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RUNLOCALAI · v38
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  5. /How to install and enable the GitHub Copilot extension in VS Code
HOW-TO · DEV

How to install and enable the GitHub Copilot extension in VS Code

beginner·10 min·By Fredoline Eruo
Target environment
Ubuntu 24.04 · VS Code 1.98
PREREQUISITES

VS Code installed, GitHub account

What this does

GitHub Copilot provides AI-powered code suggestions directly within the VS Code editor. Installing the extension adds inline completions, aCopilot Chat panel, and security scanning capabilities. Enabling it connects the extension to the user's GitHub account, activating seat assignment and usage telemetry through the Copilot service.

Steps

  1. Open VS Code and navigate to the Extensions view by pressing Ctrl+Shift+X.
  2. Search for "GitHub Copilot" in the marketplace search bar.
  3. Select the official "GitHub Copilot" extension published by GitHub and click Install.
  4. If prompted, also install "GitHub Copilot Chat" for conversational assistance (optional but recommended).
  5. A browser window opens to complete the GitHub authentication flow. Confirm the authorization request.
  6. Return to VS Code; the status bar at the bottom should display a Copilot icon with a green check when active.
  7. Open any source file (for example, a .py, .js, or .ts file) to confirm inline suggestions appear as typed code proceeds.
  8. Verify the extension status via the Extensions panel: the card should show "Enabled" beneath the extension name.

Verification

code --list-extensions | grep github-copilot

Expected output: a line containing github.copilot.

Common failures

  • Authentication loop: Clearing browser cookies and re-triggering the OAuth flow resolves stuck or repeated login prompts.
  • Extension not loading: Running Developer: Reload Window from the command palette refreshes the extension host after installation.
  • Seat not assigned: Navigating to github.com/settings/copilot and ensuring a seat is allocated to the account resolves "no seat" errors.

Operator checkpoint

Before treating this as solved, write down the local runtime, model or package version, hardware/backend if relevant, and the verification output. This keeps the guide useful as a Will-It-Run style decision instead of a one-off command transcript.

Related guides

  • How to configure GitHub Copilot inline suggestions and keyboard shortcuts
  • How to use GitHub Copilot Chat for debugging and explaining code in VS Code
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