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When reviews run

Last updated 2 October 2026.

When does MergeSafe review a pull request?

By default MergeSafe reviews a pull request when it opens and again on every new commit; you can switch to reviewing only when it opens, or only when someone asks.

The three modes

When it opens, and on every new commit (default). Each push is reviewed again, so fixes are checked. You can set an optional limit of 1 to 50 commits per pull request; after it, reviews of that pull request are manual only.
When a pull request opens. One review of the pull request as opened. Later commits are reviewed only when you ask.
Manual only. Nothing runs or is charged until someone comments @mergesafe review, presses Review now, or calls the API.

The mode is chosen during onboarding and changed under Settings → When reviews run in the app.

Rules that apply in every mode

Draft pull requests aren’t reviewed.
@mergesafe review and replies to findings work in every mode, and don’t count toward the commit limit.
A pull request from someone outside the repository is reviewed only when a trusted person asks, or a maintainer adds the mergesafe:review label.
Pull requests not updated for 3 days aren’t reviewed automatically.
A commit that was already reviewed isn’t reviewed or charged again.
Hourly cap: a pull request gets at most 6 reviews per hour by default. When it is reached, MergeSafe comments that reviews are paused until the next hour, and nothing is charged.

Next: Manual-only mode →