license-changes.md

title	Making changes to your GitHub Copilot license
shortTitle	License changes
intro	Learn how changes to {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot %} licenses affect billing and user access for organizations, enterprises, and personal accounts.
versions	feature copilot
category	Learn about Copilot
allowTitleToDifferFromFilename	true
contentType	reference

Important

Starting April 20, 2026, new sign-ups for {% data variables.copilot.copilot_pro_short %}, {% data variables.copilot.copilot_pro_plus_short %}, and student plans are temporarily paused. However, existing {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} plans can still be upgraded, downgraded, or canceled. If you hit unexpected limits as a result of these changes, you can cancel your Pro or Pro+ subscription and you will not be charged for April usage. Please reach out to GitHub support between April 20 and May 20, 2026, for a refund.

{% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} follows the same billing rules as other license-based products on {% data variables.product.company_short %}. For the general concepts, see:

• AUTOTITLE – explains how upgrades, downgrades, and seat changes are billed.
• AUTOTITLE – explains how usage-based billing works compared to volume licensing.

This article focuses on how those rules apply specifically to {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %}, including:

• What happens to billing and access when you add, remove, or change seats
• When billing changes take effect
• How partial billing cycles are handled
• {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %}-only scenarios such as revoking seats, disabling {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} at the organization or enterprise level, or removing organizations from an enterprise

Personal accounts

What you need to know about the following actions:

• Upgrading: If you upgrade your plan (for example, from {% data variables.copilot.copilot_pro_short %} to {% data variables.copilot.copilot_pro_plus_short %}), the change is immediate. You are charged a prorated amount for the new plan.
• Downgrading/canceling: Access remains until the end of the current billing cycle. No refund for unused time.

Organizations

What you need to know about the following actions:

Adding seats

• Billing: Additional {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} seats are billed for the remainder of the current billing cycle. Charges are prorated based on the date seats are added.
• Access: Users assigned to new seats get access immediately after assignment.

Removing seats

• Billing:
  • Billing for that user stops at the end of the cycle.
  • Reduced seat count takes effect at the start of the next billing cycle.
  • No refunds are issued for unused time in the current cycle.
• Access:
  • If a seat is unassigned during a billing cycle, the affected user can still access {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} until the end of the cycle.
  • If a seat is revoked, users lose access immediately.

Additionally:

• If {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} is disabled at the organization level or licensed users are removed from the organization: Affected users lose access to {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} immediately. Billing for affected users stops at the end of the cycle. If a user is restored to the organization or {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} is reenabled during the billing cycle, the users regain access to {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} immediately.

Enterprises

What you need to know about the following actions:

Adding seats

• Billing: Additional seats are billed on a prorated basis for the remainder of the current billing cycle.
• Access: Assigned users gain immediate access to {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %}.

Removing seats

• Billing:
  • Billing for that user stops at the end of the cycle.
  • Reduced seat count takes effect at the start of the next billing cycle.
  • No refunds are issued for unused time in the current cycle.
• Access:
  • If a seat is unassigned during a billing cycle, the affected user can still access {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} until the end of the cycle.
  • If a seat is revoked, users lose access immediately.

Additionally:

• If an organization with {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} seats is removed from an enterprise: Billing for those seats will stop at the end of the billing cycle. The users who had seats assigned by the removed organization will lose access to {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} unless they receive a seat through another organization.

• If {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} is disabled at the enterprise level: Any user with a {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} license will lose access to {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} immediately. Billing for that user stops at the end of the cycle. If {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} is reenabled, users regain access to {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} immediately.

In summary

• Proration: Applies when adding seats/licenses or upgrading plans. You pay only for the portion of the billing cycle remaining.
• Access: Assignments and plan changes are effective immediately for affected users.
• Removing or canceling: No refunds are issued for unused time; access continues until the end of the cycle paid for, unless a seat/license is revoked.

Scenario	Plan	When is billing affected?	Is proration applied?	When does access change?	Refund for unused time?
Add seat/license	{% data variables.copilot.copilot_business_short %}, {% data variables.copilot.copilot_enterprise_short %}	Next bill	Yes	Immediately	N/A
Remove seat/license	{% data variables.copilot.copilot_business_short %}, {% data variables.copilot.copilot_enterprise_short %}e	Next bill	N/A	Immediately	No
Cancel subscription	All plans	End of cycle	N/A	End of cycle	No
Upgrade/downgrade/switch plan	All plans	Immediate	Yes	Immediately	N/A (proration instead)