Table of Contents
Introduction
Troubleshooting GitHub Copilot issues requires understanding common problems and their solutions. This guide covers the most frequent issues developers encounter and provides step-by-step solutions.
Tip: Most Copilot issues can be resolved by checking authentication, subscription status, and network connectivity.
Copilot Not Showing Suggestions
One of the most common issues is Copilot not displaying code suggestions. Here are the main causes and solutions:
Possible Causes
- Not signed in to GitHub account
- Subscription expired or not active
- Copilot disabled in IDE settings
- No internet connection
- File type not supported by Copilot
- File is in content exclusion list
- IDE extension not properly installed
Solutions
- Verify GitHub Sign-In: Check if you're signed in to GitHub in your IDE
- Check Subscription Status: Verify your Copilot subscription is active on GitHub.com
- Enable Copilot: Go to IDE settings and ensure Copilot is enabled
- Check Internet Connection: Verify you have an active internet connection
- Verify File Type: Ensure you're working with a supported file type (.js, .py, .java, etc.)
- Check Content Exclusions: Verify the file isn't in your organization's exclusion list
- Reinstall Extension: Try uninstalling and reinstalling the Copilot extension
Quick Check List
- ✅ Signed in to GitHub?
- ✅ Subscription active?
- ✅ Copilot enabled in settings?
- ✅ Internet connected?
- ✅ Supported file type?
Authentication Issues
Authentication problems are common and can prevent Copilot from working:
Symptoms
- Repeated "Sign in to GitHub" prompts
- Authentication failures
- Token expired errors
- Unable to authenticate despite correct credentials
Solutions
- Sign Out and Sign Back In: Clear authentication cache by signing out and back in
- Check GitHub Account Status: Verify your GitHub account is active and not suspended
- Verify Copilot Subscription: Ensure your subscription is active and paid
- Clear Cached Credentials: Remove stored credentials and re-authenticate
- Check IDE Updates: Update your IDE to the latest version
- Check Browser Authentication: If using browser-based auth, clear browser cache
- Verify Network Access: Ensure GitHub.com is accessible from your network
Enterprise Authentication
For Enterprise plans with SSO:
- Verify SSO configuration is correct
- Check with IT admin about SSO status
- Ensure your account has Copilot access granted
- Verify organization policies allow Copilot usage
Subscription Problems
Subscription issues can prevent Copilot from functioning:
Common Subscription Issues
- Subscription expired
- Payment method failed
- Organization license not assigned
- Seat not allocated in Enterprise plan
- Trial period ended
Solutions
- Check Subscription Status: Visit GitHub.com → Settings → Copilot to verify status
- Update Payment Method: Ensure payment method is valid and up to date
- Contact Organization Admin: For Enterprise/Business plans, request seat allocation
- Renew Subscription: If expired, renew your subscription
- Verify License Assignment: Ensure your account has a Copilot license assigned
Note: In Enterprise plans, administrators must assign Copilot seats to users. Check with your admin if you don't have access.
Slow or No Suggestions
Sometimes Copilot suggestions are slow to appear or don't appear at all:
Possible Causes
- Network latency or slow connection
- Large file context being processed
- Server-side issues on GitHub's end
- Rate limiting due to excessive requests
- Firewall or proxy blocking requests
- VPN interference
Solutions
- Check Network Connection: Verify internet speed and stability
- Reduce Context Window: Close unnecessary files or reduce file size
- Check GitHub Status: Visit status.github.com for service issues
- Wait and Retry: If rate limited, wait a few minutes before retrying
- Check Firewall Settings: Ensure GitHub.com and API endpoints are allowed
- Disable VPN Temporarily: Test if VPN is causing connectivity issues
- Check Proxy Settings: Verify proxy configuration if using corporate proxy
Extension Not Loading
If the Copilot extension fails to load in your IDE:
Solutions
- Restart IDE: Close and reopen your IDE completely
- Reinstall Extension: Uninstall and reinstall the GitHub Copilot extension
- Check IDE Compatibility: Verify your IDE version supports Copilot
- Update IDE: Update to the latest IDE version
- Check Extension Logs: Review IDE extension logs for error messages
- Check System Requirements: Verify your system meets Copilot requirements
- Try Different IDE: Test if issue is IDE-specific
IDE-Specific Troubleshooting
- VS Code: Check Output panel for Copilot extension errors
- Visual Studio: Verify .NET framework and Visual Studio updates
- JetBrains IDEs: Check plugin compatibility and Java version
- Neovim/Vim: Verify plugin manager and dependencies
Suggestions Not Relevant
When Copilot suggestions don't match what you need:
Possible Causes
- Insufficient context in your code
- Unclear or ambiguous prompts
- Programming language not well-supported
- Uncommon or specialized use case
- Code pattern too unique
Solutions
- Add More Context: Include comments explaining what you want
- Use Clearer Prompts: Be specific about desired functionality
- Provide Examples: Show examples of similar code patterns
- Use Copilot Chat: For complex requests, use Chat instead of inline suggestions
- Break Down Tasks: Divide complex tasks into smaller, clearer steps
- Use Descriptive Names: Use clear variable and function names
Network Connectivity Issues
Network problems can prevent Copilot from working:
Common Network Issues
- Firewall blocking GitHub API endpoints
- Corporate proxy configuration
- VPN interference
- DNS resolution problems
- SSL/TLS certificate issues
Solutions
- Check Firewall Rules: Allow connections to api.github.com and copilot.github.com
- Configure Proxy: Set up proxy settings in IDE if required
- Test VPN: Temporarily disable VPN to test connectivity
- Check DNS: Verify DNS can resolve GitHub domains
- Contact IT: For corporate networks, work with IT to whitelist GitHub endpoints
- Check SSL Certificates: Ensure system certificates are up to date
Required Endpoints
- api.github.com
- copilot.github.com
- github.com
Enterprise-Specific Issues
Enterprise plans may have additional troubleshooting considerations:
Common Enterprise Issues
- Seat not assigned to user
- Organization policy blocking Copilot
- Content exclusions preventing suggestions
- SSO authentication problems
- Network restrictions blocking GitHub
Solutions
- Check Seat Assignment: Verify admin has assigned you a Copilot seat
- Review Organization Policies: Check if policies restrict Copilot usage
- Check Content Exclusions: Verify files aren't in exclusion list
- Contact Admin: Work with organization admin for SSO or policy issues
- Check Audit Logs: Review logs to understand access restrictions
Diagnostic Steps
Follow these steps to diagnose Copilot issues systematically:
Step-by-Step Diagnosis
- Verify Basic Requirements:
- Check internet connectivity
- Verify GitHub account is active
- Confirm subscription is active
- Check Authentication:
- Sign out and sign back in
- Verify credentials are correct
- Check for authentication errors in IDE
- Verify Extension Status:
- Check extension is installed and enabled
- Verify extension version is current
- Review extension logs for errors
- Test in Different Environment:
- Try different file types
- Test in different IDE
- Check if issue is file-specific
- Check Enterprise Settings:
- Verify seat assignment
- Check organization policies
- Review content exclusions
Support Resources
When self-troubleshooting doesn't resolve the issue, use these resources:
Official Resources
- GitHub Copilot Documentation: docs.github.com/copilot
- GitHub Status Page: status.github.com
- GitHub Community Forum: github.community
- GitHub Support: support.github.com
- Copilot Troubleshooting Guide: Official troubleshooting documentation
When to Contact Support
- After trying all troubleshooting steps
- For subscription or billing issues
- For Enterprise plan configuration problems
- When experiencing persistent authentication failures
- For security or privacy concerns
Information to Provide
- IDE name and version
- Copilot extension version
- Operating system
- Error messages or logs
- Steps already attempted
- Account type (Individual/Business/Enterprise)
Exam Key Points
- Most common issue: Not signed in or subscription expired
- Authentication problems: Sign out and sign back in, check subscription status
- Slow suggestions: Check network, reduce context, check GitHub status
- Extension not loading: Restart IDE, reinstall extension, check IDE compatibility
- Network issues: Check firewall, proxy, VPN, DNS settings
- Enterprise issues: Verify seat assignment, check organization policies, review content exclusions
- File type must be supported for Copilot to work
- Content exclusions prevent Copilot from working on excluded files
- Check GitHub status page for service outages
- Diagnostic steps: Verify requirements → Check auth → Verify extension → Test environment → Check enterprise settings
- Support resources: Documentation, status page, community forum, GitHub support
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