How to assign issues to Copilot agent on GitHub Copilot

intermediate 8 min read Updated 2026-03-18

Quick Answer

To assign issues to a Copilot agent, navigate to your GitHub repository's Issues tab, create or open an existing issue, and use the assignees section to select the Copilot agent from the dropdown menu. The Copilot agent will automatically analyze the issue and provide suggested solutions or code implementations.

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Prerequisites

GitHub Copilot subscription
Repository with GitHub Copilot enabled
Admin or maintainer access to the repository
GitHub Issues feature enabled

Step-by-Step Instructions

Navigate to your GitHub repository

Go to your GitHub repository where you want to assign issues to the Copilot agent. Ensure that GitHub Copilot is enabled for this repository by checking the repository settings under Code security and analysis.

Make sure you have the necessary permissions to manage issues in the repository.

Access the Issues tab

Click on the Issues tab in your repository's main navigation bar. You can either create a new issue by clicking New issue or select an existing issue from the list.

Open or create an issue

If creating a new issue, fill in the Title and Description fields with detailed information about the problem or feature request. For existing issues, simply click on the issue title to open it.

Provide clear and specific details in the issue description to help the Copilot agent understand the context better.

Locate the Assignees section

On the right sidebar of the issue page, find the Assignees section. Click on the gear icon or assign yourself link to open the assignees dropdown menu.

Select the Copilot agent

In the assignees dropdown, look for the Copilot Agent option, which may appear as @copilot or GitHub Copilot Bot. Click on it to assign the issue to the Copilot agent.

The Copilot agent may take a few moments to appear in the assignees list if it's the first time being used in the repository.

Add Copilot-specific labels

In the Labels section, add relevant labels such as copilot-assistance, ai-help, or automated-solution to help categorize the issue for better Copilot agent processing.

Using specific labels helps the Copilot agent prioritize and understand the type of assistance needed.

Mention the Copilot agent in comments

Add a comment to the issue mentioning @copilot followed by specific instructions or questions. For example: @copilot please analyze this bug and suggest a fix or @copilot implement the feature described above.

Be specific in your requests to get more targeted assistance from the Copilot agent.

Monitor Copilot agent response

The Copilot agent will automatically analyze the issue and respond with suggestions, code snippets, or pull requests. Check the issue comments and linked pull requests for the agent's contributions. You can interact with the agent by replying to its comments or asking follow-up questions.

Copilot agent responses typically appear within a few minutes, but complex issues may take longer to analyze.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Copilot agent not appearing in assignees list

Ensure GitHub Copilot is enabled for your repository and you have the necessary subscription. Check repository settings under Actions and Code security and analysis to verify Copilot is activated.

Copilot agent not responding to mentions

Verify that you're using the correct mention format @copilot and that the issue has sufficient detail. The agent may not respond to vague or incomplete issue descriptions.

Cannot assign Copilot agent due to permissions

Contact your repository administrator to ensure you have write or maintain permissions. Only users with appropriate access levels can assign issues to automated agents.

Copilot agent provides irrelevant suggestions

Improve your issue description with more specific technical details, expected outcomes, and relevant code context. Use clear labels and provide step-by-step reproduction instructions for bugs.

Prices mentioned in this guide are pulled from current plan data and may change. Always verify on the official GitHub Copilot website before purchasing.

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