> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.minimalmacropad.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Build Custom MinimalPad Firmware with GitHub Actions

> Fork the MinimalPad firmware repo and use GitHub Actions to compile custom firmware — no local ZMK environment or command-line tools required.

If you want to customise the firmware — to change encoder rotation, add macros, or modify any other compiled behavior — you need to build your own firmware from source. GitHub Actions handles the compilation for you in the cloud, so you do not need to install a local ZMK development environment or any build tools on your own computer.

## What Is a Fork?

A **fork** is a personal copy of a GitHub repository that you control. When you fork the MinimalPad firmware repository, you get your own version at `https://github.com/YOUR-USERNAME/zmk-config-minimalpad`. Changes you make to your fork only affect your copy — the original repository is untouched.

<Tip>
  GitHub's built-in web file editor lets you make small changes directly in the browser. For simple edits like changing encoder rotation, you do not need a Git client or any local setup.
</Tip>

## Steps

<Steps>
  ### Sign in to GitHub

  Go to [https://github.com](https://github.com) and sign in. If you don't have an account, create a free one — no paid plan is required to use GitHub Actions for this purpose.

  ### Open the firmware repository

  Go to [https://github.com/TimoWielink/zmk-config-minimalpad](https://github.com/TimoWielink/zmk-config-minimalpad).

  ### Fork the repository

  Click the **Fork** button in the top-right corner of the repository page, then click **Create fork**. GitHub creates your personal copy at `https://github.com/YOUR-USERNAME/zmk-config-minimalpad`.

  ### Make your changes

  Edit the firmware source files in your fork. See [Advanced: Customize MinimalPad Firmware](/firmware/advanced-customization) for a guide to which files to change and what to modify.

  GitHub's web editor works well for straightforward edits: click any file, click the pencil icon to edit, make your change, and click **Commit changes**.

  ### Commit and push your changes

  When you commit using the GitHub web editor, your changes are pushed immediately. If you are using a local Git client, push your changes to the `main` branch of your fork.

  ### Enable Actions on your fork

  Click **Actions** in the top navigation of your forked repository. If GitHub shows a prompt saying workflows are disabled, click **"I understand my workflows, enable them"** to activate GitHub Actions for your fork.

  ### Trigger a build

  A build starts automatically when you push changes to your fork. You can also trigger one manually: click **Actions**, select the workflow from the left panel, and click **Run workflow**.

  ### Wait for the build to complete

  The build typically takes a few minutes. A green checkmark next to the run indicates success. A red ✕ means something went wrong — click the run to see the error log.

  ### Download the artifact

  Click the completed workflow run, then scroll to the **Artifacts** section at the bottom of the page. Click **`minimalpad_with_studio`** to download the `.zip` file.

  ### Unzip and flash the firmware

  Unzip the downloaded archive to find the `.uf2` file, then follow the steps in [Install the MinimalPad Studio Firmware](/firmware/install-base-firmware) to flash it to your device.
</Steps>