How to Write with Copilot: A Step-by-Step Guide

This guide shows you how to use GitHub Copilot to write code faster and with fewer errors. Copilot is an AI pair programmer that suggests whole lines or functions as you type. You’ll learn the basics of getting started, writing prompts, and avoiding common pitfalls. You don’t need any special skills beyond knowing how to code in a supported editor.

What You’ll Need

A GitHub account (free or paid)
An active Copilot subscription (free trial available)
A supported code editor: Visual Studio Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains IDEs, or Neovim
Basic familiarity with your editor’s interface

Step-by-Step

Install the Copilot extension. In VS Code, go to the Extensions view (Ctrl+Shift+X), search for “GitHub Copilot”, and click Install. For other editors, follow the official setup instructions.
Sign in with GitHub. After installation, you’ll see a Copilot icon in the status bar. Click it and choose “Sign in to GitHub”. A browser window will open; authorize the app and return to your editor.
Enable Copilot. In VS Code, open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P), type “Copilot: Enable”, and select it. For other editors, check the settings or status bar.
Write a comment describing what you want. For example, type // function to calculate factorial and press Enter. Copilot will suggest a code block in gray.
Accept a suggestion. Press Tab to accept the entire suggestion, or hover over the suggestion and click “Accept”. You can also accept word-by-word with Ctrl+Right Arrow (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Right Arrow (Mac).
Cycle through alternatives. If you don’t like the first suggestion, press Alt+] (Windows/Linux) or Option+] (Mac) to see the next one. Use Alt+[ or Option+[ to go back.
Use inline chat (optional). Press Ctrl+I to open Copilot Chat in the editor. Type a natural-language request like “refactor this function to use async/await” and hit Enter. Copilot will apply changes directly.
Ask questions in chat. Open the Chat panel (Ctrl+Alt+I), type a question about your code, and get explanations or suggestions.
Customize settings. Open your settings.json and add Copilot-specific options, such as disabling suggestions for certain file types or adjusting the suggestion delay.

Common Mistakes

Accepting without reviewing. Copilot can suggest incorrect or insecure code. Always read the suggestion and test it.
Writing vague comments. The more specific your comment, the better the suggestion. Instead of “do something”, write “calculate the average of a list of numbers”.
Ignoring context. Copilot uses your open files and recent code. If you’re in a file with no imports, it might suggest code that won’t run.
Not using alternatives. The first suggestion isn’t always the best. Cycle through options to find a better fit.
Forgetting to disable for sensitive code. If you work on proprietary code, consider disabling Copilot or using a private instance.

Tips

Write clear, descriptive comments. Treat them as instructions to a junior developer.
Break tasks into small steps. Instead of one huge comment, write several small ones.
Use meaningful function and variable names. Copilot picks up on naming conventions.
Leverage the chat for explanations. Ask “why does this code fail?” or “how do I sort this list?”
Keep your editor up to date. Copilot improves with each release.
Use the Tab key consistently. It’s the fastest way to accept suggestions.

Troubleshooting

Copilot isn’t suggesting anything. Check that you’re signed in, the extension is enabled, and your file type is supported. Try restarting the editor or reloading the window (Ctrl+Shift+P → “Reload Window”).

Suggestions are poor or irrelevant. Make sure you have enough context—open related files, add imports, and write a precise comment. Try cycling through alternatives.

Copilot is too slow. Reduce the suggestion delay in settings: "github.copilot.suggestionDelay": 200 (milliseconds).

Copilot is disabled by your organization. If you’re on a managed GitHub account, your admin may have disabled it. Contact them.

Copilot suggests code that doesn’t compile. This can happen when the context is ambiguous. Refine your comment, or use the chat to ask for a specific implementation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Copilot free?
A: No, but GitHub offers a free trial. After that, it costs a monthly fee, with discounts for students and open-source maintainers.

Q: Does Copilot work with all programming languages?
A: It works best with popular languages like Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Java, and C#. Support for less common languages may be limited.

Q: Can Copilot write tests?
A: Yes. Write a comment like “write a unit test for this function” and Copilot will generate a test skeleton.

Q: Is my code sent to GitHub?
A: Copilot sends your code snippets to GitHub for processing, but it does not store them. If you’re concerned, check your organization’s policy.

Q: Can I use Copilot offline?
A: No, Copilot requires an internet connection to generate suggestions.

Q: How do I turn Copilot off temporarily?
A: Use the Command Palette and select “Copilot: Disable” to turn it off for the current session. You can also toggle it in settings.

Template

Use this template to plan your Copilot prompts:

Task	Language	Context/Imports	Prompt/Comment	Expected Output

Sample (fictional):

Task	Language	Context/Imports	Prompt/Comment	Expected Output
Sort a list of names	Python	None	# Sort the list ‘names’ alphabetically	names.sort()