How to Fix Auth Read ECONNRESET Copilot Error in Visual Studio Code

GitHub Copilot is one of the most powerful AI assistants for developers, helping write, refactor, and complete code effortlessly in real time. However, sometimes while signing in or fetching completions, you might see an error like: Auth Error: read ECONNRESET

If this looks familiar, you’re not alone. Many users have reported this error, especially on Windows 11 when Copilot tries to authenticate with GitHub servers but the network connection is suddenly dropped or reset.

In this guide, we’ll explain what causes the “Auth Read ECONNRESET” error and show you how to fix it step-by-step so you can get back to coding with Copilot in no time.

What Causes the “Auth Read ECONNRESET” Copilot Error?

This error means the authentication request Copilot sent to GitHub’s servers was abruptly cut off — usually by the system, proxy, or firewall.

Common reasons include:

• Unstable or restricted network (VPNs, corporate firewalls, etc.)
• Proxy misconfiguration in VS Code or Windows
• Outdated Copilot extension or Node.js runtime
• Corrupt Copilot auth token or cache
• SSL or DNS interruptions while authenticating

When the connection is reset mid-auth, VS Code throws the “Auth Read ECONNRESET” message.

1. Check Your Internet Connection First

Start with the basics — a weak or filtered connection can cause authentication failures.

1. Disconnect and reconnect to the internet.
2. If you’re using a VPN or proxy, disable it temporarily.
3. Try opening this link in your browser: https://githubcopilot.com
   • If it doesn’t load, your network is blocking Copilot’s API.
4. Restart VS Code and retry signing in.

Pro Tip: Copilot needs a stable, unrestricted HTTPS connection on port 443 to work properly.

2. Sign Out and Re-Authenticate GitHub Copilot

Sometimes the authentication token stored locally gets corrupted. Signing out and signing back in usually fixes it.

1. Open VS Code.
2. Press Ctrl + Shift + P and run: GitHub Copilot: Sign Out
3. Then again open the command palette and run: GitHub Copilot: Sign In
4. Complete the browser-based login and return to VS Code.

Once authenticated, restart VS Code to apply the new token.

3. Reset VS Code Proxy and Network Settings

If VS Code’s proxy configuration is pointing to an invalid or offline server, Copilot’s API calls will fail.

1. Open Settings (JSON) by pressing Ctrl + Shift + P →
   Preferences: Open Settings (JSON).
2. Remove any http.proxy or https.proxy lines: "http.proxy": "", "https.proxy": "", "http.proxyStrictSSL": false
3. Save and restart VS Code.

Alternative: Run this command in the palette to auto-reset the connection:

> GitHub Copilot: Reset Connection

4. Flush Your DNS Cache

A broken DNS resolver cache can interrupt GitHub’s domain lookup.

1. Run Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. Enter the command: ipconfig /flushdns
3. You should see:
   “Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.”
4. Restart your computer and retry authentication.

This ensures Copilot connects to the correct GitHub domain.

5. Temporarily Disable Firewall or Antivirus

Overprotective firewall rules can cut off the SSL connection mid-auth, causing the ECONNRESET error.

1. Open Windows Security → Firewall & Network Protection.
2. Choose Allow an app through firewall.
3. Ensure both of these are allowed on Private and Public networks:
   • Code.exe (VS Code)
   • node.exe (used by Copilot extension)
4. Apply changes and retry Copilot login.

If the error disappears, your firewall was blocking Copilot traffic.

6. Update the Copilot Extension

Outdated versions may use deprecated authentication endpoints.

1. In VS Code, go to Extensions (Ctrl + Shift + X).
2. Search for GitHub Copilot.
3. Click the gear icon → Check for Updates.
4. If available, install the update and restart VS Code.

You can also uninstall and reinstall Copilot from the VS Marketplace.

7. Clear Copilot Authentication Cache

Corrupt cache files can break the login process.

1. Close VS Code completely.
2. Navigate to this folder:
   C:\Users\<YourUser>\AppData\Roaming\Code\User\globalStorage\github.copilot
3. Delete the auth.json or token.json files.
4. Reopen VS Code and sign in again.

This forces VS Code to regenerate fresh authentication tokens.

8. Update Node.js Runtime

Copilot runs partially on Node.js inside VS Code. An outdated version may fail SSL handshakes.

1. Open Command Prompt and check your version: node -v
2. If it’s below v18, download the latest LTS version from nodejs.org.
3. Install and restart VS Code.

Once updated, try signing in to Copilot again.

9. Switch to Alternate DNS

If DNS lookup still fails, switch to a global resolver.

1. Go to Network & Internet Settings → Adapter Options.
2. Right-click your connection → Properties → IPv4.
3. Choose Use the following DNS server addresses:
   • Preferred: 8.8.8.8
   • Alternate: 8.8.4.4
4. Save and restart VS Code.

Alternatively, use Cloudflare DNS: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1.

10. Try Logging In via Personal Access Token (Advanced Fix)

If normal authentication keeps failing, you can manually authenticate Copilot using a GitHub Personal Access Token (PAT).

1. Log in to your GitHub account → Settings → Developer settings → Personal access tokens → Fine-grained tokens.
2. Generate a token with scopes:
   • read:user
   • user:email
   • repo
3. Copy the token.
4. In VS Code, open the command palette → GitHub Copilot: Sign In Manually
5. Paste your token when prompted.

Wrapping Up

The “Auth Read ECONNRESET” error in GitHub Copilot typically points to a connection or authentication disruption — not a Copilot bug. By following the steps above — checking your network, resetting proxy settings, flushing DNS, and re-authenticating Copilot — you should be able to restore its functionality quickly.

Once fixed, Copilot will start providing real-time code suggestions and completions again, helping you code faster and smarter in Visual Studio Code.