> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.stepsecurity.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.stepsecurity.io/administration/user-settings/personal-access-token.md).

# Personal Access Token

The Personal Access Token (PAT) sub-page lets you store the GitHub PAT that StepSecurity uses to orchestrate workflows on repositories you own. The PAT is what allows StepSecurity to read your repository, create a branch, and open a pull request with the security changes you have configured under Orchestrate Options.

### When you need a PAT

You need to configure a PAT if you want to orchestrate private repositories from User Settings. For organization-wide remediation on private repositories without a PAT, Enterprise users can use [Policy-Driven Pull Request](/github/orchestrate-security/policy-driven-prs.md) instead.

### Configuring a PAT

* Open User Settings and select Personal Access Token
* Confirm your Email is correct
* Enter a PAT Name to help you identify the token later
* Paste your token into the Personal Access Token (PAT) field
* Click Update PAT

<figure><img src="/files/VEJDj3S6sQXRKXzt7Zds" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Recommended PAT permissions

StepSecurity recommends using a fine-grained Personal Access Token from GitHub. Grant it the following permissions:

* Contents: Read and Write
* Pull Requests: Read and Write
* Workflows: Read and Write

These are the minimum permissions needed for StepSecurity to read your repository, create a branch with the security changes, and open the pull request.

### Removing a PAT

To remove the stored PAT, open the Personal Access Token sub-page and click Remove PAT. StepSecurity will stop being able to orchestrate workflows on your behalf until you store a new PAT.


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.stepsecurity.io/administration/user-settings/personal-access-token.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.