GitHub Copilot has become one of the most powerful tools for developers, offering intelligent code completions right inside editors like Visual Studio and VS Code. However, if you notice that Copilot isn’t suggesting code, stops responding, or shows “Extension Error”, it’s likely due to a configuration or network issue.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the main causes and step-by-step fixes to get GitHub Copilot working properly again in Visual Studio on Windows 11.
Why GitHub Copilot Stops Working in Visual Studio
Before diving into the fixes, let’s understand the common reasons behind this issue:
- Authentication or sign-in issues with GitHub account
- Outdated Copilot extension or Visual Studio version
- Network/firewall restrictions blocking Copilot API access
- Corrupted extension cache or configuration
- Conflicts with other Visual Studio extensions
Now, let’s go through each fix step-by-step.
1. Check Your GitHub Copilot Subscription and Login
Copilot only works if your GitHub account is signed in and has an active subscription or a valid enterprise license.
- Open Visual Studio.
- Go to the Extensions → Manage Extensions menu.
- Search for GitHub Copilot to confirm it’s installed.
- Then, go to View → GitHub → GitHub Copilot.
- If prompted, sign in with your GitHub account.
- Verify your GitHub Copilot subscription at: https://github.com/settings/copilot
Pro Tip: If you’re part of a company account, ensure your organization has enabled Copilot for your user role.
2. Ensure Visual Studio and Copilot Extension Are Up to Date
Older versions of Visual Studio or the Copilot extension might not support the latest Copilot API updates.
- In Visual Studio, go to Extensions → Manage Extensions → Installed.
- Locate GitHub Copilot → click Update (if available).
- To update Visual Studio itself:
- Go to Help → Check for Updates.
- Download and install all available updates.
- Restart Visual Studio and check if Copilot starts working.
Tip: GitHub Copilot requires Visual Studio 2022 version 17.5 or newer.
3. Check if GitHub Copilot Is Enabled
Even if Copilot is installed, it may be disabled in your Visual Studio settings.
- Open Visual Studio.
- Go to Tools → Options.
- Scroll down to GitHub Copilot in the sidebar.
- Make sure the Enable GitHub Copilot checkbox is ticked.
- Click OK and restart Visual Studio.
Pro Tip: If you use multiple Visual Studio profiles, enable Copilot for each one individually.
4. Reconnect Your GitHub Account
Sometimes, Copilot stops working due to expired authentication tokens. Signing out and back in can fix this.
- In Visual Studio, open View → GitHub → GitHub Copilot.
- Click Sign out.
- Close Visual Studio completely.
- Reopen Visual Studio → Sign in again with your GitHub account.
- Wait a few seconds for Copilot to re-authenticate and reload.
Tip: Ensure you’re signed into the same GitHub account that owns the Copilot license.
5. Check Your Internet Connection and Firewall Settings
Copilot requires an active internet connection to communicate with GitHub’s AI servers.
- Try opening https://copilot-proxy.githubusercontent.com in your browser.
- If the site doesn’t load, your network or firewall may be blocking Copilot’s API.
- Open Windows Security → Firewall & network protection → Allow an app through firewall.
- Ensure Visual Studio (devenv.exe) is allowed on both Private and Public networks.
- Disable VPN or proxy temporarily and check if Copilot starts working.
Pro Tip: Enterprise firewalls may require adding exceptions for GitHub Copilot domains — contact your IT admin if needed.
6. Reinstall GitHub Copilot Extension
If the Copilot extension is corrupted, reinstalling it can fix the issue quickly.
- In Visual Studio, go to Extensions → Manage Extensions → Installed.
- Select GitHub Copilot → Uninstall.
- Restart Visual Studio.
- Reopen Extensions → Manage Extensions → Online.
- Search for GitHub Copilot and click Download.
- Once installation completes, restart Visual Studio again.
Note: You’ll need to sign back into your GitHub account after reinstalling.
7. Clear Copilot Cache and Temporary Files
Cached configuration or temporary files might prevent Copilot from initializing correctly.
- Close Visual Studio.
- Press Windows + R, type:
%AppData%\GitHubCopilot - Press Enter.
- Delete all files and folders inside this directory.
- Reopen Visual Studio and re-authenticate with GitHub.
Pro Tip: This resets Copilot completely, similar to a clean install.
8. Check for Conflicting Extensions
Some IntelliSense or autocomplete extensions may interfere with GitHub Copilot.
- Open Extensions → Manage Extensions → Installed.
- Temporarily disable extensions like:
- IntelliCode
- ReSharper
- CodeMaid
- Restart Visual Studio and check if Copilot starts working.
If Copilot works after disabling others, re-enable them one by one to identify the conflict.
9. Repair Visual Studio Installation
If none of the above steps work, your Visual Studio installation might be corrupted.
- Open the Visual Studio Installer app.
- Locate your Visual Studio installation.
- Click the More (⋮) icon → select Repair.
- Wait for the process to finish and restart your computer.
- Reopen Visual Studio and test Copilot.
10. Reinstall Visual Studio (Last Resort)
If repairing doesn’t work, a full reinstall may be necessary.
- Backup your settings (Tools → Import and Export Settings).
- Uninstall Visual Studio completely via Apps & Features.
- Reinstall the latest version from: https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/
- Reinstall GitHub Copilot from the Extensions Marketplace.
Wrapping Up
If GitHub Copilot isn’t working in Visual Studio, the issue usually comes down to authentication, network restrictions, or outdated extensions.
Start by checking your login, updating the Copilot extension and Visual Studio, and verifying your network access. If that doesn’t help, reinstall Copilot and clear its cache.
Once fixed, you’ll get Copilot’s powerful AI coding suggestions back — helping you write faster, smarter, and more efficiently
