How to Open Copilot Chat in VS Code

Open Copilot Chat with the keyboard shortcut or sidebar icon

The fastest way to open Copilot Chat in VS Code is to press Ctrl+Shift+I on Windows or Linux, or Cmd+Shift+I on Mac. This opens the chat panel on the right side of your editor. If you prefer using the mouse, click the Copilot Chat icon in the left sidebar — it looks like a speech bubble with a Copilot logo — and the same panel appears.

Both methods do the same thing: they bring up the chat interface where you can ask questions about your code, request explanations, or get help with debugging. The keyboard shortcut is faster if you use it often, but the sidebar icon is easier to remember when you're just starting out.

Key Takeaways

Press Ctrl+Shift+I (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+I (Mac) to open Copilot Chat instantly without touching the mouse.
The Copilot Chat icon in the left sidebar looks like a speech bubble and opens the same chat panel when clicked.
You must have the GitHub Copilot extension installed and be signed in with a GitHub account for Copilot Chat to work.
The chat panel appears on the right side of your editor and stays open until you close it, so you can reference it while you code.

Make sure you have the GitHub Copilot extension installed

Copilot Chat only works if you have the GitHub Copilot extension installed in VS Code. Open the Extensions view by pressing Ctrl+Shift+X (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+X (Mac), then search for "GitHub Copilot" and click Install. The official extension is published by GitHub and has a blue checkmark next to the name.

After installation, VS Code may ask you to reload the window. Click the reload button or close and reopen VS Code. You also need to sign in with a GitHub account that has an active Copilot subscription or free trial. When you first try to use Copilot Chat, VS Code will prompt you to authenticate — follow the browser window that opens and approve the connection.

Check that Copilot Chat is enabled in your settings

In rare cases, Copilot Chat may be disabled in your VS Code settings. Open the Settings view by pressing Ctrl+, (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+, (Mac), then search for "copilot chat enabled". Look for the setting labeled "Copilot Chat: Enabled" and make sure the checkbox is ticked. If it is unchecked, click it to turn Copilot Chat back on.

You can also reach this setting through the menu: go to File > Preferences > Settings (Windows/Linux) or Code > Settings > Settings (Mac), then search for the same term. After you enable it, the keyboard shortcut and sidebar icon should work immediately.

Use the Command Palette if the keyboard shortcut does not work

If Ctrl+Shift+I or Cmd+Shift+I does not open Copilot Chat, try the Command Palette instead. Press Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+P (Mac) to open the Command Palette, then type "Copilot Chat: Open" and press Enter. This runs the same command as the keyboard shortcut but works even if the shortcut is bound to something else on your system.

If the Command Palette shows no results for "Copilot Chat", the extension is either not installed or not loaded. Go back to the Extensions view and confirm that GitHub Copilot shows as "Installed" with a green checkmark. If it shows "Install" instead, the installation did not complete — click Install again and reload VS Code.

Understand what Copilot Chat can and cannot do

Copilot Chat answers questions about your code, explains what a function does, suggests fixes for errors, and helps you write new code. You can ask it to refactor a block of code, add comments, or generate test cases. The chat remembers the context of your current file, so it understands what you are working on without you having to paste the entire file into the chat.

Copilot Chat does not have access to files outside your current workspace, cannot run code or tests, and cannot modify your files directly — you have to copy the suggestions it gives you and paste them yourself. It also cannot browse the internet or access real-time information, so it cannot tell you whether a library is still maintained or what the latest version of a package is. Treat its answers as a starting point, not as final truth, especially for security-sensitive code.

Close Copilot Chat and manage the panel

To close the Copilot Chat panel, click the X button in the top right corner of the chat window, or press Ctrl+Shift+I (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+I (Mac) again. The panel closes but the extension stays active, so you can open it again instantly with the same shortcut.

If you want to move the chat panel to a different location, you can drag it by the title bar. You can also resize it by dragging the edge between the chat panel and your editor. If you close the panel and want to see your chat history, open Copilot Chat again — it remembers the conversation from your current session, though it clears when you close VS Code.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a paid GitHub Copilot subscription to use Copilot Chat?

GitHub Copilot requires a paid subscription or an active free trial. Students and maintainers of popular open-source projects may be able to use it for free through GitHub's programs. Check your GitHub account settings to see whether you have an active subscription or trial.

Why does Copilot Chat say "Please sign in" when I try to use it?

VS Code lost your authentication or your session expired. Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P or Cmd+Shift+P), type "GitHub: Sign In", and press Enter. Follow the browser window to re-authenticate with your GitHub account. After you sign in, Copilot Chat should work immediately.

Can I use Copilot Chat in other editors besides VS Code?

GitHub Copilot Chat is available in VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains IDEs (IntelliJ, PyCharm, WebStorm), and Neovim through plugins. Each editor has its own installation process, but the core functionality is the same across all of them.

Does Copilot Chat send my code to GitHub's servers?

Yes, Copilot Chat sends the code you ask about to GitHub's servers to generate responses. GitHub states that it does not use your code to train the model, but you should not paste sensitive information like API keys or passwords into the chat. Review what you are about to send before you ask a question.

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