4hI8/images/on-premises/gitlab-sync-link.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=IsGnx0wnzqtV4hI8\&q=85\&s=cd34b300ea3566a7083df441f465a163) GitLab in the account settings **2. Authorize on GitLab** GitLab opens. Sign in if you are asked to, then authorize the application. **3. Check the link** You are back in the account settings. A green message says your GitLab account is linked, and the button now says **Unlink**. ![The GitLab section of the account settings with an Unlink button](https://mintcdn.com/ayakaleaf-pro/IsGnx0wnzqtV4hI8/images/on-premises/gitlab-sync-linked.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=IsGnx0wnzqtV4hI8\&q=85\&s=f187b1d6ba770789495f03ecac75c7f7) Your GitLab account is linked If your account is not linked yet, **Import from GitLab** and the **GitLab** card in the editor ask you to link it first. Click **Link to your GitLab account**. You also end up in the account settings, in a new tab if you started in the editor. Then go back and start again. ![The Import from GitLab dialog with a Link to your GitLab account button](https://mintcdn.com/ayakaleaf-pro/IsGnx0wnzqtV4hI8/images/on-premises/gitlab-sync-link-prompt.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=IsGnx0wnzqtV4hI8\&q=85\&s=50ded943f918001121d5a00ef345d008) The prompt when your account is not linked ## Import a repository This creates a new project from a GitLab repository, already linked to it. **1. Open the import dialog** On the projects page, click **New project**, then **Import from GitLab**. ![The New project menu with Import from GitLab](https://mintcdn.com/ayakaleaf-pro/IsGnx0wnzqtV4hI8/images/on-premises/gitlab-sync-new-project-menu.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=IsGnx0wnzqtV4hI8\&q=85\&s=4065d1b3b3e2fc5542272e38e2d01f61) The New project menu **2. Choose the repository** Click **Import to Overleaf** next to the repository. The list includes your repositories and those of your groups. ![The Import from GitLab dialog listing four repositories](https://mintcdn.com/ayakaleaf-pro/IsGnx0wnzqtV4hI8/images/on-premises/gitlab-sync-import.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=IsGnx0wnzqtV4hI8\&q=85\&s=cb0ba36bfa954e101ec1ccd8dac0bca3) Your GitLab repositories **3. Check the project** The new project opens with the files of the repository. ![The editor showing the imported project with its files and compiled PDF](https://mintcdn.com/ayakaleaf-pro/IsGnx0wnzqtV4hI8/images/on-premises/gitlab-sync-imported.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=IsGnx0wnzqtV4hI8\&q=85\&s=a467df37fd623dffe523b5a92ebc47c1) The imported project ## Export a project to a new repository This creates a repository from a project and links them. A project can only be linked this way or by importing: you cannot link it to a repository that already exists. **1. Open GitLab in the editor** Open the project. In the left bar, click **Integrations**, then **GitLab**. ![The Integrations panel with the GitLab card](https://mintcdn.com/ayakaleaf-pro/IsGnx0wnzqtV4hI8/images/on-premises/gitlab-sync-integrations.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=IsGnx0wnzqtV4hI8\&q=85\&s=df24d11afeb5bbec55a8a745fd58f47a) The Integrations panel **2. Fill in the repository** Choose the **Owner**, which can be you or one of your groups. When you pick a group, this field is called **Organization**. **Repository Name** starts as the project's name. The description is optional, and **Private** is selected by default. Click **Create a GitLab repository**. ![The Export Project to GitLab form filled in](https://mintcdn.com/ayakaleaf-pro/IsGnx0wnzqtV4hI8/images/on-premises/gitlab-sync-export.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=IsGnx0wnzqtV4hI8\&q=85\&s=ba5191a105be584e994ad663565ee511) Export Project to GitLab If the name is already taken, the dialog says **Please check that the repository name is valid, and that you have permission to create the repository.** Change the name and click the button again. **3. Check the link** The dialog now says **This project is linked to** and names the repository. ![The Sync with GitLab dialog after the export](https://mintcdn.com/ayakaleaf-pro/IsGnx0wnzqtV4hI8/images/on-premises/gitlab-sync-exported.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=IsGnx0wnzqtV4hI8\&q=85\&s=6e18dc3c00fb9a29b3bb2f1a76cec08e) The project is linked ## Sync **1. Open the sync dialog** Open a linked project. In the left bar, click **Integrations**, then **GitLab**. **Recent commits in GitLab** lists what will come into the project. ![The Sync with GitLab dialog listing one new commit](https://mintcdn.com/ayakaleaf-pro/IsGnx0wnzqtV4hI8/images/on-premises/gitlab-sync-new-commits.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=IsGnx0wnzqtV4hI8\&q=85\&s=e67529c0cad7a0cb7eafaa5f8d134b0a) A new commit waiting in GitLab **2. Describe your changes** If you changed something in the project, a commit message box appears. It is optional: when you leave it empty, the commit is called `Updates from Overleaf`. ![The Sync with GitLab dialog with a commit message filled in](https://mintcdn.com/ayakaleaf-pro/IsGnx0wnzqtV4hI8/images/on-premises/gitlab-sync-commit-message.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=IsGnx0wnzqtV4hI8\&q=85\&s=45677a6ea3a96235bcde72e1cdaa436a) The commit message for your changes **3. Click Sync** Click **Sync**. New commits from GitLab come into the project, and your changes go to the default branch of the repository. If both sides changed different things, they are merged for you. **4. Check the result** The dialog shows **No new commits in GitLab since last merge.** and the commit message box is gone. The files in the editor and the commits on GitLab are up to date. ![The Sync with GitLab dialog after syncing, with no new commits](https://mintcdn.com/ayakaleaf-pro/IsGnx0wnzqtV4hI8/images/on-premises/gitlab-sync-done.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=IsGnx0wnzqtV4hI8\&q=85\&s=74dd7ceacb36ac0289d76504e95e7ba7) Everything is in sync ### If the same lines changed on both sides The dialog says the changes could not be merged and names a new branch, `overleaf-YYYY-MM-DD-HHMMSS`, which holds your changes. Overleaf also opens a merge request from that branch on GitLab. ![The Sync with GitLab dialog with a merge conflict warning](https://mintcdn.com/ayakaleaf-pro/IsGnx0wnzqtV4hI8/images/on-premises/gitlab-sync-conflict.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=IsGnx0wnzqtV4hI8\&q=85\&s=da33555666132affd667ce24b61221c9) A conflict 1. Merge that branch into the default branch on GitLab or with Git. You can close the dialog in the meantime: it shows the same message when you open it again. 2. Click **I have manually merged. Continue**. The merged result comes into the project. If you click it before the branch is merged, the dialog stays as it is. 3. The branch stays on GitLab, unless you deleted it when merging. Delete it when you no longer need it. The same dialog appears when the repository's merge rules hold the merge request back, for example when it needs an approval, even if no lines conflict. Once the rule allows it, merge the merge request on GitLab and click **I have manually merged. Continue**. See [How syncing works with GitLab](https://ayakaleaf-pro.mintlify.site/on-premises/configuration/overleaf-toolkit/integrations/gitlab-synchronisation.md#how-syncing-works-with-gitlab). ## Unlink a project Do this when you no longer want the project to sync. **1. Click Unlink** In the sync dialog, click **Unlink**. **2. Confirm** Click **Confirm**. This only removes the link: the connection to a repository you own, which the warning mentions, is an option you have afterwards, not something that happens now. ![The Sync with GitLab dialog asking to confirm the unlink](https://mintcdn.com/ayakaleaf-pro/IsGnx0wnzqtV4hI8/images/on-premises/gitlab-sync-unlink-project.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=IsGnx0wnzqtV4hI8\&q=85\&s=8d7469fda58abd012ed1364f9f54005d) Confirm the unlink **3. Check the result** The dialog now shows **Export Project to GitLab**. The project and the repository both keep their content. To sync again, export the project to a new repository, or import the repository into a new project. ## Unlink your GitLab account In **Account settings**, under **GitLab**, click **Unlink**, then **Unlink** again in the dialog. ![The Unlink GitLab Account dialog](https://mintcdn.com/ayakaleaf-pro/IsGnx0wnzqtV4hI8/images/on-premises/gitlab-sync-unlink-account.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=IsGnx0wnzqtV4hI8\&q=85\&s=478ab26a1f13d3a9cb08ffc15ad64bc1) Unlink your account Your projects stay linked to their repositories. You cannot sync them until you link your account again. > [!NOTE] > > For who can do what in a shared project, see [Who can link and sync](https://ayakaleaf-pro.mintlify.site/on-premises/configuration/overleaf-toolkit/integrations/gitlab-synchronisation.md#who-can-link-and-sync). This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.