---
stage: Verify
group: Pipeline Execution
info: To determine the technical writer assigned to the Stage/Group associated with this page, see https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/engineering/ux/technical-writing/#assignments
type: howto
---

# How to enable or disable GitLab CI/CD **(FREE)**

To effectively use GitLab CI/CD, you need:

- A valid [`.gitlab-ci.yml`](yaml/index.md) file present at the root directory
  of your project.
- A [runner](runners/index.md) properly set up.

You can read our [quick start guide](quick_start/index.md) to get you started.

If you are using an external CI/CD server like Jenkins or Drone CI, it is advised
to disable GitLab CI/CD in order to not have any conflicts with the commits status
API.

GitLab CI/CD is exposed by using the `/pipelines` and `/jobs` pages of a project.
Disabling GitLab CI/CD in a project does not delete any previous jobs.
In fact, the `/pipelines` and `/jobs` pages can still be accessed, although
it's hidden from the left sidebar menu.

GitLab CI/CD is enabled by default on new installations and can be disabled
either:

- Individually under each project's settings.
- Site-wide by modifying the settings in `gitlab.yml` and `gitlab.rb` for source
  and Omnibus installations respectively.

This only applies to pipelines run as part of GitLab CI/CD. This doesn't enable or disable
pipelines that are run from an [external integration](../user/project/integrations/overview.md#integrations-listing).

## Per-project user setting

To enable or disable GitLab CI/CD pipelines in your project:

1. On the top bar, select **Menu > Projects** and find your project.
1. On the left sidebar, select **Settings > General**.
1. Expand **Visibility, project features, permissions**.
1. In the **Repository** section, turn on or off **CI/CD** as required.

**Project visibility** also affects pipeline visibility. If set to:

- **Private**: Only project members can access pipelines.
- **Internal** or **Public**: Pipelines can be set to either **Only Project Members**
  or **Everyone With Access** by using the dropdown box.

Press **Save changes** for the settings to take effect.

## Make GitLab CI/CD disabled by default in new projects

You can set GitLab CI/CD to be disabled by default in all new projects by modifying the settings in:

- `gitlab.yml` for source installations.
- `gitlab.rb` for Omnibus GitLab installations.

Existing projects that already had CI/CD enabled are unchanged. Also, this setting only changes
the project default, so project owners can still enable CI/CD in the project settings.

For installations from source:

1. Open `gitlab.yml` with your editor and set `builds` to `false`:

   ```yaml
   ## Default project features settings
   default_projects_features:
     issues: true
     merge_requests: true
     wiki: true
     snippets: false
     builds: false
   ```

1. Save the `gitlab.yml` file.

1. Restart GitLab:

   ```shell
   sudo service gitlab restart
   ```

For Omnibus GitLab installations:

1. Edit `/etc/gitlab/gitlab.rb` and add this line:

   ```ruby
   gitlab_rails['gitlab_default_projects_features_builds'] = false
   ```

1. Save the `/etc/gitlab/gitlab.rb` file.

1. Reconfigure GitLab:

   ```shell
   sudo gitlab-ctl reconfigure
   ```

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