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title GitHub Copilot Free in Visual Studio
description Use GitHub Copilot Completions, Chat, and Edits for free in Visual Studio.
ms.date 05/15/2026
ms.update-cycle 180-days
ms.topic overview
author RoseHJM
ms.author rosemalcolm
ms.subservice ai-tools
ms.collection ce-skilling-ai-copilot
ms.custom awp-ai
monikerRange >= vs-2022

Use GitHub Copilot for free in Visual Studio

GitHub Copilot Free enables you to experience AI-powered coding assistance in your IDE by providing limited access to select Copilot features. With Copilot Free, you can now access all AI-integrated features in Visual Studio, including Completions, Edits, and Chat.

Prerequisites

To get started with Copilot Free in Visual Studio, you need:

Get started with Copilot Free in Visual Studio

With Visual Studio version 17.14 or later, you can activate Copilot Free at first launch. You can also set up from the Copilot Chat window at any time by using the following steps.

If you're not signed in, the Get started with Copilot Free dialog appears when you try to use any Copilot feature.

  1. Use Ctrl+\+C to open the chat window in Visual Studio. You can also select the GitHub Copilot badge in the upper-right corner of the IDE, and then select Open Chat Window from the dropdown to open chat.

  2. In the Chat window, enter a prompt to start using Copilot. The Get started with Copilot Free dialog appears.

  3. Select Continue with GitHub or Continue with Google.

    :::moniker range="<=vs-2022"

    :::image type="content" source="media/vs-2022/get-started-with-copilot-free-dialog.png" alt-text="Screenshot of Sign up for Copilot Free in the Chat window.":::

    :::moniker-end

    :::moniker range="visualstudio"

    :::image type="content" source="media/visualstudio/get-started-with-copilot-free-dialog.png" alt-text="Screenshot of Sign up for Copilot Free in the Chat window.":::

    :::moniker-end

  4. If you have an existing GitHub account, sign in when prompted. If not, follow the steps to create a new GitHub account.

  5. When finished, you're redirected back to Visual Studio.

Copilot Free usage limits in Visual Studio

Copilot Free includes a limited number of inline suggestions and a monthly usage limit for Copilot Chat and other capabilities. As you approach your monthly usage limit, Visual Studio might show usage alerts. When your monthly limit is reached, you notice a change in Copilot functionality.

:::moniker range="visualstudio"

You can check your free tier status anytime by selecting Copilot Usage from the Copilot badge dropdown in the top-right corner of the IDE.

:::image type="content" source="media/visualstudio/copilot-free-status.png" alt-text="Screenshot of Copilot Free Status menu option.":::

The following image shows the Copilot Free usage dialog with monthly limit details.

:::image type="content" source="media/copilot-free-usage-monthly-limit.png" alt-text="Screenshot showing Copilot Free usage with monthly limit and inline suggestions usage details." lightbox="media/copilot-free-usage-monthly-limit.png":::

:::moniker-end

:::moniker range="<=vs-2022"

You can check your free tier status anytime by selecting Copilot Free Status from the Copilot badge dropdown in the top-right corner of the IDE.

:::image type="content" source="media/vs-2022/copilot-free/copilot-free-status.png" alt-text="Screenshot of Copilot Free Status menu option.":::

:::moniker-end

You can also check the current status of your Copilot Free account on the GitHub account settings page.

Usage limit reached

When you reach usage limits for Copilot Free, wait for the monthly reset or upgrade to another Copilot plan to continue using Copilot.

For plan-to-plan usage behavior and model guidance, see Manage Copilot usage and models.

[!INCLUDE copilot-trials-paused-notice]

Tips to get more from Copilot Free

  • Check Copilot Usage before long chat sessions so you can decide when to conserve your usage.
  • Keep routine prompts concise and reserve larger prompts for tasks where chat or edits add the most value.
  • To customize Copilot behavior, open Tools > Options > GitHub > Copilot and enable or disable the capabilities you want to use.
  • If Copilot doesn't behave as expected, confirm the correct GitHub account is active in Visual Studio.

Frequently asked questions

Who can access Copilot Free?

Copilot Free isn't available if you have an EMU account, access to a Copilot license through an organization, an existing Copilot Pro subscription, or free access to Copilot Pro as a student, teacher, or open-source maintainer. For the latest information, see About GitHub Copilot Free.

Can I turn off completions to save them for later?

Yes. You can enable or disable completions at any time. To enable or disable completions, select Settings from GitHub Copilot badge in the upper-right corner of your IDE, and then select or unselect Enable Copilot Completions. You can also get to it from Settings > Options.

Can I block suggestions matching public code with Copilot Free?

Yes. You can configure these settings from the GitHub Copilot Settings page.

What Copilot features are included in Copilot Free?

Copilot Free includes the following features: Copilot Completions, Edits, and Chat. Learn more at About GitHub Copilot Free.

What are the Copilot Free limits for Completions and Chat?

See About GitHub Copilot Free for information.

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