Top 5 GitHub Copilot Errors and How to Solve Them Quickly

Error Updated on : December 31, 2025

GitHub Copilot has quickly become an essential AI companion for developers, offering smart code completions and suggestions directly in your IDE. But even powerful tools like Copilot are not immune to hiccups: from network issues and authentication glitches to chat failures, Copilot errors can interrupt your workflow just when you need it the most. In this blog, you will learn the top 5 GitHub Copilot errors, why they happen, and how to fix them fast.

Copilot Errors & Fixes at a Glance

Most common causes:

• Network restrictions
• Outdated IDE or extension
• Authentication/token mismatch
• File-level admin exclusions
• Rate limiting

Fastest fixes:

• Update IDE + extension
• Sign out and sign in
• Check network/firewall
• Review content exclusions
• Reload or restart the IDE

Why GitHub Copilot Throws Errors

Copilot relies on cloud-based services, integrations with your editor, and up-to-date subscriptions. Common causes of errors include:

• Outdated IDE or Copilot plugin versions.
• Network, proxy, or firewall restrictions that block Copilot servers.
• Authentication/token failures due to expired credentials or managed user account setups.
• Rate limiting and service interruptions when usage caps are hit.
• File or content exclusions managed by organization admins.

Understanding these sources gives you a head start in troubleshooting any Copilot error.

Error #1: GitHub Copilot Not Responding

Cause: Most often, this is triggered by network connectivity issues, firewalls, VPNs, or proxies with restrictive settings may block access to Copilot’s cloud server connections. It can also occur if you are running an outdated extension or if content exclusions are active for the current file.

Fix:

• Check your network settings and ensure your IDE can reach Copilot servers.
• Update Copilot and your editor to the latest version.
• Look for a diagonal line through the Copilot icon; hover for content exclusion details.
• If you are on a managed account, verify permissions with the organization admin.

Error #2: Authentication or Token Expired

Cause: Copilot requires a valid GitHub account and subscription. Expired tokens, mismatched GitHub IDs, or outdated authentication settings in the IDE can trigger this error.

Fix:

• Sign out and back into GitHub Copilot in your IDE.
• Reload your IDE (such as using “Developer: Reload Window” in VS Code).
• Confirm that your GitHub account matches the account with Copilot access.
• For managed enterprise users, update relevant organization settings before signing in.

Error #3: Copilot Not Suggesting Code

Cause: Code suggestions may stop when extensions or IDEs are out of date, or when an admin has restricted Copilot access for a file or repository. Sometimes, Copilot gets stuck due to background service interruptions.

Fix:

• Update your Copilot extension and IDE.
• Confirm content exclusions aren’t active (look for status icon details).
• For Business or Enterprise accounts, contact your admin if you suspect file exclusions.
• Reload the IDE or restart the extension.

Error #4: Rate Limit Reached

Cause: This error indicates that you have exceeded Copilot’s request cap, either due to preview model restrictions or because the service is actively throttling requests to maintain fair usage for all users.

Fix:

• Wait for the limit to reset and try again.
• Optimize your Copilot usage to minimize rapid-fire requests.
• If consistently rate-limited, contact GitHub Support to ensure your usage pattern is legitimate.

Error #5: GitHub Copilot Chat Not Working

Cause: Copilot Chat requires the latest version of Visual Studio Code; it won’t work with older releases. Other causes include missed prerequisites, authentication errors, or service interruptions. Chat responses may also terminate unexpectedly due to backend issues.

Fix:

• Ensure you are running the latest Visual Studio Code and Copilot Chat versions.
• Double-check Chat prerequisites for your IDE.
• Reload your IDE or try resubmitting chat requests if responses are interrupted.
• For persistent issues, sign out and then sign back in, and revisit the authentication steps as outlined above.

Common Copilot Errors and Fast Fixes

Error Message	Probable Cause	Fastest Fix
Copilot Not Responding	Network block, outdated extension	Check network → Update → Reload
Token Expired / Auth Error	Expired token, wrong account	Sign out/in → Reload IDE
No Code Suggestions	File-level exclusions or old IDE	Check exclusions → Update IDE
Rate Limit Reached	Too many requests in a short time	Wait reset → Reduce rapid prompts
Copilot Chat Not Working	Old VS Code / missing prerequisites	Update VS Code → Restart → Re-auth

Troubleshoot Guide to Fix Common GitHub Copilot Errors

• Always keep both your IDE and Copilot extension up to date.
• Use the Copilot status icon to identify file or repository-specific exclusions.
• For managed enterprise accounts, consult organization administrators when in doubt.
• Use your editor’s command palette or preferences menu to reload extensions after fixes.
• If all else fails, check GitHub’s Status Page for service-wide incidents and refer to official logs for technical debugging.
• For error logs and additional documentation, see GitHub’s official troubleshooting guides and log viewing instructions.

Step-by-Step: How to Fix Top Copilot Errors Faster

1. Fix Copilot Not Responding

• Run the IDE network connectivity test
• Disable VPN/proxy temporarily
• Update Copilot extension
• Check the Copilot icon for exclusions
• Reload the IDE window

2. Fix Authentication/Token Issues

• Sign out of GitHub Copilot
• Sign back in with the correct GitHub account
• Run “Developer: Reload Window”
• Recheck enterprise admin permissions (if applicable)

3. Fix Code Suggestions Not Showing

• Update IDE + Copilot
• Verify file/repo isn’t excluded
• Restart the Copilot extension
• Reload IDE

Hidden GitHub Copilot Issues Developers Face in 2026

• Organization-level content exclusions quietly disable Copilot in select repos.
• Token refresh failures that only occur after password changes or SSO re-authentication.
• Rate limits affecting preview model users more frequently due to capacity upgrades.
• Extension incompatibility after major IDE updates.
• Chat termination bugs when the Copilot backend is under maintenance.

GitHub Copilot vs Other AI Coding Tools

Feature	GitHub Copilot	Amazon CodeWhisperer (now part of Amazon Q Developer)	TabNine
Code Suggestion Quality	Industry-leading	Good (excellent for AWS-specific code)	Good/Variable (improves with personalization)
Supports Multiple Languages	Yes	Yes (focus on common AWS languages)	Yes
Inline Chat Support	Yes	Yes (via Amazon Q Developer integration)	Yes (in Pro/Enterprise tiers)
Enterprise Controls	Advanced	Advanced	Advanced
Rate Limiting	Dynamic	Dynamic	None (in self-hosted versions
IDE Integration	VS Code, JetBrains, Visual Studio	VS Code	Most editors (VS Code, JetBrains, Eclipse, etc.)
Update Frequency	Very Frequent	Frequent	Occasional

When Should You Contact GitHub Support?

You should escalate to GitHub Support if:

• Your token keeps expiring after each login
• Copilot fails only on specific repos with no admin exclusions
• Rate limiting happens consistently, even with normal usage
• Copilot Chat stops working across all machines
• Your organization uses SSO with irregular authentication behaviour

Conclusion

Staying productive with GitHub Copilot in 2026 means knowing how to quickly diagnose and fix everyday errors from network hiccups and authentication woes to rate limits and advanced admin controls. Use this guide as your troubleshooting reference. Remember that keeping software updated and checking organizational restrictions are the fastest ways to get Copilot running again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Why is my Copilot disabled?

Ans. Copilot may be disabled due to an issue with your browser setting (blocked third-party cookies), expired subscription, problem with Microsoft account or license, network issue, or a setting that is disabled in the app or your operating system.

Q2. How do I fix Copilot suggestions not showing?

Ans. Update both your IDE and Copilot extension, check for any network or firewall restrictions, reload your IDE, or verify your account and license status.

Q3. Does GitHub Copilot work offline?

Ans. No, Copilot relies on cloud servers, so a live internet connection is required for code suggestions.

Q4. Why is Copilot slow in VS Code?

Ans. Copilot slows down VS Code mainly due to its intensive background context analysis, recent extension-related bugs, challenges with large project sizes, and occasional conflicts with other tools or system constraints. These issues might improve with future updates.

Q5. What is a common challenge when using GitHub Copilot?

Ans. Managing authentication and staying current with IDE/extension updates is a frequent challenge. File and organizational exclusion settings can silently prevent suggestions.

Q6. Where does Copilot go wrong?

Ans. Copilot may go wrong due to a lack of full context and providing irrelevant suggestions, missing code exclusions, or hitting cloud-side bugs, especially after major updates or infrastructure changes.

Q7. Can I use Copilot with an enterprise account?

Ans. Yes, but you may need specific admin permissions and updated organization settings.

Q8. How do I troubleshoot authentication problems in Visual Studio Code?

Ans. Sign out and back in, reload your IDE, and ensure you are using the correct GitHub account ID with Copilot access.

Q9. How can I check for Copilot service outages?

Ans. Visit the GitHub Status Page for any live incidents or disruptions affecting Copilot availability.

Q10. What do content exclusions mean for Copilot?

Ans. Content exclusions mean selective blocking of files from Copilot’s AI processing and suggestions to safeguard code privacy and comply with organizational policies while continuing to use GitHub Copilot effectively in approved areas.

Source Link:

• https://github.com/orgs/community/discussions/10053
• https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/configure-content-exclusion/exclude-content-from-copilot
• https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/troubleshoot-copilot/troubleshoot-common-issues