How to Install GitHub Copilot in IntelliJ IDEA on Windows 11

If you’ve used GitHub Copilot in VS Code, you already know how powerful it is. It’s like having an AI coding partner that helps you write, refactor, and even explain code faster than ever. But what if you prefer using IntelliJ IDEA, JetBrains’ popular IDE for Java, Python, C++, and more?

Good news — GitHub Copilot is fully compatible with IntelliJ IDEA on Windows 11! In this guide, we’ll show you step-by-step how to install and set up GitHub Copilot inside IntelliJ IDEA to supercharge your development workflow.

What Is GitHub Copilot?

GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered coding assistant developed by GitHub and OpenAI. It integrates directly into your IDE to provide context-aware code suggestions, autocompletions, and explanations as you type.

It uses the OpenAI Codex model to understand your code and comments — generating accurate code snippets in real time. Think of it as an always-available coding partner that learns from billions of lines of open-source code.

Why Use GitHub Copilot in IntelliJ IDEA?

Here are some reasons why installing Copilot in IntelliJ IDEA is a game-changer:

AI Autocomplete – Get real-time code suggestions as you type.
Natural Language Prompts – Write comments like “// sort array” and let Copilot generate the code.
Supports Multiple Languages – Works with Java, Python, Kotlin, C++, Go, and more.
Boosts Productivity – Reduces repetitive coding and boilerplate writing.
Context-Aware – Understands your entire project and coding style.

Whether you’re working on a Java Spring project or writing Python automation scripts, GitHub Copilot can significantly speed up your development process.

Step 1: Install IntelliJ IDEA on Windows 11

If you haven’t already installed IntelliJ IDEA, here’s how to do it:

Go to the official JetBrains website: https://www.jetbrains.com/idea/download
Choose the Community (free) or Ultimate (paid) edition.
Download and run the installer.
Follow the setup wizard to complete installation.
Once installed, open IntelliJ IDEA.

Tip: The Community Edition works fine with GitHub Copilot, so you don’t need the paid version to use it.

Step 2: Sign in to Your GitHub Account

Before installing the Copilot plugin, ensure that you’re signed in to your GitHub account.

Launch IntelliJ IDEA.
Click on the Profile icon in the top-right corner.
Choose Settings → Version Control → GitHub.
Click Add Account → Log in via GitHub.
Authorize IntelliJ IDEA to access your GitHub account.

You’re now ready to install GitHub Copilot.

Step 3: Install GitHub Copilot Plugin

GitHub Copilot is distributed as a JetBrains plugin. You can install it directly from IntelliJ IDEA’s Plugin Marketplace.

Open IntelliJ IDEA.
Click File → Settings (or press Ctrl + Alt + S).
Go to Plugins → Marketplace.
In the search bar, type: GitHub Copilot
Click Install next to the official GitHub Copilot plugin.
Once installation is complete, restart IntelliJ IDEA.

You’ll now see the GitHub Copilot icon in your IDE’s status bar.

Step 4: Sign in to GitHub Copilot

Once IntelliJ restarts, Copilot will prompt you to sign in and activate your account.

Click on the GitHub Copilot icon in the bottom-right corner.
A browser window will open, asking you to authorize GitHub Copilot.
Log in with your GitHub credentials and approve the permissions.
After successful authentication, go back to IntelliJ IDEA.

Copilot will now activate automatically.

Note: If you have a GitHub Copilot subscription, it will automatically sync. Otherwise, you can start a 30-day free trial.

Step 5: Test GitHub Copilot in IntelliJ IDEA

Now let’s test if Copilot is working correctly.

Open or create a new project (for example, a simple Java project).
Inside your code file, start typing a comment like: // Write a function that checks if a number is prime
Within a few seconds, Copilot should suggest code automatically.
Press Tab to accept the suggestion.

If you see the suggestion appear — congratulations! GitHub Copilot is working perfectly.

Step 6: Configure GitHub Copilot Settings

You can customize how Copilot behaves inside IntelliJ IDEA. To adjust settings:

Go to File → Settings → GitHub Copilot.
From here, you can:
- Enable or disable inline suggestions.
- Choose languages where Copilot should be active.
- Manage auto-popup delay or disable suggestions entirely.
Save the changes and restart IntelliJ if required.

Tip: You can toggle Copilot on/off quickly by clicking its icon in the status bar.

Step 7: Troubleshooting Common Issues

If GitHub Copilot doesn’t work or show suggestions, here are some quick fixes:

Check Internet Connection: Copilot requires an active internet connection.
Firewall or VPN: Make sure IntelliJ can access GitHub’s API (port 443).
Reauthenticate: Run Help → Log In to GitHub Copilot again if your session expired.
Reinstall Plugin: Uninstall and reinstall the plugin if it fails to load after updates.
IDE Update: Keep IntelliJ IDEA and the plugin up to date.

Bonus: GitHub Copilot Chat for IntelliJ IDEA

Want to take it a step further? You can also install GitHub Copilot Chat, which adds an AI-powered chat interface inside your IDE — just like ChatGPT, but context-aware of your codebase.

Go to Plugins → Marketplace.
Search for GitHub Copilot Chat.
Click Install and restart IntelliJ IDEA.
Open the Chat tab from the right sidebar and start asking Copilot questions like:
- “Explain this method.”
- “Optimize this function.”
- “Generate test cases for this class.”

This makes your workflow more interactive and efficient.

Wrapping Up

Installing GitHub Copilot in IntelliJ IDEA on Windows 11 is simple — and it can massively boost your coding efficiency.

With just a few steps — installing the plugin, signing into GitHub, and enabling the AI — you can have Copilot writing code right beside you in real time.

Whether you’re building enterprise Java apps, experimenting with C++, or writing quick Python scripts, Copilot adapts to your needs and helps you write better, faster code.