How to Use GitHub Copilot to Speed Up Coding (Complete Guide 2026)

GitHub reports that developers using Copilot write code 55% faster. But that number is an average — some developers see much larger gains while others barely notice a difference. The gap comes down to technique.

This guide covers the specific practices that maximize Copilot’s effectiveness, from setup to advanced workflows.

Step 1: Install and Configure Copilot

VS Code Setup

1. Open VS Code and go to Extensions (Cmd+Shift+X / Ctrl+Shift+X)
2. Search for “GitHub Copilot” and install both GitHub Copilot and GitHub Copilot Chat
3. Sign in with your GitHub account when prompted
4. Verify activation: you should see the Copilot icon in the status bar

Subscription

• Free tier: Limited completions per month (sufficient for evaluation)
• Individual: $10/month or $100/year
• Business: $19/user/month with admin controls and policy management
• Enterprise: $39/user/month with fine-tuning and advanced security

Key Settings

Open Settings (Cmd+, / Ctrl+,) and search for “Copilot”:

• Enable/Disable by language: Turn off Copilot for languages where suggestions aren’t helpful
• Inline suggestions: Keep enabled for inline code completion
• Auto completions: Enable for automatic suggestions as you type

Step 2: Master Inline Completions

Inline completions are Copilot’s core feature. Here’s how to use them effectively:

Accept and Navigate

• Tab: Accept the full suggestion
• Cmd+Right Arrow: Accept one word at a time (useful for partial acceptance)
• Alt+]: See the next suggestion
• Alt+[: See the previous suggestion
• Esc: Dismiss the current suggestion

Write Better Comments for Better Suggestions

Copilot uses comments as context. Specific comments produce specific code:

• Bad: // handle user
• Good: // Validate user email format, check against existing users in database, return error if duplicate

Use Function Signatures as Prompts

Write a descriptive function signature and let Copilot fill in the implementation:

• Type: function calculateShippingCost(weight: number, distance: number, expedited: boolean): number
• Copilot will generate the implementation based on the signature

Step 3: Use Copilot Chat Effectively

Copilot Chat (Cmd+Shift+I / Ctrl+Shift+I) is where the real productivity gains happen:

Explain Code

Highlight any code block and ask: “Explain what this code does step by step.” This is invaluable for understanding unfamiliar codebases.

Fix Bugs

Highlight buggy code and type: “/fix” — Copilot will analyze the code and suggest corrections. You can also describe the bug: “This function returns undefined when the input array is empty. Fix it.”

Generate Tests

Highlight a function and type: “/tests” — Copilot generates unit tests covering common cases and edge cases. Review and adjust the test expectations for your specific logic.

Refactor

Select code and describe the refactoring: “Refactor this to use async/await instead of callbacks” or “Extract this into a reusable utility function.”

Step 4: Agent Mode for Complex Tasks

Copilot’s Agent Mode handles multi-step tasks autonomously:

1. Open Copilot Chat
2. Describe a complex task: “Create a REST API endpoint for user registration that validates input, hashes the password, stores in the database, and sends a welcome email”
3. Agent Mode will create files, write code, run tests, and iterate until the task is complete
4. Review the changes before committing

Agent Mode works best for well-defined tasks with clear inputs and outputs. It struggles with ambiguous requirements or tasks that require deep domain knowledge.

Step 5: Context Management

Copilot’s suggestion quality depends on the context it has. Maximize context by:

• Keep related files open: Copilot reads open tabs for context
• Use @workspace in chat: References your entire workspace for broader context
• Reference files explicitly: Use #file:filename.ts in chat to include specific files
• Write clear comments and docstrings: These serve as prompts for future suggestions

Step 6: Language-Specific Tips

Python

Copilot excels at Python due to the massive training data. Type annotations dramatically improve suggestions. Write docstrings first and let Copilot generate the implementation.

JavaScript/TypeScript

TypeScript interfaces serve as natural prompts. Define your types first, then let Copilot generate implementations that match. JSDoc comments also improve suggestion quality.

SQL

Write a comment describing the query in plain English: -- Get the top 10 customers by total order value in the last 90 days, excluding returns. Copilot generates surprisingly accurate SQL from natural language descriptions.

Common Mistakes That Slow You Down

Accepting Every Suggestion

Not every Copilot suggestion is correct. Review before accepting, especially for: security-sensitive code, business logic, database queries, and API integrations.

Fighting the Tool

If Copilot consistently suggests something different from what you want, your code structure might need adjustment. Sometimes the AI is suggesting a better pattern than you planned.

Ignoring the Chat Feature

Many developers only use inline completions. The chat feature is where Copilot handles complex tasks: refactoring, debugging, code explanation, and test generation.

Copilot vs. Alternatives

Copilot isn’t the only AI coding tool worth considering:

• Cursor: Better multi-file awareness and refactoring. See Copilot vs Cursor
• Windsurf: Stronger privacy features. See three-way comparison
• Claude Code: Best for complex debugging and reasoning. See Claude Code comparison

Frequently Asked Questions

Is GitHub Copilot worth $10/month?

For professional developers writing code daily, Copilot pays for itself within the first day of use through time savings. For hobbyists or students, the free tier provides enough completions for most projects.

Does Copilot work offline?

No. Copilot requires an internet connection to generate suggestions. All code processing happens on GitHub’s servers.

Is Copilot safe for proprietary code?

Copilot Business and Enterprise plans include IP indemnity and do not use your code for training. The Individual plan’s data handling is less restrictive. Check your company’s policy before using Copilot on proprietary codebases.

What languages does Copilot support best?

Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Go, Ruby, and Java have the strongest support. Less common languages like Haskell, Elixir, or Rust work but with lower accuracy. See our best AI for coding guide for language-specific recommendations.