You want to install the GitHub Copilot extension in Visual Studio Code to get AI-powered code completions and suggestions as you type. The extension connects your VS Code editor to GitHub Copilot, a service that uses OpenAI models to suggest whole lines or blocks of code. This article explains the prerequisites, walks you through the installation process step by step, and covers common pitfalls that can prevent the extension from working correctly.
Key Takeaways: Installing GitHub Copilot in VS Code
- VS Code Extensions panel (Ctrl+Shift+X): The primary location to search for and install the GitHub Copilot extension.
- GitHub account with active Copilot subscription: Required before the extension can generate suggestions; sign up at github.com/features/copilot.
- Extension settings > GitHub Copilot > Enable: Toggle this setting to On after installation to activate the AI suggestions.
What the GitHub Copilot Extension Does and What You Need Before Installing
GitHub Copilot is an AI pair programmer that suggests code as you type. It works inside the VS Code editor by analyzing the context in the current file and the open project. The extension itself is free to install, but you need an active GitHub Copilot subscription to receive suggestions. Subscriptions are available for individuals, students, and organizations through GitHub. You also need a GitHub account and VS Code version 1.78 or later. The extension is compatible with Windows 10, Windows 11, macOS, and Linux.
Prerequisites Checklist
Before you begin, confirm the following items are in place:
- Visual Studio Code installed (version 1.78 or newer). You can check Help > About in VS Code.
- A GitHub account. If you do not have one, create it at github.com/join.
- An active GitHub Copilot subscription. Individual plans cost $10 per month or $100 per year. Students with a verified .edu email can get it free through the GitHub Student Developer Pack.
- Stable internet connection. Copilot sends code context to GitHub servers for processing.
Steps to Install GitHub Copilot Extension in VS Code
Follow these steps to install the extension and activate it with your GitHub account.
- Open VS Code
Launch Visual Studio Code from your Start menu, dock, or desktop shortcut. Ensure you are using a supported version. If you see a notification about a newer version, update VS Code before proceeding. - Open the Extensions panel
Press Ctrl+Shift+X on Windows or Linux, or Cmd+Shift+X on macOS. Alternatively, click the Extensions icon in the Activity Bar on the left side of the window. - Search for GitHub Copilot
In the Extensions panel search bar, type GitHub Copilot. The official extension is published by GitHub and has a blue icon with a white robot face. Verify the publisher name is GitHub and the extension name is GitHub Copilot. - Install the extension
Click the Install button on the GitHub Copilot extension card. VS Code downloads and installs the extension. This process takes a few seconds. You may see a status message in the bottom-right corner confirming the installation. - Sign in to GitHub
After installation, VS Code prompts you to sign in to GitHub. Click Sign in in the notification that appears. A browser window opens asking you to authorize VS Code to access your GitHub account. Click Authorize Visual Studio Code. If you are already signed in to GitHub in the browser, the authorization completes automatically. If not, sign in to GitHub first, then authorize. - Verify the extension is active
After authorization, return to VS Code. Look at the bottom-right status bar. You should see the Copilot icon, which looks like a small robot face. Hover over it to see the status message. It should say Copilot: Active or Copilot: Ready. If you see Copilot: Disabled, click the icon and select Enable. - Test the extension
Open a new file in VS Code by pressing Ctrl+N. Set the language to Python by clicking the language indicator in the status bar and selecting Python. Type a comment such as# function to calculate factorialand press Enter. Copilot should suggest a code block in gray text. Press Tab to accept the suggestion.
Common Issues After Installing GitHub Copilot
Copilot icon shows Disabled or Not Signed In
If the Copilot icon in the status bar shows Disabled or Not Signed In, the extension is installed but not authenticated. Click the icon and select Sign In. If the browser window does not open, check that your default browser is not blocking pop-ups from VS Code. You can also manually sign in by opening the Command Palette with Ctrl+Shift+P, typing GitHub Copilot: Sign In, and pressing Enter.
No suggestions appear when typing
If Copilot is active but no suggestions appear, check the following: First, ensure your file has a supported language. Copilot works with most popular languages, including Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Ruby, Go, C++, and Java. Second, verify that Copilot is enabled for that language. Open File > Preferences > Settings, search for GitHub Copilot: Enable, and confirm the language you are using is listed. Third, check your subscription status at github.com/settings/copilot. If your subscription is expired or billing is unpaid, Copilot stops generating suggestions.
Extension fails to install due to network restrictions
Corporate networks or VPNs sometimes block the VS Code marketplace. If the install button does not respond or you see a network error, try the following: Download the extension VSIX file directly from the Visual Studio Marketplace website at marketplace.visualstudio.com. Search for GitHub Copilot, click the Download Extension button, then in VS Code open the Extensions panel, click the three-dot menu, select Install from VSIX, and choose the downloaded file. Alternatively, ask your IT team to allowlist marketplace.visualstudio.com and all subdomains.
GitHub Copilot Free vs GitHub Copilot Pro: Key Differences
| Item | GitHub Copilot Free | GitHub Copilot Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | Free for students and open-source maintainers | $10 per month for individuals |
| Code suggestions | Up to 2000 completions per month | Unlimited completions |
| Supported languages | All languages supported by Copilot | All languages supported by Copilot |
| Chat access | Limited to Copilot Chat in VS Code | Full Copilot Chat with context-aware conversations |
| IDE support | VS Code, JetBrains, Neovim | VS Code, JetBrains, Neovim, Visual Studio, Azure Data Studio |
After installing the GitHub Copilot extension, you can start using it immediately. Open a project and begin typing to see suggestions. Customize the behavior by opening the Command Palette with Ctrl+Shift+P and searching for GitHub Copilot: Configure. You can adjust the suggestion delay, disable suggestions for specific languages, or toggle inline suggestions on and off. For the best experience, keep both VS Code and the extension updated to the latest versions.