Why is GitHub Copilot not working?
GitHub Copilot usually stops working for one of a few reasons: you're signed out or your subscription lapsed, the extension is disabled or outdated, there's no internet connection, you've hit a usage limit, or Copilot is turned off for that file's language. Check your sign-in, connection, and the status-bar icon first — those fix most cases.
Why — the first-principles explanation
Copilot only works when a chain of conditions all hold, so 'not working' almost always means one link in that chain is broken. Diagnosing it is just checking the links in order.
The first link is identity and entitlement. Copilot needs you signed in with a GitHub account that has an active plan. If your session expired, your free trial ended, or a student verification lapsed, suggestions silently stop. Signing out and back in fixes a surprising number of cases.
The second link is connectivity. Because the model runs in the cloud, Copilot needs a working internet connection and access to GitHub's servers. A dropped network, a VPN, or a corporate firewall/proxy blocking GitHub endpoints will kill suggestions even though everything looks installed correctly.
The third link is the extension itself. It might be disabled, outdated, in conflict with another extension, or Copilot might be turned off for the specific language you're editing (there's a per-language setting). The status-bar Copilot icon usually signals the state — an error or muted icon points you straight to the problem. Updating the extension and reloading the editor clears many glitches.
The fourth link is usage limits. On the Free plan you get 2,000 completions and 50 chats a month; on paid plans, premium features draw from an AI Credit budget. Hit the ceiling and those features pause until reset. So the troubleshooting recipe is a checklist, not a mystery: verify sign-in, connection, extension status/version, language setting, and remaining usage.
An example that makes it click
Think of a water fountain that needs the power on, the pipes connected, the valve open, and water in the tank. If nothing comes out, you don't panic — you check each one: Is it plugged in (signed in)? Are the pipes connected (internet)? Is the valve open (extension enabled)? Is there water left (usage limit)?
Copilot is that fountain. When suggestions stop, walk the same checklist. Nine times out of ten it's a simple flip — a re-login, a reconnected network, or an enabled toggle — not a broken machine.
How to do it
- Check the Copilot status-bar icon in your editor for an error or 'disabled' state.
- Confirm you're signed in to GitHub and your Copilot plan is active (re-sign in if unsure).
- Verify your internet connection, and check that a VPN, firewall, or proxy isn't blocking GitHub.
- Make sure the Copilot extension is enabled, updated to the latest version, then reload the editor window.
- Confirm Copilot isn't disabled for the current file's language in settings.
- Check whether you've hit your monthly limit (2,000 completions/50 chats on Free) or exhausted AI Credits.
- As a last resort, restart the editor or reinstall the extension.
Key facts
- Copilot requires an active sign-in with a valid plan; expired sessions or lapsed subscriptions stop suggestions.
- It needs internet access to GitHub's servers; VPNs, firewalls, or proxies can block it.
- A disabled, outdated, or conflicting extension is a common cause; updating and reloading often fixes it.
- Copilot can be turned off for a specific language via the per-language setting.
- Free-tier limits (2,000 completions and 50 chats/month) or exhausted AI Credits pause features until reset.
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Why is GitHub Copilot not working? Don't panic — it's almost always one broken link in a chain, and you can check them in order. First, identity. Copilot needs you signed in with an active plan. If your session expired, your trial ended, or a student verification lapsed, suggestions just stop. Signing out and back in fixes a shocking number of cases. Second, connection. The model runs in the cloud, so you need internet access to GitHub's servers. A dropped network, a VPN, or a corporate firewall blocking GitHub will kill it even though everything looks installed. Third, the extension. It might be disabled, outdated, conflicting with another extension, or turned off for the specific language you're editing. Look at the Copilot icon in your status bar — it usually shows the problem. Update the extension and reload your editor to clear most glitches. Fourth, usage limits. On the free plan you get 2,000 completions and 50 chats a month. On paid plans, premium features draw from your AI Credit budget. Hit the ceiling, and they pause until reset. So the fix isn't a mystery — it's a checklist: sign-in, connection, extension, language setting, and usage. Walk those five, and you'll almost always find it.
What authoritative sources say
People also ask
Copilot suddenly stopped suggesting — what first?
Check the status-bar icon, then confirm you're signed in and connected to the internet. Re-signing in resolves many cases.
Could a firewall or VPN be the cause?
Yes. Copilot needs access to GitHub's servers. Corporate proxies, firewalls, or a VPN can block those endpoints and stop suggestions.
Why does it work in one file but not another?
Copilot may be disabled for that file's language. Check the per-language setting or the status-bar icon's language toggle.
Did I run out of usage?
On Free you get 2,000 completions and 50 chats a month; paid plans use AI Credits. Hitting those limits pauses features until the monthly reset.