diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index fdb5f13f..31d78349 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## [1.12.0](https://github.com/AndreasAugustin/actions-template-sync/compare/v1.11.0...v1.12.0) (2024-03-13)
+
+
+### Features
+
+* **#482:** :sparkles: add option to force push and pr ([#499](https://github.com/AndreasAugustin/actions-template-sync/issues/499)) ([cbef7ee](https://github.com/AndreasAugustin/actions-template-sync/commit/cbef7ee63378db46e59d89a09c055376dccf4817))
+
 ## [1.11.0](https://github.com/AndreasAugustin/actions-template-sync/compare/v1.10.0...v1.11.0) (2024-03-11)
 
 
diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 5a871c8f..1d8a8b68 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ WORKDIR /app
 #######################################
 # image for creating the documentation
 ######################################
-FROM node:21.6.2-alpine as docs
+FROM node:21.7.0-alpine as docs
 
 # install packages
 RUN apk add --update --no-cache bash make git zsh curl tmux
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b48ad4dc..cf610182 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -248,6 +248,7 @@ jobs:
 | is_dry_run                  | `[optional]` set to `true` if you do not want to push the changes and not want to create a PR                 | `false`  |                                                                       |
 | is_allow_hooks              | `[optional]` set to `true` if you want to enable lifecycle hooks. Use this with caution!                      | `false`  | `false`                                                               |
 | hooks | `[optional]` please check the lifecycle hooks section below | `false` | |
+| is_force_push_pr            | `[optional]` set to `true` if you want to force push and pr update. Needs further permissions (see below) | `false`  | `false`                                                               |
 | is_pr_cleanup               | `[optional]` set to `true` if you want to cleanup older PRs targeting the same branch. Use this with caution! | `false`  | `false`                                                               |
 | is_not_source_github        | `[optional]` set to `true` if the source git provider is not GitHub                                           | `false`  | `false`                                                               |
 | is_force_deletion | `[optional]` set to `true` if you want to force delete files which are deleted within the source repository even if they contain changes. You need to also adjust `git_remote_pull_params` (see below for details) | `false` | `false` |
@@ -312,6 +313,18 @@ E.g. when you like to disable the sync for all files with exceptions, you need t
 *
 ```
 
+## Force Push and PR
+
+If you set the input `is_force_push_pr` to `true` you are able to react to e.g. metadata changes within the workflow definition file.
+Please note that you need to add permissions for `repository-projects: read`. Compare the needed scope with [gh pr edit][github-gh-cli-pr-edit]
+
+```yaml
+  permissions:
+    contents: write
+    pull-requests: write
+    repository-projects: read
+```
+
 ## Sign commits
 
 It is recommended to [sign your commits][devto-sign-commits]. This action is able to sign commits.
@@ -646,3 +659,4 @@ specification. Contributions of any kind are welcome!
 [github-create-pat]: https://docs.github.com/en/authentication/keeping-your-account-and-data-secure/managing-your-personal-access-tokens#creating-a-fine-grained-personal-access-token
 [github-create-secret]: https://docs.github.com/en/actions/security-guides/using-secrets-in-github-actions#creating-secrets-for-a-repository
 [github-create-gpg-key]: https://docs.github.com/en/authentication/managing-commit-signature-verification/generating-a-new-gpg-key
+[github-gh-cli-pr-edit]: https://cli.github.com/manual/gh_pr_edit
diff --git a/action.yml b/action.yml
index 60af3e9a..b781053b 100644
--- a/action.yml
+++ b/action.yml
@@ -42,6 +42,9 @@ inputs:
     default: "false"
   hooks:
     description: "[optional] define the hooks as yaml string input"
+  is_force_push_pr:
+    description: "[optional] set to true if you want to force push and pr update"
+    default: "false"
   is_pr_cleanup:
     description: "[optional] set to true if you want to cleanup older PRs targeting the same branch."
     default: "false"
@@ -92,6 +95,7 @@ runs:
         IS_DRY_RUN: ${{ inputs.is_dry_run }}
         IS_ALLOW_HOOKS: ${{ inputs.is_allow_hooks }}
         HOOKS: ${{ inputs.hooks }}
+        IS_FORCE_PUSH_PR: ${{ inputs.is_force_push_pr }}
         IS_GIT_LFS: ${{ inputs.is_git_lfs }}
         IS_PR_CLEANUP: ${{ inputs.is_pr_cleanup}}
         IS_NOT_SOURCE_GITHUB: ${{ inputs.is_not_source_github }}
diff --git a/src/sync_template.sh b/src/sync_template.sh
index dd8c456d..15f06bcf 100755
--- a/src/sync_template.sh
+++ b/src/sync_template.sh
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ if [[ -n "${SRC_SSH_PRIVATEKEY_ABS_PATH}" ]]; then
   export GIT_SSH_COMMAND="ssh -i ${SRC_SSH_PRIVATEKEY_ABS_PATH}"
 fi
 
+IS_FORCE_PUSH_PR="${IS_FORCE_PUSH_PR:-"false"}"
 GIT_REMOTE_PULL_PARAMS="${GIT_REMOTE_PULL_PARAMS:---allow-unrelated-histories --squash --strategy=recursive -X theirs}"
 
 cmd_from_yml "install"
@@ -240,11 +241,19 @@ function eventual_create_labels () {
 # push the changes
 # Arguments:
 #   branch
+#   is_force
 ##############################
 function push () {
   info "push changes"
   local branch=$1
-  git push --set-upstream origin "${branch}"
+  local is_force=$2
+
+  if [ "$is_force" == true ] ; then
+      warn "forcing the push."
+      git push --force --set-upstream origin "${branch}"
+  else
+    git push --set-upstream origin "${branch}"
+  fi
 }
 
 ####################################
@@ -256,7 +265,7 @@ function push () {
 #   labels
 #   reviewers
 ###################################
-function create_pr () {
+function create_pr() {
   info "create pr"
   local title=$1
   local body=$2
@@ -269,7 +278,38 @@ function create_pr () {
         --body "${body}" \
         --base "${branch}" \
         --label "${labels}" \
-        --reviewer "${reviewers}"
+        --reviewer "${reviewers}" || create_pr_has_issues=true
+
+  if [ "$create_pr_has_issues" == true ] ; then
+      warn "Creating the PR failed."
+      warn "Eventually it is already existent."
+      return 1
+  fi
+  return 0
+}
+
+####################################
+# creates or edits a pr if already existent
+# Arguments:
+#   title
+#   body
+#   branch
+#   labels
+#   reviewers
+###################################
+function create_or_edit_pr() {
+  info "create pr or edit the pr"
+  local title=$1
+  local body=$2
+  local branch=$3
+  local labels=$4
+  local reviewers=$5
+
+  create_pr "${title}" "${body}" "${branch}" "${labels}" "${reviewers}" || gh pr edit \
+    --title "${title}" \
+    --body "${body}" \
+    --add-label "${labels}" \
+    --add-reviewer "${reviewers}"
 }
 
 #########################################
@@ -315,6 +355,10 @@ function handle_templatesyncignore() {
 function prechecks() {
   info "prechecks"
   echo "::group::prechecks"
+  if [ "${IS_FORCE_PUSH_PR}" == "true" ]; then
+    warn "skipping prechecks because we force push and pr"
+    return 0
+  fi
   check_branch_remote_existing "${NEW_BRANCH}"
 
   check_if_commit_already_in_hist_graceful_exit "${TEMPLATE_REMOTE_GIT_HASH}"
@@ -393,9 +437,14 @@ function push_prepare_pr_create_pr() {
   echo "::group::push changes and create PR"
 
   cmd_from_yml "prepush"
-  push "${NEW_BRANCH}"
+  push "${NEW_BRANCH}" "${IS_FORCE_PUSH_PR}"
   cmd_from_yml "prepr"
-  create_pr "${PR_TITLE}" "${PR_BODY}" "${UPSTREAM_BRANCH}" "${PR_LABELS}" "${PR_REVIEWERS}"
+  if [ "$IS_FORCE_PUSH_PR" == true ] ; then
+    create_or_edit_pr "${PR_TITLE}" "${PR_BODY}" "${UPSTREAM_BRANCH}" "${PR_LABELS}" "${PR_REVIEWERS}"
+  else
+    create_pr "${PR_TITLE}" "${PR_BODY}" "${UPSTREAM_BRANCH}" "${PR_LABELS}" "${PR_REVIEWERS}"
+  fi
+
 
   echo "::endgroup::"
 }