How to sign in with GitHub account on GitHub Copilot

beginner 8 min read Updated 2026-03-18

Quick Answer

Sign in to GitHub Copilot by installing the GitHub Copilot extension in your IDE, clicking the sign-in prompt, and authorizing through GitHub's authentication flow. Once authenticated, you'll have access to AI-powered code suggestions and completions.

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Prerequisites

A valid GitHub account
GitHub Copilot subscription
VS Code or compatible IDE installed
Stable internet connection

Step-by-Step Instructions

Install GitHub Copilot Extension

Open VS Code and navigate to the Extensions tab by clicking the Extensions icon in the sidebar or pressing Ctrl+Shift+X. Search for GitHub Copilot and click Install on the official GitHub Copilot extension.

Make sure to install the official extension published by GitHub to avoid security issues.

Access Sign-In Prompt

After installation, VS Code will show a notification prompting you to sign in. Click Sign in to GitHub in the notification. Alternatively, open the Command Palette with Ctrl+Shift+P and type GitHub Copilot: Sign In.

If you miss the notification, you can always access sign-in through the Command Palette.

Authorize Device Code

VS Code will display a dialog with a device code and automatically open your web browser to GitHub's device activation page. If the browser doesn't open automatically, navigate to https://github.com/login/device manually.

Keep the VS Code dialog open while completing the browser authentication process.

Enter Device Code

In your web browser, paste or type the device code from VS Code into the input field on GitHub's device activation page. Click Continue to proceed with the authentication.

Grant Authorization

GitHub will prompt you to authorize GitHub Copilot to access your account. Review the permissions requested and click Authorize GitHub Copilot to grant access.

The permissions allow Copilot to access your code context and provide relevant suggestions.

Confirm Authentication

Return to VS Code where you should see a confirmation message that you've successfully signed in. The GitHub Copilot icon in the status bar should now show as active (typically with a checkmark or your GitHub avatar).

Test Copilot Functionality

Open a code file and start typing a function or comment. GitHub Copilot should begin providing suggestions in gray text. Press Tab to accept suggestions or Escape to dismiss them.

Try writing a comment describing what you want to code - Copilot often provides excellent suggestions based on comments.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Device code expired during authentication

Close the browser tab and VS Code dialog, then restart the sign-in process using Ctrl+Shift+P and typing GitHub Copilot: Sign In. Complete the process more quickly this time.

Copilot not providing suggestions after sign-in

Check that your GitHub Copilot subscription is active by visiting github.com/settings/copilot. Also ensure the Copilot extension is enabled in VS Code's Extensions panel.

Sign-in fails with network error

Check your internet connection and any corporate firewall settings. You may need to configure proxy settings in VS Code or ask your IT administrator to whitelist *.github.com and *.githubusercontent.com.

VS Code doesn't show sign-in notification

Manually trigger sign-in by opening Command Palette with Ctrl+Shift+P, typing GitHub Copilot: Sign In, and selecting the command. Alternatively, click the Copilot icon in the status bar.

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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