How to Use GitHub Copilot in VS Code on ChromeOS via Linux Container

You want to use GitHub Copilot in Visual Studio Code on your Chromebook, but ChromeOS does not run native desktop applications. The standard VS Code Linux installer cannot be installed directly on ChromeOS. This article explains how to set up a Linux container on ChromeOS, install VS Code inside it, and activate GitHub Copilot for AI-assisted coding. You will need a Chromebook that supports Linux containers and a GitHub Copilot subscription.

What the Linux Container on ChromeOS Does

ChromeOS includes a built-in Linux container based on Debian 12 Bookworm. This container runs a full Linux environment alongside ChromeOS. You can install Linux applications, including VS Code, inside this container. The container uses a terminal called Termina and a default Linux user account. VS Code launched from the container appears as a window in ChromeOS and behaves like a native app. GitHub Copilot works the same way in this environment as it does on a standard Linux desktop. No extra virtualization software is needed.

Before starting, verify that your Chromebook supports Linux containers. Go to ChromeOS Settings > About ChromeOS > Additional details. Your device must be from 2019 or later with an Intel, AMD, or ARM64 processor. You also need a GitHub Copilot subscription. Copilot Individual costs $10 per month, and Copilot Business costs $19 per user per month. Students with a verified GitHub Student Developer Pack get Copilot free.

Steps to Install VS Code and GitHub Copilot on ChromeOS

Follow these steps in order. Do not skip any step. The entire process takes about 15 minutes.

1. Enable the Linux container on ChromeOS
   Open ChromeOS Settings. Click “Developers” in the left sidebar. Next to “Linux development environment,” click “Turn on.” Follow the on-screen prompts to set up the Linux container. Choose a username and disk size. The default disk size of 10 GB is sufficient for VS Code and Copilot. Click “Install.” Wait for the installation to complete. A terminal window opens automatically.
2. Update the Linux container packages
   In the terminal, run the following commands one at a time:
   sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y
   This ensures all system packages are current. The process takes 2 to 5 minutes depending on your internet speed.
3. Download the VS Code .deb installer
   Open Chrome on ChromeOS. Go to code.visualstudio.com. Click the blue “Download for Linux” button. Select the “.deb” package for 64-bit ARM or x64 depending on your Chromebook processor. The file is named code_deb. The download starts automatically. Note the download location, typically the Downloads folder.
4. Move the .deb file to the Linux container
   Open the ChromeOS Files app. Locate the downloaded code_deb file in the Downloads folder. Drag the file into the “Linux files” folder, which represents the Linux container. The file is now accessible inside the container at /mnt/chromeos/MyFiles/Downloads/code_deb.
5. Install VS Code in the Linux container
   In the Linux terminal, run the following command to install VS Code:
   sudo dpkg -i /mnt/chromeos/MyFiles/Downloads/code_deb
   If you see dependency errors, run sudo apt --fix-broken install and then repeat the dpkg command. Once installed, launch VS Code by running code in the terminal. A VS Code window opens on your ChromeOS desktop.
6. Install the GitHub Copilot extension
   In VS Code, click the Extensions icon on the left sidebar. Search for “GitHub Copilot.” Click the extension by GitHub. Click “Install.” Wait for the installation to finish.
7. Sign in to GitHub and activate Copilot
   After the extension installs, a notification appears asking you to sign in to GitHub. Click “Sign in to GitHub.” A browser window opens. Log in to your GitHub account. Authorize the GitHub Copilot extension. Return to VS Code. The extension activates automatically. You see a Copilot icon in the status bar at the bottom right.
8. Test Copilot in a code file
   Create a new file in VS Code. For example, create a Python file named test.py. Type a comment like # function to calculate factorial. Press Enter. Copilot suggests code in gray text. Press Tab to accept the suggestion. If you see suggestions, Copilot is working correctly.

Common Issues When Using Copilot on ChromeOS

VS Code does not start after installation

If running code in the terminal returns an error, the installation may have missing dependencies. Run sudo apt --fix-broken install to resolve missing packages. Then run sudo dpkg -i /mnt/chromeos/MyFiles/Downloads/code_deb again. If the problem persists, reboot the Linux container by going to ChromeOS Settings > Developers > Linux > “Remove Linux development environment” and start over.

Copilot does not suggest code

Check the Copilot icon in the VS Code status bar. If the icon shows a circle with a line through it, Copilot is disabled. Click the icon and select “Enable Copilot.” If the icon shows a checkmark but no suggestions appear, ensure you are editing a file type that Copilot supports. Copilot works with C++, C#, Go, Java, JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, Ruby, and many other languages. Also verify your GitHub Copilot subscription is active by visiting github.com/settings/copilot.

VS Code runs slowly inside the container

The Linux container uses a portion of your Chromebook’s RAM and CPU. Close unused Chrome tabs and other apps. Increase the container’s disk size by going to ChromeOS Settings > Developers > Linux > “Change disk size.” Set a larger size, such as 20 GB. For better performance, use VS Code Insiders instead of the stable build, as it includes newer optimizations for Linux on ARM64 devices.

VS Code Desktop vs VS Code for the Web on ChromeOS

Item	VS Code via Linux Container	VS Code for the Web (vscode.dev)
Installation method	Debian package installed in Linux container	No installation; runs in browser
GitHub Copilot support	Full extension with offline suggestions	Limited; requires browser extension and internet
File system access	Can access Linux container files and mounted ChromeOS folders	Can open files from GitHub repos or local uploads only
Performance	Near-native speed for most tasks	Depends on browser and network latency
Offline capability	Works offline after initial setup	Requires constant internet connection
Recommended for	Professional development with full IDE features	Quick edits and lightweight coding

The Linux container method gives you the full VS Code desktop experience with offline Copilot suggestions. VS Code for the Web is easier to start but lacks extensions, terminal access, and local file editing. For serious development on ChromeOS, the container approach is the better choice.

You can now use GitHub Copilot in VS Code on your Chromebook via the Linux container. The setup works for Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, and many other languages. To improve performance, assign more disk space to the container in ChromeOS Settings. For advanced users, enable the Copilot Chat extension for inline code explanations and debugging help directly in the editor.