---
title: "Start a canvas from a branch or pull request"
description: "Open a new canvas on the code of an existing branch or pull request in the connected repository."
url: https://help.modeinspect.com/en/articles/38-start-a-canvas-from-a-branch-or-pull-request
collection: "Canvas"
updated: 2026-10-29
language: en
---

# Start a canvas from a branch or pull request

Open a new canvas on the code of an existing branch or pull request in the connected repository.

**Import from Git** opens a new canvas whose Portal runs the code of a branch or pull request instead of the main branch. Use it to look at an engineer's open pull request on the canvas, or to design on top of it.

**Before you start**

-   A codebase connected to a GitHub repository. On a codebase uploaded as a zip, or started as a draft, the button is disabled and its tooltip says **Codebase not connected to git**.
    
    ![The demo-shop codebase page with Import from Git disabled and the tooltip Codebase not connected to git](https://staticfiles.gleap.io/p6a1872808f187689a3937fa3/N9FL2cWODanqor3wqsJeLDbwuND0DQCt0cjUBIBfRZXZjQJj0RNyd1BVHMoxGITdLXZMV3G2XhO.png)
-   The branch name, or the pull request URL copied from GitHub.
    

## Steps

1.  Click the codebase under **CODEBASES**.
    
2.  Click **Import from Git**. **Import canvas from Git** opens.
    
3.  Paste the branch name or the pull request URL into **Branch name or Pull Request URL**.
    
4.  Click **Import**. The canvas opens, named **(imported)** followed by the branch name.
    

The GitHub button in the canvas header, left of **Share**, shows **Imported from** and the branch name. Under **Sync to Github** it says **Changes sync as a new branch.**: when you sync, your changes go to a branch and pull request of their own. The imported branch is not changed.

## If it does not work

-   **Couldn't find this branch or pull request in …, the repository connected to this codebase.**: check the spelling of the branch name, and that the pull request belongs to the repository named in the message. A branch from another repository of your organization is not accepted here.
    
-   **Couldn't import a canvas from that branch or Pull Request**: the import failed after the branch was found. Try again.
    

## Related

-   [Create a canvas](https://help.modeinspect.com/en/articles/35-create-a-canvas.md)
    
-   [Connect a GitHub repository](https://help.modeinspect.com/en/articles/11-connect-a-github-repository.md)
    
-   [Rename, duplicate and delete canvases](https://help.modeinspect.com/en/articles/40-manage-your-canvases.md)

## Related

- [Create a canvas](https://help.modeinspect.com/en/articles/35-create-a-canvas.md)
- [Rename, duplicate and delete canvases](https://help.modeinspect.com/en/articles/40-rename-duplicate-and-delete-canvases.md)
- [Duplicate a canvas](https://help.modeinspect.com/en/articles/37-duplicate-a-canvas.md)
- [Canvas controls and keyboard shortcuts](https://help.modeinspect.com/en/articles/32-canvas-controls-and-keyboard-shortcuts.md)
- [Organize a canvas into pages](https://help.modeinspect.com/en/articles/41-organize-a-canvas-into-pages.md)