Copilot Cheatsheet

This is a reference page — "what is the key, the flag, the plan?" Concepts: Glossary. First run: Tutorial. Recipes: Cookbook.
Currency: Copilot ships weekly on the GitHub changelog and monthly with VS Code Stable. Every keybinding, command, and setting on this page was checked against the official lists. If it is not on the official list, it is not here. Evidence base: High-quality sources.

Term index

One line each; details in the Glossary:

Term	One-liner
GitHub Copilot	GitHub's AI coding assistant; many doors, many models
Prompt / PE / Context	Input / how you shape the input / extra information attached
Four surfaces	Completion, Chat, CLI, Cloud agent
Ask / Edit / Agent	Three autonomy levels inside Chat
Chat participant	`@` prefix; pins the question to a domain
Tools / tool sets	`#` prefix; capabilities Chat can call
Custom instructions	Auto-injected project constraints
Prompt files	`.prompt.md`; manually invoked reusable tasks
Agent Skills	Directory with assets; specialized task pack
Plugins	Installable pack of agents / skills / hooks — not the sunset Extensions
MCP	Open protocol between AI hosts and external tools
Cloud agent	Runs in GitHub's cloud; output is usually a PR
Copilot app	Desktop shell for parallel agent sessions
Copilot Spaces	Named context pack (repos + files + notes)
Copilot CLI	Terminal Copilot agent
GitHub Spark	Micro-app builder; closed to new users 2026-08-04
AI credits	Usage billing unit

Surface selection

Your task	Surface	Why
Next line, boilerplate	Code completion	Zero cost, zero interrupt
"What does this code do?"	Chat / Ask	Answer only
"Refactor these two files"	Chat / Edit	You want the diff
"Install deps, run tests, multi-step rewrite"	Chat / Agent	Needs commands and iteration
"How do I write this shell command?"	Inline Chat (`⌘I` in the terminal) or CLI	The context is the terminal
"A 20-minute mechanical migration"	Cloud agent	Does not occupy your machine; output is a PR
"Ask about this repo on github.com"	Copilot Chat on GitHub	Repo context is already there
"Run several agents in parallel, stay out of the IDE"	Copilot app	Desktop shell on top of Copilot CLI
"Build a micro-app from a prompt"	Do not start GitHub Spark	Closed to new users / new apps on 2026-08-04

Mode selection

	Ask	Edit	Agent
Edits files?	No	Yes, only the ones you name	Yes, it chooses
Runs commands?	No	No	Yes (you approve)
Your checkpoint	None	Accept / discard each diff	Approve tool calls + review the result
Signal to pick it	I need to understand first	I know where, I do not want to type	I know the goal, not the process

Rule of thumb: can you tell at a glance that it is wrong? Yes → lean Agent. No → fall back to Edit or Ask.

Plan comparison

Source: Plans for GitHub Copilot and Choosing your enterprise plan

Plan	Price	What matters
Copilot Free	Free	2,000 code completions / month; models via auto-selection only
Copilot Pro	$10 / month	Individual; unlimited completions; Cloud agent; monthly AI credits
Copilot Pro+	$39 / month	Larger credit allowance; broader model catalog
Copilot Max	$100 / month	Highest individual credit allowance; priority access to new models
Copilot Business	$19 / seat / month	1,900 AI credits / user (pooled); org policies; Cloud agent
Copilot Enterprise	$39 / seat / month	3,900 AI credits / user (pooled); everything in Business + priority models/features + extra enterprise controls
Students / teachers / OSS maintainers	Free after verification	Eligibility required

Three facts you need:

Paid plans include a pool of GitHub AI credits. Per-request "premium request" billing is marked legacy on the official plans page.
Copilot is not available on GitHub Enterprise Server. Enterprise Copilot requires GitHub Enterprise Cloud. Owners can assign Enterprise or Business per organization.
Official pages recorded two temporary new-signup pauses: 2026-04-20 (Pro / Pro+ / Max / Student) and 2026-04-22 (self-serve Business on GitHub Free / Team orgs). Check the live plans page before you treat those pauses as still in force.

Overage on org plans is billed at $0.01 per AI credit unless you set a budget.

Keybindings

Source: VS Code Copilot feature reference. macOS keys.

Scene	Key	Action
Completion	`Tab`	Accept inline suggestion / jump to next edit suggestion
	`Escape`	Dismiss the current suggestion
Open Chat	`⌃⌘I`	Open the Chat view
	`⌘I`	Inline Chat (editor or terminal)
	`⇧⌥⌘L`	Quick Chat
Inside Chat	`⌘N`	New Chat session
	`⇧⌘I`	Switch the Chat view to an agent
	`⌥⌘.`	Model picker
Editor assist	`F2`	AI-assisted rename

Older site docs listed "Shift Tab accept line / ⌘→ accept word / ⌃Enter show all / ⌥] ⌥[ cycle suggestions." Those four are not on the current official key list and are omitted. Why: Glossary · Retired concepts.

Chat participants

Invoke with @. Same source as above.

Participant	Role	Example
`@github`	GitHub context (repos, Issues, PRs)	`@github list recent open bug issues in this repo`
`@terminal`	Integrated terminal shell and contents	`@terminal find the largest file in the src directory`
`@vscode`	VS Code commands and features	`@vscode how do I change my colors` `@vscode how can I change key bindings` `@vscode tell me how to debug a node.js app`

Extensions can contribute their own participants; they appear in the same @ list.

@workspace and @regex are not on the official list. See retired concepts.

Tool sets and file references

Cite with #. Citing a tool set allows the tools under it.

Tool set	Tools inside
`#agent`	`/runSubagent`
`#browser`	Browser tools
`#changes`	Current source-control changes as context
`#edit`	`/createDirectory`, `/createFile`, `/editFiles`, `/editNotebook`
`#execute`	`/createAndRunTask`, `/getTerminalOutput`, `/runInTerminal`, `/runNotebookCell`, `/testFailure`
`#githubRepo`	Search a named GitHub repo
`#githubTextSearch`	GitHub text search
`#newWorkspace`	Scaffold a new workspace
`#read`	`/getNotebookSummary`, `/problems`, `/readFile`, `/readNotebookCellOutput`, `/terminalLastCommand`, `/terminalSelection`
`#search`	`/changes`, `/codebase`, `/fileSearch`, `/listDirectory`, `/textSearch`, `/usages`
`#selection`	Current editor selection
`#todos`	Todo list
`#vscode`	`/askQuestions`, `/extensions`, `/getProjectSetupInfo`, `/installExtension`, `/runCommand`, `/VSCodeAPI`
`#web`	`/fetch`

Files directly: #file:path, e.g. #file:gameReducer.js #file:gameInit.js how are these files related.

MCP tools appear in the same # list.

Slash commands (VS Code Chat)

Command	Action
`/explain`	Explain the selection
`/fix`	Suggest a fix for the selection
`/doc`	Generate doc comments
`/tests`	Generate tests for the selection
`/setupTests`	Help set up a test framework
`/fixTestFailure`	Suggest fixes for failing tests
`/new`	Scaffold a project / file
`/newNotebook`	New Jupyter notebook
`/init`	Generate or update workspace Copilot config
`/plan`	Produce an implementation plan
`/search`	Search the workspace
`/debug`, `/startDebugging`, `/troubleshoot`	Debug-related
`/clear`	Clear the session
`/compact`	Compact session history
`/fork`	Fork the session
`/agents`, `/hooks`, `/instructions`, `/prompts`, `/skills`	Manage those customizations
`/create-agent`, `/create-hook`, `/create-instruction`, `/create-prompt`, `/create-skill`	Create those customizations
`/yolo` (`/autoApprove`), `/disableYolo` (`/disableAutoApprove`)	Toggle auto-approve
`/<skill name>`, `/<prompt name>`	Run a skill or prompt file

/new-from, /runCommand as a top-level slash command, and /help are not on the current official list. See retired concepts.

Custom instructions

Source: Custom instructions support matrix

Type	Location	Scope
👤 Personal	GitHub personal settings	All of your projects
📦 Repository	`.github/copilot-instructions.md`	Every conversation in that repo
📂 Path-specific	`.github/instructions/*/.instructions.md`	Files matching the frontmatter glob
🤖 Agent	`AGENTS.md` (also `CLAUDE.md`, `GEMINI.md`)	Cross-tool agent conventions
🏢 Organization	Org settings	Every repo in the org

Copilot CLI personal instructions: ~/.copilot/copilot-instructions.md or ~/.copilot/instructions/**/*.instructions.md.

IDE support (GitHub.com / VS Code / Visual Studio / JetBrains / Eclipse / Xcode / Copilot CLI) is not uniform — use the official matrix.

Prompt files

Item	Value
Project location	`.github/prompts/*.prompt.md`
User location	`.prompt.md` in a VS Code profile; settings sync
Custom location	`chat.promptFilesLocations`
Invoke	`/<filename>` in Chat, with args: `/create-react-form: formName=MyForm`

Frontmatter and a full example: Cookbook · Prompt files.

Common settings

Source: VS Code Copilot feature reference

Key	Role
`chat.promptFilesLocations`	Extra search paths for prompt files (including a Cursor-rules directory)
`chat.tools.autoApprove`	Auto-approve tool calls
`chat.tools.terminal.autoApprove`	Auto-approve terminal commands (per-command rules allowed)
`chat.tools.global.autoApprove`	Global auto-approve
`chat.tools.todos.showWidget`	Show the todo widget
`chat.math.enabled`	Render math in Chat
`mermaid-chat.enabled`	Render Mermaid in Chat
`github.copilot.chat.tools.memory.enabled`	Enable the Memory tool
`github.copilot.chat.agentDebugLog.enabled`	Agent debug log
`workbench.browser.enableChatTools`	Enable browser tools
`workbench.settings.showAISearchToggle`	AI search toggle in Settings
`search.searchView.semanticSearchBehavior`	Semantic search behavior in Search

Permission levels (Chat tool-approval policy): Default Approvals (ask each time) → Bypass Approvals → Autopilot (preview, fully autonomous).

Copilot CLI

The standalone copilot agent (not gh copilot; difference in the Glossary). Sources: Install and CLI command reference. Generally available since 2026-02-25.

Install

bash

# npm (Node.js 22+)
npm install -g @github/copilot

# Homebrew
brew install --cask copilot-cli

# Windows
winget install GitHub.Copilot

# Install script (honors PREFIX, VERSION)
curl -fsSL https://gh.io/copilot-install | bash

Windows needs PowerShell v6+. If npm skipped install scripts, retry with npm_config_ignore_scripts=false.

Auth

Method	Notes
`/login`	Interactive (preferred)
`copilot login [--host HOST] [--web-flow] [--device-code]`	CLI login
Env vars	Precedence `COPILOT_GITHUB_TOKEN` > `GH_TOKEN` > `GITHUB_TOKEN`

PATs must be fine-grained and include "Copilot Requests". Classic ghp_ PATs are not supported. Credentials go in the OS keychain; without one they are stored in the clear under ~/.copilot/ (COPILOT_HOME moves that directory).

Commands

Command	Action
`copilot`	Interactive session
`copilot init`	Init config in the current repo
`copilot help [TOPIC]`	Help. TOPIC: `billing`, `commands`, `config`, `environment`, `logging`, `monitoring`, `permissions`, `providers`, `sandbox`
`copilot completion SHELL`	Shell completion (`bash` / `zsh` / `fish`)
`copilot login` / `copilot logout`	Sign in / out
`copilot mcp`	Manage MCP servers
`copilot skill`	Manage Agent Skills
`copilot plugin`	Manage plugins
`copilot plugins list [--kind mcp\|skill\|instruction\|plugin\|lsp] [--scope SCOPE] [--json]`	List installed plugins
`copilot plugins enable\|disable\|remove [--plugin\|--mcp\|--skill]`	Enable / disable / remove
`copilot update`	Upgrade
`copilot version`	Version

--config-dir=DIRECTORY is deprecated; use COPILOT_HOME.

In-session slash commands

Command	Action
`/clear`, `/new`, `/reset`	New session
`/compact`	Compact context
`/context`	Context usage
`/add-dir`	Extra readable directory
`/cwd`, `/cd`	Show / change cwd
`/model`, `/models`	Show / switch models
`/mcp`	MCP servers
`/plugins`	Plugins
`/agent`	Switch custom agent
`/delegate`	Delegate a subtask
`/plan`	Plan mode
`/autopilot`, `/goal`	Autonomous mode (`--max-ai-credits N`)
`/allow-all`, `/yolo`	Allow all operations
`/permissions [default\|assisted\|allow-all\|show]`, `/permissions reset`	Permission modes
`/sandbox`	Sandbox settings
`/diff`	Show the diff
`/review`	Code review
`/security-review`	Security review
`/research`	Research mode
`/pr [view\|create\|fix\|auto\|automerge]`	Pull requests
`/limits` (`set max-ai-credits`, `unset`)	Credit caps
`/session`, `/sessions`	Session management
`/resume`, `/continue`	Resume last session
`/settings`, `/config`	Settings

In-session keys

Key	Action
`@ filename`	Cite a file
`# number`	Cite a numbered item
`! command` / bare `!`	Run a shell command / enter shell mode
`?`	Quick help
`Shift+Tab`	Cycle standard / plan / autopilot
`Shift+Enter`, `Option+Enter`, `Alt+Enter`	Newline without send
`Ctrl+Enter`, `Ctrl+Q`	Queue
`Esc`	Interrupt
`Ctrl+C`	Cancel
`Ctrl+D`	Quit
`Ctrl+L`	Clear screen
`Ctrl+G`	Jump
`Ctrl+R`	History search
`Ctrl+V`, `Alt+V`	Paste helpers
`Ctrl+X` then `/`, `e`, `b`, `o`	Extended actions
`Ctrl+Z`	Suspend
`Ctrl+F`, `Ctrl+O`, `Ctrl+E`, `Ctrl+T`, `PageUp` / `PageDown`	Timeline

Retired `gh copilot`

Official notice: the Copilot extension for GitHub CLI is retired. Use standalone copilot instead. The commands below are from this site's old single file, kept only so readers can map old tutorials:

bash

# Explain a command (retired)
gh copilot explain "sudo apt-get"

# Suggest a command (retired)
gh copilot suggest "Undo the last commit"

# Old aliases (retired)
ghce "sudo apt-get"
ghcs "Undo the last commit"

Troubleshooting

Symptom	Look here first
Weak answers, wrong topic	Relevant files open? `#file:` used? Custom instructions written?
Did this suggestion match public code?	Find matching public code
Generic failures	Troubleshoot common issues
Agent misbehaves; you want the tool trace	`github.copilot.chat.agentDebugLog.enabled`
Debug a prompt file	Play button in the prompt-file editor
CLI will not install	Node.js ≥ 22; Windows PowerShell ≥ 6; npm retry `npm_config_ignore_scripts=false`
CLI auth fails	Fine-grained PAT with Copilot Requests (classic `ghp_` is rejected)

High-quality sources

Ranked by trust. Use this order when you write or fact-check:

Source	Use	Cadence
GitHub Copilot docs	Product facts, concepts, how-tos	Continuous
Copilot features	Official assistive vs agentic surface list	Irregular
About cloud agent	Cloud agent vs IDE Agent mode	Irregular
About Copilot CLI	Terminal agent capabilities	With CLI releases
About the Copilot app	Desktop parallel-agent app	Irregular
VS Code Copilot feature reference	Keys, slash commands, tool sets, settings	Monthly Stable
Copilot plans	Prices, AI credits, availability	Irregular
Copilot CLI command reference	CLI subcommands, flags, session keys	With CLI releases
Custom instructions support	Per-IDE support for the five instruction types	Irregular
GitHub Changelog · Copilot	Launches and sunsets	Several per week
VS Code Release Notes	Monthly deltas; Copilot lives under Chat	Monthly
GitHub Blog · AI & ML	Mechanism essays (retrieval, etc.)	Irregular
GitHub Copilot video series	Official videos	Irregular

Evidence rule: Chinese docs.github.com is incomplete and lags. docs.github.com/zh/enterprise-cloud@latest/... is widely dead. Cite docs.github.com/en/copilot/....

Copilot tutorial — install and first run
Cookbook — scenario recipes
Glossary — concepts and the retired list

Copilot Cheatsheet ​

Term index ​

Surface selection ​

Mode selection ​

Plan comparison ​

Keybindings ​

Chat participants ​

Tool sets and file references ​

Slash commands (VS Code Chat) ​

Custom instructions ​

Prompt files ​

Common settings ​

Copilot CLI ​

Install ​

Auth ​

Commands ​

In-session slash commands ​

In-session keys ​

Retired gh copilot ​

Troubleshooting ​

High-quality sources ​

Related pages ​