You open Visual Studio Code to write code, but the ghost text suggestions from Copilot no longer appear. The lightbulb icon may be missing, or pressing Tab inserts nothing. This usually happens after a VS Code update, a settings change, or when the Copilot extension loses its authentication token. This article explains why inline suggestions disappear and provides three methods to restore them quickly.
Key Takeaways: Restoring Copilot Inline Suggestions in VS Code
- VS Code Settings > Editor > Inline Suggest > Enabled: Must be set to true for ghost text to appear.
- Copilot Extension > Sign Out and Sign In Again: Refreshes the authentication token if it expired or became corrupted.
- Command Palette > Developer: Reload Window: Reloads the VS Code window without restarting the entire application.
Why Copilot Inline Suggestions Stop Appearing
Copilot inline suggestions rely on three components working together: the Copilot extension, an active authentication token, and the VS Code editor setting that enables inline suggestions. If any of these breaks, the ghost text disappears.
The most common root cause is a VS Code update that resets the editor.inlineSuggest.enabled setting to false. Updates sometimes modify user preferences without warning. Another frequent cause is an expired authentication token. The Copilot extension uses a token that expires after a set period, and if the extension cannot refresh it silently, suggestions stop. A third cause is a corrupted extension cache, which can happen after a partial update or network interruption.
Steps to Restore Copilot Inline Suggestions
Follow these methods in order. Each method addresses a different point of failure.
Method 1: Enable Inline Suggestions in VS Code Settings
- Open the Settings editor
Press Ctrl + , on Windows or Linux. On macOS, press Cmd + ,. This opens the Settings tab. - Search for inline suggestions
In the search bar at the top of Settings, type inline suggest. The filter shows only relevant options. - Enable the setting
Locate Editor: Inline Suggest Enabled. Make sure the checkbox is checked. If it is unchecked, click it to enable inline suggestions. - Test the suggestion
Open a code file and start typing. You should see ghost text appear. Press Tab to accept the suggestion.
Method 2: Re-authenticate the Copilot Extension
- Open the Accounts menu
Click the gear icon in the lower-left corner of VS Code. Select Accounts from the menu. - Sign out of GitHub
Find the GitHub account that is linked to Copilot. Click the ellipsis (…) next to the account name and choose Sign Out. - Sign in again
Click Sign in with GitHub in the Accounts menu. Your browser opens asking you to authorize VS Code. Complete the authorization. - Verify the Copilot extension status
Open the Extensions view by pressing Ctrl + Shift + X. Locate the GitHub Copilot extension. It should show a green checkmark indicating it is active.
Method 3: Reload the VS Code Window
- Open the Command Palette
Press Ctrl + Shift + P on Windows or Linux. On macOS, press Cmd + Shift + P. - Type the reload command
In the Command Palette, type Developer: Reload Window. Select it from the list. - Wait for the window to reload
VS Code closes and reopens all open tabs and extensions. This clears the extension cache and reinitializes the Copilot extension. - Test suggestions again
Open a code file and type a few characters. Inline suggestions should return.
If Copilot Still Has Issues After the Main Fix
If none of the methods above restore inline suggestions, try these additional steps.
Copilot Extension Is Disabled or Not Installed
Open the Extensions view. Search for GitHub Copilot. If the extension shows a blue Disable button, it is enabled. If it shows a green Install button, it is not installed. Install it and reload VS Code.
VS Code Version Is Outdated
Copilot requires VS Code 1.78 or newer. Check your version by selecting Help > About from the menu. If your version is older, download the latest version from code.visualstudio.com and install it.
Firewall or Proxy Blocks Copilot Traffic
Copilot sends requests to api.github.com and copilot-proxy.githubusercontent.com. If your network blocks these domains, suggestions stop. Contact your IT team to allowlist these domains and all subdomains.
VS Code Inline Suggestions vs TabNine vs Codeium: Key Differences
| Item | VS Code Inline Suggestions (Default) | TabNine | Codeium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | Built-in VS Code feature that shows ghost text from Copilot or other providers | Third-party autocomplete engine that uses local or cloud models | Free AI code completion tool with support for 70+ languages |
| Provider dependency | Requires a Copilot subscription or a compatible extension | Requires TabNine extension and account | Requires Codeium extension and account |
| Language support | All languages supported by Copilot | 20+ languages | 70+ languages |
| Pricing | Free with Copilot trial or paid subscription | Free tier with limitations; paid plans start at $12/month | Free for individual developers |
If Copilot inline suggestions still do not appear after trying all methods, consider switching to a different provider like Codeium while you troubleshoot. The key setting editor.inlineSuggest.enabled applies to all providers, so if it is on, any compatible extension can show suggestions.