# Add the default labels

> Add the default labels a repository does not have yet: bug, documentation, duplicate, enhancement, good first issue, help wanted, invalid, question, wontfix, dependencies and security.

<div class="g1t-endpoint"><span class="g1t-method" data-method="post">POST</span><code>/repos/{owner}/{name}/labels/defaults</code></div>

Labels it has already are left as they are. Returns every label it has now. Needs the Write role or higher; applying labels and milestones needs Triage.

Every label the repository has afterwards, shortened here. Labels it already had are left as they were.

- **Authentication:** Required. Send an [access token](/reference/api/#authentication) as `Authorization: Bearer`.
- **MCP tool:** [`repository`](/reference/mcp/#repository) with `action` `add_default_labels`, and the same inputs
- **Scope:** An access token needs [`issues:write`](/guides/authentication/#scopes).

## Path parameters

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `owner` | string | Yes | The workspace that owns the repository. |
| `name` | string | Yes | The repository's name. |

## Example request

```sh
curl -X POST https://api.g1t.sh/repos/flagon-io/hello/labels/defaults \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $G1T_TOKEN"
```

## Example response

A successful request answers `200` with:

```json
[
  {
    "name": "bug",
    "color": "d73a4a",
    "description": "Something isn't working",
    "issues": 4,
    "pulls": 1
  },
  {
    "name": "documentation",
    "color": "0075ca",
    "description": "Improvements or additions to documentation",
    "issues": 0,
    "pulls": 0
  }
]
```

## Errors

A failed request answers with one of these statuses and a body like `{"error": {"code": "not_found", "message": "Repository not found."}}`. See [errors](/reference/api/#errors).

| Status | Code | When |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 401 | `unauthenticated` | A token is required, or the one sent is not valid. |
| 403 | `forbidden` | The token is valid but not allowed to do this, such as a member-only change or an agent token outside its repository. |
| 404 | `not_found` | It does not exist, or you cannot see it. |
| 409 | `conflict` | The request conflicts with the current state. |
| 422 | `invalid` | The input is not valid. `message` says which field and why. |