GitHub Copilot Setup and Installation

Setting up GitHub Copilot takes about ten minutes. You need a GitHub account, a Copilot subscription, and a supported code editor. This topic walks through each step in order so you finish with a fully working setup.

What You Need Before You Start

A GitHub account (free to create at github.com)
A supported code editor installed on your computer
An internet connection during setup

If you do not have a GitHub account, visit github.com and sign up. The process takes two minutes and requires only an email address.

Step 1: Get a Copilot Subscription

GitHub Copilot is a paid service with a free option for qualifying users. Here are the current plan types:

PLAN TYPE           WHO IT'S FOR                COST
─────────────────   ─────────────────────────   ─────────────────────────
Copilot Free        Verified students &          Free
                    open-source maintainers

Copilot Individual  Solo developers             Monthly or annual fee

Copilot Business    Teams and companies         Per user, monthly fee

Copilot Enterprise  Large organizations         Higher per user fee
                    with custom features

To activate a plan, go to github.com, click your profile icon in the top-right, and select Your Copilot. From there, choose a plan and complete the billing setup if required.

Students can apply for the free plan through GitHub's Student Developer Pack at education.github.com. Approval usually takes a few days and requires verification of student status.

Step 2: Install a Supported Editor

Copilot works inside several editors. Visual Studio Code is the most popular and easiest to start with. Download it for free from code.visualstudio.com.

SUPPORTED EDITORS:
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Visual Studio Code      → Most common, free, recommended for beginners
Visual Studio           → For Windows/.NET developers
JetBrains IDEs          → IntelliJ, PyCharm, WebStorm, GoLand, etc.
Neovim                  → Terminal-based, for advanced users
Azure Data Studio       → For SQL and database developers
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────

Step 3: Install the Copilot Extension

The installation steps below use Visual Studio Code. The process is similar in other editors.

IN VISUAL STUDIO CODE:

1. Open VS Code
        ↓
2. Click the Extensions icon on the left sidebar
   (looks like four squares)
        ↓
3. In the search bar, type: GitHub Copilot
        ↓
4. Click Install on the extension named
   "GitHub Copilot" by GitHub
        ↓
5. Also install "GitHub Copilot Chat"
   (a companion extension for the chat feature)
        ↓
6. Restart VS Code when prompted

Step 4: Sign In with Your GitHub Account

After installation, VS Code shows a prompt asking you to sign in. Click Sign in to GitHub. Your browser opens a GitHub authorization page. Click Authorize Visual Studio Code and then return to the editor. Copilot is now connected to your account.

VS CODE BOTTOM STATUS BAR:
─────────────────────────────────────────────────
Before sign-in:  [Copilot icon — grey, with X]
After sign-in:   [Copilot icon — white/active]
─────────────────────────────────────────────────

The Copilot icon in the bottom-right corner of VS Code tells you the connection status at a glance. A colored icon means it is active. A grey icon with a warning means something needs attention.

Step 5: Test Your Setup

Create a new file to confirm everything works. Open VS Code, press Ctrl+N (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+N (Mac) to create a new file. Save it as test.js. Then type the following comment:

// function to add two numbers

Press Enter and wait one second. Copilot should display a grey suggestion like function add(a, b) { return a + b; }. Press Tab to accept it. If you see the suggestion appear, Copilot is working correctly.

Keyboard Shortcuts to Know From Day One

ACTION                          WINDOWS/LINUX       MAC
─────────────────────────────   ─────────────────   ─────────────────
Accept suggestion               Tab                 Tab
Dismiss suggestion              Esc                 Esc
Next suggestion                 Alt + ]             Option + ]
Previous suggestion             Alt + [             Option + [
Open suggestion panel           Ctrl + Enter        Ctrl + Enter
Open Copilot Chat               Ctrl + Shift + I    Ctrl + Shift + I

Installing Copilot in JetBrains IDEs

For JetBrains editors like IntelliJ IDEA or PyCharm:

1. Open the IDE
        ↓
2. Go to File → Settings → Plugins
        ↓
3. Search for "GitHub Copilot"
        ↓
4. Click Install and restart the IDE
        ↓
5. Go to Tools → GitHub Copilot → Sign in
        ↓
6. Complete the browser authorization

Checking Your Copilot Status

If Copilot stops working or you are unsure whether it is active, check the status icon at the bottom of your editor. In VS Code, you can also open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P or Cmd+Shift+P) and type Copilot: Enable or Copilot: Disable to toggle it on or off.

You can also check your subscription status directly at github.com/settings/copilot. This page shows whether your plan is active and lets you adjust settings like code suggestion preferences and telemetry options.

Proxy and Network Settings

If you work inside a company network with a firewall or proxy, Copilot may need additional configuration. VS Code reads system proxy settings automatically in most cases. If it does not connect, go to File → Preferences → Settings and search for "proxy" to configure it manually. Your IT team can provide the proxy address if needed.

Once setup is complete, Copilot runs quietly in the background. You write code normally, and suggestions appear automatically. The next topic covers the Copilot interface and how to navigate it efficiently.

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