Key takeaways: what to know in 1 minute
- A free Copilot account is available to eligible users (students, open-source maintainers, trials); verify eligibility first.
- Install Copilot for VS Code by linking the verified account and enabling the extension—no paid license needed when eligible.
- Authentication requires GitHub or Microsoft sign-in and an approved email or repo status; use the CLI for advanced flows.
- Common issues include sign-in loops, permission denials, and extension conflicts; quick fixes are provided.
- Free alternatives (local LLMs, Codeium, Tabnine free tier) can substitute when Copilot eligibility is missing.
Developers and creators should reach the setup milestone within 10 minutes by following the clear steps below.
Step-by-step free Copilot setup for VS Code
This section provides a precise, sequential workflow to get a free Copilot experience inside Visual Studio Code. Each step is actionable and includes the commands, expected results, and quick checks.
Step 1: verify eligibility for a free Copilot tier
- Check if the account qualifies: student, educator, verified open-source maintainer, or trial.
- For GitHub: visit GitHub Copilot to review current free programs.
- For Microsoft Copilot (Windows 11/365 scenarios) check Microsoft Learn licensing notes.
- Quick check: students often get free access via GitHub Student Developer Pack; maintainers must have accepted CONTRIBUTING/MAINTAINER status for eligible repos.
Step 2: prepare the environment (VS Code and prerequisites)
- Install the latest Visual Studio Code (stable channel): download at code.visualstudio.com.
- Ensure Node.js is installed when planning to use Copilot Labs features (recommended but not mandatory): download at nodejs.org.
- Verify Git is configured locally (git --version). Copilot uses repository context for code suggestions; proper .git setup improves results.
Step 3: create a free Copilot account and authenticate
- Decide whether to use GitHub-based Copilot or Microsoft account based Copilot offerings.
- For GitHub Copilot free access as a student/maintainer:
- Sign into GitHub with the account that is eligible.
- Confirm eligibility (GitHub Student Pack verification or OSS maintainer verification).
- If applicable, accept any invitation to an organization that grants access.
- For the web-based authentication flow in VS Code:
- Open VS Code → Command Palette → "Copilot: Sign in".
- The editor opens a browser window to complete OAuth with GitHub or Microsoft.
- Approve requested scopes (read-only repo access, user email); declined scopes usually block activation.
- Advanced: use the GitHub CLI to authenticate an account for automated setups:
- Run:
gh auth login and choose GitHub.com, then gh auth status to confirm.
- For headless or CI setups, use a personal access token (PAT) with limited scopes and store it in the OS credential manager.
- Verification tips: after sign-in, the Copilot account status appears in the extension pane with the label Active or Free (Student/OSS).
Install the Copilot extension in VS Code and configure recommended settings for free usage.
Step 1: install the extension
- Open VS Code Marketplace and search for "GitHub Copilot" or use the Extensions view.
- Click Install. Confirm the extension identifier matches official publisher (GitHub or Microsoft).
- After installation, click Sign in to Copilot in the extension details or use the Command Palette:
Copilot: Sign in.
- When prompted, allow the extension to access the local workspace. This is required for contextual suggestions; the extension does not automatically upload private code beyond necessary telemetry unless explicitly enabled.
- If using repo-level access control, add a .copilotignore file in the project root to exclude sensitive paths.
- For multi-account setups, switch accounts via the extension settings or the Command Palette:
Copilot: Sign out then Copilot: Sign in.
Step 3: adjust basic Copilot settings for free tiers
- In Settings (gear icon → Settings), search for "Copilot" and set:
- Copilot: Enable Inline Suggestions = true
- Copilot: Suggestion Delay = 200ms (reduce latency for quicker suggestions)
- Copilot: Privacy Mode = on/off depending on whether suggestions should avoid sending full file contents (recommended for sensitive projects)
- Save settings and reload VS Code when prompted.
Copilot setup timeline
1️⃣
Verify eligibility
Student/OSS/Trial check (2–5 min)
2️⃣
Install VS Code
Install & update (3–7 min)
3️⃣
Sign in
OAuth with GitHub/Microsoft (1–2 min)
4️⃣
Configure settings
Adjust suggestions & privacy (2–3 min)
✅
Start coding
Contextual suggestions appear inline
Step 4: enable free features and limits awareness
- Free tiers may limit suggestion rate, concurrent sessions, or available advanced features.
- Confirm the plan in the Copilot account panel within VS Code or the web console. Look for labels like Free for Students, Free for Open Source, or Trial - X days.
Troubleshooting common issues during free Copilot setup
This section lists the most frequent problems and exact fixes. Follow the checks in order to quickly restore functionality.
Issue: sign-in loop or OAuth failure
- Cause: expired cookies, blocked third-party cookies, or incorrect scopes.
- Fixes:
- Clear browser cookies for github.com or microsoftonline.com and retry the OAuth consent flow.
- Use an incognito/private window if an SSO provider blocks the flow.
- Confirm the browser is the system default or copy the URL from VS Code and open manually.
- If using a corporate SSO, ask the admin to allow the required OAuth app or use a personal account for setup.
Issue: extension shows "Not authorized" despite sign-in
- Cause: token storage failure or conflicting credential managers.
- Fixes:
- In VS Code Command Palette, run
Developer: Reload Window.
- Sign out of Copilot and sign in again.
- Check OS credential manager (Windows Credential Manager, macOS Keychain, or Linux gnome-keyring) for stale tokens and remove them.
Issue: slow suggestions or high latency
- Cause: network throttling, VPN, or extension conflicts.
- Fixes:
- Disable VPN/proxy temporarily and test.
- Disable other code-intelligence extensions to isolate conflicts.
- Reduce suggestion context size in settings or increase suggestion delay.
Issue: private repo content flagged or not suggested
- Cause: privacy mode, insufficient repo access, or organization policy.
- Fixes:
- Ensure Copilot extension has workspace permissions.
- For organization-managed repos, request admin approval for Copilot or follow the org policy docs: Microsoft docs.
- Use a local .copilotignore to protect sensitive files.
Debugging commands and logs
- VS Code: View → Output → select "GitHub Copilot" to inspect logs.
- Enable verbose logs in settings: set
git.autofetch and extension logging temporarily.
- Use
gh auth status for GitHub CLI auth verification.
Optimize Copilot settings to boost developer productivity
Free users can still tune Copilot for high-impact productivity gains. The right balance between suggestion frequency and privacy yields better workflows.
Recommended settings for faster iteration
- Inline suggestions: enable to accept code via Tab quickly.
- Accept suggestion on Enter: configure according to typing habits (avoid accidental accepts).
- Suggestion delay: set to 150–300ms for a responsive feel without noise.
Workflow patterns to maximize value
- Use Copilot for repetitive code scaffolding (tests, boilerplate, API client stubs).
- Compose prompts as comments above a function signature for more accurate outcomes.
- Combine Copilot with local static analysis (linters/formatters) to catch style regressions early.
Security and privacy optimizations
- Activate privacy mode when working on confidential projects.
- Keep sensitive keys and secrets in environment variables and add those files to .copilotignore.
- Review Copilot suggestions for license compatibility when using generated content in commercial products.
Compare free Copilot alternatives and paid options
This comparison highlights trade-offs: accuracy, privacy, cost, offline capability, and integration with VS Code. The table below clarifies choices for freelancers, creators, and entrepreneurs.
| Feature |
Free Copilot (eligible) |
GitHub Copilot trial / paid |
Codeium (free tier) |
Local LLMs (e.g., private) |
| Cost |
Free if eligible |
Paid subscription after trial |
Free tier available |
Infrastructure cost (one-time or hosting) |
| Suggestion quality |
High (cloud model) |
Highest (latest models) |
Good for common tasks |
Varies by model and compute |
| Privacy |
Cloud processing; privacy mode |
Cloud processing |
Cloud-first; some local options |
Full local control (best privacy) |
| Integration with VS Code |
Official extension |
Official extension |
Extension available |
Requires setup or extension |
| Offline support |
No |
No |
Limited |
Yes (with local model) |
- Paid Copilot subscriptions provide higher throughput, business features, and enterprise controls.
- Alternatives like Codeium and Tabnine offer free tiers but often limit advanced completions.
- Local models (Llama 2 derivatives, private code models) provide maximum privacy at the cost of setup and compute.
When to use free Copilot and when not to
Benefits / when to apply ✅
- Rapid prototyping and scaffolding tasks.
- Educational use and learning new languages or APIs.
- Open-source maintainers who want productivity without cost.
Risks / mistakes to avoid ⚠️
- Relying on Copilot for security-sensitive code without code review.
- Accepting suggestions verbatim without verifying licenses or accuracy.
- Using free cloud tiers for proprietary enterprise source without confirming data policy.
Checklist: quick preflight for free setup
-
- Verified eligibility (student or OSS) ✅
-
- Updated VS Code to latest version ✅
-
- Git configured and workspace accessible ✅
-
- Browser OAuth completed and token present ✅
-
- Privacy mode and .copilotignore configured if needed ✅
Questions frequently asked
How to get Copilot for free as a student?
Apply for the GitHub Student Developer Pack and then enable Copilot through the GitHub Copilot page once the pack is active. Proof of student status is required.
Can Copilot be used offline for free?
No. Official Copilot requires cloud access; offline use requires self-hosted models which are separate from Copilot.
Why is Copilot asking for additional permissions?
OAuth scopes request repository metadata and email to provide contextual suggestions; deny only if permissions are unacceptable.
How to switch Copilot accounts in VS Code?
Sign out via the Command Palette (Copilot: Sign out) and sign back in with the desired account.
What to do if Copilot suggestions are irrelevant?
Limit context size, add clearer comments or function signatures, and disable competing extensions during evaluation.
Conclusion
YOUR NEXT STEP:
- Verify eligibility (student or OSS) and sign into GitHub or Microsoft to confirm a free Copilot plan.
- Install the official Copilot extension in VS Code, complete OAuth, and enable inline suggestions.
- Run a quick validation: open a small project, type a function comment, and accept the first suggestion to confirm the setup.
Following these steps results in a working free Copilot setup within minutes for eligible users. For those ineligible, consider the outlined free alternatives or a short paid trial to evaluate the tool before committing.