Vercel Deployment: "Git Author Must Have Access" Error

Problem

You encounter the Vercel error "Git author must have access to the project to create deployments" when triggering deployments from GitHub. This occurs under these conditions:

• Using Vercel's Hobby (free) plan
• Working on a private GitHub repository
• Acting as a collaborator (non-owner) on the project
• Creating new branches or pushing changes
• Project linked to an organization's Vercel account

Root Cause: Vercel's Hobby plan restricts trigger rights to repository owners only due to policy changes. While occasional pushes might work after re-authentication, the permission issue persists systematically.

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Recommended Solutions

1. Use Deploy Hooks (No Plan Upgrade)

Bypass Git permission checks by triggering deployments via webhooks.

Steps:

1. In Vercel project → Settings → Git → Deploy Hooks
2. Create hook (name: "GitHub Trigger", branch: "main" or target branch)
3. Copy generated URL
4. In GitHub → Repository settings → Webhooks → Add webhook
5. Paste URL, content type: application/json
6. Select "Just the push event"
7. Check "Enable SSL verification"

Result: Automatic deployments on push without collaborator restrictions.

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2. GitHub Actions + Vercel CLI (Scalable CI/CD)

Full deployment automation via GitHub's infrastructure.

Prerequisite

Requires Vercel access token and project credentials

Configuration:

name: Deploy to Vercel
on: push
jobs:
  deploy:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
      - name: Install Vercel CLI
        run: npm install -g vercel
      - name: Deploy
        run: vercel deploy --prod --force -b $VERCEL_FLAGS
        env:
          VERCEL_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.VERCEL_TOKEN }}
          VERCEL_ORG_ID: ${{ secrets.VERCEL_ORG_ID }}
          VERCEL_PROJECT_ID: ${{ secrets.VERCEL_PROJECT_ID }}

Setup Steps:

1. Create tokens in Vercel → Account Settings → Tokens
2. Add secrets to GitHub: VERCEL_TOKEN, VERCEL_PROJECT_ID, VERCEL_ORG_ID
3. Remove old Vercel integration in GitHub → Settings → GitHub Apps

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3. Email Override (Temporary Fix)

Trigger deployment by matching owner's email in commits:

# Set repository-level config (safer than global)
git config user.email "owner@company.com"  # Use Vercel account owner's email

git add .
git commit -m "Trigger deployment"
git push

Limitation

• Pollutes attribution (shows as project owner's commit)
• Disrupts personal contribution tracking
• Requires manual reversion after deployment

To undo email override:

git config --unset user.email

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Team Collaboration Options

Pro Plan Upgrade (Official Solution)

• Cost: $20/member/month
• Steps:
  1. Project owner upgrades at Vercel Billing
  2. Add collaborators via Team Settings
  3. Accept invitations via email
• Benefits: Full deployment permissions, preview URLs for PRs, shared projects

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Alternative Workarounds

Account Re-Link (If Token Issues)

Sometimes refreshes permissions temporarily:

1. Vercel → Account Settings → Authentication
2. Unlink GitHub
3. Relink with correct GitHub account
4. Log out → Log in

Branch Protection Fix

When deployments stall on locked branches:

# Push minor change via GitHub Web UI
1. Edit file on target branch in GitHub
2. Add space to file → Commit direct to branch

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Important Considerations

Solution	Scalability	Cost	Attribution Accuracy	Setup Complexity
Vercel Pro Plan	✅ Excellent	💰 $	✅ Correct	⭐ Easy
GitHub Actions	✅ Excellent	🆓 Free	✅ Correct	⭐⭐⭐ Advanced
Deploy Hooks	⚠️ Limited	🆓 Free	✅ Correct	⭐⭐ Moderate
Email Override	❌ None	🆓 Free	❌ Inaccurate	⭐ Simple

⚠️ Avoid dummy-commit workflows: They clutter git history and violate collaboration best practices. Use GitHub Actions instead for automation.

For organizations, GitHub Actions provides the most sustainable free solution, while Vercel Pro offers the simplest official resolution for teams. Prioritize solutions preserving accurate git attribution unless emergency deployments are required.