# GitHub Actions GITHUB_TOKEN Read-Only by Default - Write Calls 403

> Fix GitHub Actions 403s when the repo default GITHUB_TOKEN permission is read-only - set workflow permissions or change the repo Actions default.

Source: https://latchkey.dev/learn/github-actions/gha-default-token-permissions-restricted  
Updated: 2026-06-25

A write API call fails with 403 because the repository or organization default for GITHUB_TOKEN is read-only. The default scope is set in repo/org Actions settings and overridden per workflow with permissions:.

## Diagnose it: what token do you actually have?

Permission failures in Actions are almost never about your repository settings alone. Three things combine: the default `GITHUB_TOKEN` permission set for the repo or organization, the `permissions:` block in the workflow, and whether the event is a fork pull request, which downgrades the token to read-only regardless of everything else.

```.github/workflows/ci.yml
- name: Show the token scopes actually granted
  run: |
    curl -sI -H "Authorization: Bearer $GITHUB_TOKEN" \
      https://api.github.com/ | grep -i "^x-oauth-scopes\|^x-accepted"
    echo "event: ${{ github.event_name }}"
    echo "fork PR: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.repo.fork }}"
  env:
    GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
```

> If `fork PR` prints `true`, stop looking at `permissions:`. A fork pull request gets a read-only token by design, and no workflow-level grant can raise it.

## Grant the narrowest permission that works

Declaring a `permissions:` block switches the job from the repository default to exactly what you list, so an incomplete block is a common cause of a new failure right after someone tightened security. List every scope the job needs, not just the one that failed.

```.github/workflows/ci.yml
permissions:
  contents: read        # checkout
  packages: write       # push to GHCR
  id-token: write       # OIDC to a cloud provider
  pull-requests: write  # comment on or label a PR
  checks: write         # publish check runs
```

> Set `permissions` at the job level rather than the workflow level where you can. A workflow-level grant applies to every job, including ones that only run tests.

## FAQ

### What causes GitHub Actions GITHUB_TOKEN Read-Only by default?

There are 2 common causes: repo/org default set to read-only and no permissions: block in the workflow. GitHub’s recommended default makes GITHUB_TOKEN read-only.

### How do I fix GitHub Actions GITHUB_TOKEN Read-Only by default?

There are 2 fixes depending on which cause you have: grant the needed scope in the workflow and or adjust the repo/org default. Work through them in order, since the first is the most common.

### What does GitHub Actions GITHUB_TOKEN Read-Only by default actually mean?

A step that pushes, comments, or creates a release fails with "Resource not accessible by integration" even though the workflow looks correct - the default token permission is read-only.

### How do I stop GitHub Actions GITHUB_TOKEN Read-Only by default happening again?

Keep the default token read-only and grant write per workflow. The prevention section lists 3 changes that keep it from recurring.

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Latchkey runs CI/CD that repairs its own failures. Agent entry points: https://latchkey.dev/agent.txt, https://latchkey.dev/openapi.json, https://latchkey.dev/llms.txt