diff --git a/.github/workflows/dependabot.yml b/.github/workflows/dependabot.yml
index 426d0a4db..9f724aaf4 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/dependabot.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/dependabot.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 name: Dependabot auto-approve
-# on: pull_request
+
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch
+  pull_request
 
 permissions:
   pull-requests: write
diff --git a/.github/workflows/jsonrpc-client-npm-package.yml b/.github/workflows/jsonrpc-client-npm-package.yml
index e4577e60b..739a73843 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/jsonrpc-client-npm-package.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/jsonrpc-client-npm-package.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 name: 'jsonrpc js client build'
-# on:
+
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch
 #   pull_request:
 #   push:
 #     tags:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/jsonrpc.yml b/.github/workflows/jsonrpc.yml
index b422a01b7..828e3242f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/jsonrpc.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/jsonrpc.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 name: JSON-RPC API Test
 
-# on:
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch
 #   push:
 #     branches: [master]
 #   pull_request:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/node-delete-preview.yml b/.github/workflows/node-delete-preview.yml
index 7a67b4448..ba39f1295 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/node-delete-preview.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/node-delete-preview.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 # documentation: https://github.com/deltachat/sysadmin/tree/master/download.delta.chat
 name: Delete node PR previews
 
-# on:
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch
 #   pull_request:
 #     types: [closed]
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/node-docs.yml b/.github/workflows/node-docs.yml
index 2d790e046..187c509db 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/node-docs.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/node-docs.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 name: Generate & upload node.js documentation
 
-# on:
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch
 #   push:
 #     branches:
 #       - master
diff --git a/.github/workflows/node-package.yml b/.github/workflows/node-package.yml
index fd1ba6ff1..7371470e1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/node-package.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/node-package.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 name: 'node.js build'
-# on:
+
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch
 #   pull_request:
 #   push:
 #     tags:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/node-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/node-tests.yml
index 7f59c2805..35e6cd44a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/node-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/node-tests.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 name: 'node.js tests'
-# on:
+
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch
 #   pull_request:
 #   push:
 #     branches:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/upload-docs.yml b/.github/workflows/upload-docs.yml
index 3c7d7a31f..4199ae34c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/upload-docs.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/upload-docs.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 name: Build & Deploy Documentation on rs.delta.chat
 
-# on:
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch
 #   push:
 #     branches:
 #       - master
diff --git a/.github/workflows/upload-ffi-docs.yml b/.github/workflows/upload-ffi-docs.yml
index 1c7facf67..f93a5a3cf 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/upload-ffi-docs.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/upload-ffi-docs.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 name: Build & Deploy Documentation on cffi.delta.chat
 
-# on:
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch
 #   push:
 #     branches:
 #       - master