Copilot No Response To Prompts In VS Code

Are you finding that GitHub Copilot isn't responding to your prompts within Visual Studio Code? It can be incredibly frustrating when you're in the zone, trying to get some coding done, and your AI pair programmer just goes silent. You type out a perfectly crafted prompt, hit enter, and... nothing. No suggestions, no helpful code snippets, just an empty space where you expected intelligent assistance. This isn't just an inconvenience; it can bring your workflow to a grinding halt, leaving you staring at the screen wondering what went wrong. Many users have encountered this issue, and it often stems from a few common culprits. We'll dive deep into troubleshooting steps to get Copilot back up and running smoothly for you.

Understanding the Silence: Why Copilot Might Not Be Responding

When Copilot stops responding to prompts, it's easy to jump to the conclusion that something is fundamentally broken. However, in most cases, the issue is more straightforward and often related to the extension itself, your VS Code environment, or even your network connection. One of the most common reasons for Copilot's silence is simply that the extension isn't enabled or properly signed in. Copilot requires an active GitHub subscription and for you to be authenticated within VS Code. If your authentication token has expired, or if there was an interruption during the login process, Copilot might not be able to connect to its services. Another frequent cause is an outdated extension. Developers are constantly working to improve Copilot, fixing bugs and enhancing performance. If you're running an older version, you might be encountering a known issue that has since been resolved in a newer release. The system information provided in bug reports, like the one detailing VS Code version 1.106.3 (Universal) on macOS Darwin arm64 24.6.0 with Copilot extension version 0.33.5, is crucial here. This specific version information helps developers pinpoint if the bug is tied to a particular release of either VS Code or the Copilot extension. The operating system details and even the hardware specs, such as the Apple M4 processor and memory usage, can sometimes play a role, especially if there are resource conflicts or compatibility issues. We'll explore how to check these prerequisites and ensure your setup is optimal.

Furthermore, network connectivity plays a vital role. Copilot relies on sending your code context to GitHub's servers and receiving suggestions back. If your internet connection is unstable, intermittent, or if there are firewall restrictions blocking access to GitHub's API endpoints, Copilot won't be able to function. This is especially relevant in corporate environments where network policies can be quite stringent. Proxy settings within VS Code or your system can also interfere with Copilot's ability to communicate. Even seemingly minor glitches, like a temporary hiccup on GitHub's end, can cause Copilot to appear unresponsive. It's important to remember that Copilot is a cloud-based service, and its performance is inherently tied to the reliability of both your connection and the service provider's infrastructure. The A/B experiments listed in the system info (e.g., dwcopilot:31170013, copilot_t_ci:31333650) are internal flags used by Microsoft to test new features or performance improvements. While these don't usually cause outright failures, they can sometimes introduce unexpected behavior, and knowing they are active can be a data point for advanced troubleshooting. We need to systematically rule out each of these potential causes to effectively diagnose and resolve the problem of Copilot not responding to prompts.

Troubleshooting Steps: Getting Copilot to Respond Again

Let's get down to the nitty-gritty of fixing your Copilot not responding to prompts issue. The first and often most effective step is to ensure you're logged in correctly. In VS Code, you can check your Copilot status by looking for the Copilot icon in the status bar, usually at the bottom right. Clicking on it should give you options to sign in or manage your account. If it shows you're signed out, proceed with the sign-in process. This often involves opening a browser window to authenticate with your GitHub account. Make sure you're using the correct GitHub account associated with your Copilot subscription. If you're already signed in, try signing out and then signing back in. This can refresh your authentication token and resolve any lingering session issues. The next critical step is to check for updates. Go to the Extensions view in VS Code (Ctrl+Shift+X or Cmd+Shift+X), search for "GitHub Copilot," and see if an update is available. If it is, install it immediately. Developers frequently release patches for bugs that cause unresponsiveness. If no update is available, or if updating doesn't solve the problem, try disabling and then re-enabling the Copilot extension. Sometimes, a simple refresh of the extension can clear temporary glitches.

If the problem persists, we need to look at VS Code itself. Ensure your VS Code is up-to-date. Go to Help > Check for Updates (or Code > Check for Updates on macOS). Compatibility issues can arise if your VS Code version is significantly older than the Copilot extension expects. The provided system information mentions VS Code 1.106.3 (Universal), which is a future version (November 25, 2025), indicating this might be a pre-release or a hypothetical scenario for the report. In a real-world scenario, you'd compare your current VS Code version with the latest stable release. Restarting VS Code after any updates or changes is also a good practice. Sometimes, extensions can conflict with each other. Try disabling other non-essential extensions one by one to see if any of them are interfering with Copilot. To do this, go to the Extensions view, click the gear icon next to an extension, and select "Disable". If disabling an extension resolves the Copilot issue, you've found your culprit. You might need to find an alternative or wait for an update that resolves the conflict. The system information also includes details about hardware and GPU status, which are less likely to be direct causes but can be relevant if the issue is performance-related or causes VS Code to become unstable. Ensure your system has sufficient resources (RAM, CPU) available, as Copilot can be resource-intensive.

Network and proxy settings are also prime suspects. If you're behind a corporate firewall or proxy, ensure that VS Code and Copilot have the necessary permissions to access the internet and GitHub's services. You might need to configure proxy settings within VS Code (File > Preferences > Settings, search for "proxy"). Check your internet connection stability. Try accessing github.com and related API endpoints in your browser to confirm connectivity. Sometimes, clearing VS Code's extension cache can help, although this is a more advanced step and should be done cautiously. A quick check of Copilot's output channel (View > Output, then select "GitHub Copilot" from the dropdown) can sometimes provide error messages that offer clues. Look for any red text or error indicators. Finally, if none of these steps work, consider uninstalling and then reinstalling the GitHub Copilot extension. This provides a clean slate and can resolve issues caused by corrupted installation files. Remember that the specific configuration, like the copilot6169-t2500:31431384 experiment flag, might be relevant for advanced debugging if you decide to report the issue to GitHub support.

Advanced Checks and When to Seek Help

If you've diligently followed the troubleshooting steps and Copilot is still not responding to prompts, it's time to dig a bit deeper or consider seeking assistance. One advanced check involves examining the VS Code output logs for more detailed error messages. Navigate to View > Output and select GitHub Copilot from the dropdown menu. While basic errors might appear here, more technical details could be hidden within the main VS Code logs or the Copilot extension's specific logs, which can sometimes be found in your user's application data folders. The system information you provided, including details on skia_graphite: enabled_on and webgpu: enabled, while generally good indicators of a healthy rendering pipeline, could theoretically be involved if there's a very specific, low-level conflict with how Copilot renders its UI elements or processes information. However, this is a rare scenario. A more common advanced step is to check the Copilot status again, specifically looking for any messages about rate limiting or service interruptions from GitHub's side. While less frequent, these external factors can temporarily disable Copilot's functionality. If you suspect a conflict with specific VS Code settings or themes, try resetting VS Code to its default settings (File > Preferences > Settings, then click the '...' icon and 'Restore Defaults'). Remember to back up your settings first if you have many customizations.

Considering the A/B experiment flags listed, like use-responses-api:31390855 or auto_model_enabled:31385282, these are internal tests. If you suspect one of these might be causing the issue, there isn't much you can do directly, but it's valuable information to include if you report the bug. The fact that the OS is Darwin arm64 24.6.0 and VS Code is Universal suggests a modern macOS environment, which should generally be well-supported. However, unusual system configurations or specific background applications could potentially interfere. For instance, aggressive antivirus software or system optimizers might inadvertently block Copilot's network requests or file access. Temporarily disabling such software (with caution) can help rule them out. If you're using a VPN, try disabling it to see if that resolves the issue, as VPNs can sometimes route traffic in ways that disrupt API connections. The memory usage reported (16.00GB (0.63GB free)) indicates ample RAM, so it's unlikely to be a memory starvation issue, but very high overall system load could still impact extension performance.

When all else fails, it's time to reach out to the experts. The best place to seek further help is the official GitHub Copilot GitHub repository or the VS Code community forums. When reporting the issue, be as detailed as possible. Include the exact error messages you see (if any), the steps you've already taken to troubleshoot, your VS Code version, your Copilot extension version (0.33.5 in this case), your operating system, and any relevant system information like the one provided in your report. Mentioning specific A/B experiment flags that are active can also be helpful for the development team. They can analyze these flags to understand if a particular test is causing the problem. For instance, if you noticed the issue started after a specific VS Code or Copilot update, mention that too. The GitHub repository often has an