How to Set Up GitHub Copilot in VS Code (Updated Feb 2026)

GitHub Copilot is one of the fastest ways to add AI-powered code completions and chat to your existing VS Code workflow. This guide walks you through setup in under five minutes.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

• VS Code installed (latest stable version recommended)
• A GitHub account (any tier works for the free plan)
• Internet access (Copilot is cloud-based and cannot run offline)

Step 1 --- Install the Extension

1. Open VS Code and go to the Extensions view (Ctrl+Shift+X / Cmd+Shift+X).
2. Search for GitHub Copilot and click Install.
3. Copilot Chat is now bundled with the main extension---no separate install needed.

Step 2 --- Sign In and Activate

1. After installing, click Sign in to GitHub when prompted.
2. Complete the browser-based authentication flow and return to VS Code.
3. If you do not have an active subscription, you can start with the Free tier (no credit card required), begin a trial, or select a paid plan.

Step 3 --- Verify It Works

1. Create or open any code file (e.g., a .py or .ts file).
2. Start typing a comment describing a function. You should see gray "ghost text" suggestions.
3. Press Tab to accept a suggestion, or Esc to dismiss it.

If ghost text does not appear, check the status bar for the Copilot icon and confirm you are signed in.

Step 4 --- Tune Key Settings

Open Settings (Ctrl+, / Cmd+,) and search for "Copilot":

"github.copilot.enable": {
  "*": true,
  "markdown": false,
  "plaintext": false
},
"editor.inlineSuggest.enabled": true

These settings let you enable or disable Copilot per language and ensure inline suggestions are active.

Step 5 --- Learn the Core Shortcuts

Step 6 --- Troubleshooting Common Issues

No suggestions appearing? Confirm you are signed in, inline suggestions are enabled, and the file type is one Copilot recognizes.

Copilot icon missing from status bar? Ensure the extension is installed and enabled. Try reloading VS Code (Ctrl+Shift+P > "Developer: Reload Window").

Access denied or expired trial? Check your subscription status at github.com/settings/copilot and verify your plan is active.

Plan Overview (Feb 2026)

Verified students, teachers, and eligible open-source maintainers get Pro-level access free.

Extra premium requests beyond your plan allowance cost $0.04 each.

Sources

• GitHub Copilot plans: github.com/features/copilot/plans
• VS Code Copilot docs: code.visualstudio.com/docs/copilot/overview
• GitHub Docs quickstart: docs.github.com/en/copilot/get-started

Want alternatives? Explore Cursor, Windsurf, Claude Code, and more in our directory.