Step-by-step
🐙 GitHub Copilot
GitHub
📘 Step-by-step 📘 GitHub Copilot↗ GitHub Copilot · Official sitebeginner 💼 Business

Getting started with GitHub Copilot: a beginner's guide

Learn how to let AI write code for you safely, right inside your editor, so you can finish small projects faster.

6 min read·June 25, 2026

This guide was written by AI. It passed automated fact and quality checks, and our editor spot-checks published guides every day.

See AI World HQ first on GoogleAdd us as a preferred source and our stories show up higher in Google’s Top Stories.Add on Google

By the end of this guide, you’ll have GitHub Copilot installed and ready to type real code for you inside Visual Studio Code. You'll try it on a tiny "hello world" file, so you can see the magic without risk. This is perfect for anyone in a business or work setting who needs to write a bit of code but isn't a full-time developer.

💡 Tip: tap a step’s number when you finish it — a green tick appears and your browser remembers how far you got.

✅ Before you start
  • A free GitHub account: This is an online account that helps you manage code projects. Signing up is quick, usually under a minute.
  • A GitHub Copilot subscription: After a free trial, Copilot requires a paid subscription. You’ll need to ensure you have an active subscription or are within your trial period to use it.
  • Visual Studio Code (VS Code) installed: This is a free code editor where Copilot lives. Download it from the official website and install it on your computer (Windows, Mac, or Linux).
  • Time needed: Allow about 10-15 minutes to follow all the steps.
1
Step 1 of 5

Install the Copilot extension

First, open Visual Studio Code on your computer. You'll see a clean window, usually with a welcome screen. On the far left side, look for the Activity bar — this is a vertical row of icons. Find and click the Extensions icon, which looks like four connected squares. This will open the Extensions view. In the search bar at the top, type "Copilot" and press Enter. You should see an extension named GitHub Copilot by "GitHub" itself. Click the "Install" button next to it.

💬 ExampleIn the Extensions search bar, type `Copilot`.
✅ You'll know it worked when

: The "Install" button changes to "Manage", and a new, distinct GitHub Copilot icon (a stylised half-circle) appears in your Activity bar.

🔄 If it looks different

If you don't see the Extensions icon, you can usually press Ctrl+Shift+X (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+X (Mac) to open it.

Next step ↓
GitHub CopilotVisual Studio …
✏️ Sketch — your screen may look a little different
2
Step 2 of 5

Sign in with your GitHub account

Now that the extension is installed, you need to link it to your GitHub account. Click the newly appeared GitHub Copilot icon in your Activity bar on the left. This will typically open a sidebar panel related to Copilot. Within this panel, you should see a prompt to "Sign in to GitHub" or "Authorise GitHub Copilot". Click on this. What happens next is that a new browser window or tab will automatically open, directing you to the GitHub website to complete the sign-in process. Use the same GitHub account details you prepared earlier.

💬 ExampleAfter clicking "Sign in", enter your GitHub username and password in the browser window.

Close the browser tab and return to Visual Studio Code, where the Copilot panel will likely update to show you are signed in. If the browser window doesn't appear, check if your browser's pop-up blocker is active and temporarily disable it for this site.

✅ You'll know it worked when

: Your browser displays a confirmation message like "GitHub Copilot is ready" or "Authorisation successful".

Next step ↓
GitHub CopilotGitHub Copilot…
✏️ Sketch — your screen may look a little different
3
Step 3 of 5

Turn on the AI helper in a new file

With Copilot signed in, let's create a space for it to work. In VS Code, go to File > Open Folder... (or File > Open... on Mac) and choose an empty folder on your computer. If you don't have one, just create a new empty folder anywhere, then open it. Once a folder is open, look in the Explorer panel (the top icon in the Activity bar, resembling two overlapping sheets of paper). Right-click inside the Explorer panel's empty space, or click the "New File" icon (a blank page with a plus sign) at the top of the Explorer panel. Name the new file hello.py and press Enter. The .py part tells VS Code it's a Python file.

💬 ExampleFor the filename, type `hello.py`.

VS Code might also suggest installing a "Python extension" – if so, click "Install" to help it understand Python code better. If you have trouble opening a folder, try "File > New Text File" to just get started, though working in a folder is usually best.

✅ You'll know it worked when

: An empty hello.py file opens in the main editing area of VS Code.

Next step ↓
GitHub CopilotExplorer panel
✏️ Sketch — your screen may look a little different
4
Step 4 of 5

Ask Copilot to write your first line

Now for the exciting part! With hello.py open and empty, type the following exact line, which is a comment (a note in code that the computer ignores but a human can read) explaining what you want the AI to do. After typing the line, press your Enter key.

# write a function that prints hello world

What happens next is that Copilot, acting as your AI assistant, will process your comment. After a brief pause (usually a second or two), you'll see a greyed-out suggestion, often called "ghost text," appear right after your cursor. This is Copilot’s suggestion for the code. To accept this code, press your Tab key.

💬 ExampleType `# write a function that prints hello world` and press Enter.

If the ghost text doesn't appear, check the bottom-right status bar of VS Code for a small Copilot icon; if it has a spinning circle, it's still thinking. If it's greyed out, it might be inactive – try typing again or restarting VS Code.

✅ You'll know it worked when

: The gray ghost text suggestion (which should be Python code for printing "Hello, world!") is inserted into your file.

Next step ↓
GitHub Copilot# write a functionthat prints helloworld
✏️ Sketch — your screen may look a little different
5
Step 5 of 5

Run your first AI-generated code

After accepting the code in hello.py, you'll have a function defined. Now, let's make it actually run! Go to the end of the hello.py file, on a new line, and type the name of the function Copilot created (it's usually print_hello_world()) to call it. Now, to run the code, go to the top menu in VS Code and click Run > Run Without Debugging, or simply press the F5 key (this is a common shortcut). If VS Code asks you to select an environment, choose "Python File" or "Python Debugger".

💬 ExampleType `print_hello_world()` (using the exact function name Copilot generated) on a new line after the function definition, then press `F5`.

This confirms your AI-generated code successfully ran. Copilot cannot send your output anywhere else; it only suggests code within the editor.

✅ You'll know it worked when

: A Terminal panel opens at the bottom of VS Code, and you see the text "Hello, world!" (or similar, depending on Copilot's exact output) displayed there.

🔄 If it looks different

ensure you have the Python extension installed (from Step 3's suggestion) and that you selected "Python File" when prompted to run.

GitHub CopilotRun > Run With…
✏️ Sketch — your screen may look a little different
⚠️ Common mistakes
  • No active Copilot subscription or trial: Copilot is a paid service after a free trial, and it won't work without an active subscription linked to your GitHub account.
    • Fix: Ensure your GitHub Copilot subscription is active by visiting the GitHub Copilot settings page in your browser.
  • Copilot suggestions aren't appearing: Sometimes Copilot needs a moment to 'wake up', or there might be an issue with your internet connection or VS Code configuration.
    • Fix: Wait a few seconds after typing your prompt. Check the Copilot icon in the VS Code status bar (bottom right); if it's spinning or shows an error, try restarting VS Code or checking your internet connection.
  • Blindly accepting suggestions: Copilot provides suggestions, but they might not always be exactly what you need, or they could contain minor errors.
    • Fix: Always read the ghost text carefully before pressing Tab. If it's not quite right, you can ignore it by continuing to type, or delete it and rephrase your comment to guide Copilot towards a better answer.
🚀 Try it now

Open VS Code, create a new file named calculate.py. Inside it, type # create a function that adds two numbers and returns the sum, then press Enter. Accept Copilot's suggestion, then add a line like result = add_numbers(5, 3) and print(result). Save the file, press F5 to run it, and see the result in the terminal. You just wrote – and ran – your first AI-assisted functional code in under two minutes!

🎯 Next guideBuild a Simple Household Budget Calculator with GitHub CopilotWrite a small calculator that adds your monthly expenses — Copilot helps you write the code, line by line.

❓ Quick questions

How long does this take?

About 6 minutes — the guide has 5 steps, and you can tick each one off as you go.

Which tool do I need?

This guide uses GitHub Copilot — but the approach works very similarly in other AI assistants.

Do I need to prepare anything?
  • A free GitHub account: This is an online account that helps you manage code projects. Signing up is quick, usually under a minute.
  • A GitHub Copilot subscription: After a free trial, Copilot requires a paid subscription. You’ll need to ensure you have an active subscription or are within your trial period to use it.
  • Visual Studio Code (VS Code) installed: This is a free code editor where Copilot lives. Download it from the official website and install it on your computer (Windows, Mac, or Linux).
  • Time needed: Allow about 10-15 minutes to follow all the steps.
What mistakes should I avoid?
  • No active Copilot subscription or trial: Copilot is a paid service after a free trial, and it won't work without an active subscription linked to your GitHub account.
    • Fix: Ensure your GitHub Copilot subscription is active by visiting the GitHub Copilot settings page in your browser.
  • Copilot suggestions aren't appearing: Sometimes Copilot needs a moment to 'wake up', or there might be an issue with your internet connection or VS Code configuration.
    • Fix: Wait a few seconds after typing your prompt. Check the Copilot icon in the VS Code status bar (bottom right); if it's spinning or shows an error, try restarting VS Code or checking your internet connection.
  • Blindly accepting suggestions: Copilot provides suggestions, but they might not always be exactly what you need, or they could contain minor errors.
    • Fix: Always read the ghost text carefully before pressing Tab. If it's not quite right, you can ignore it by continuing to type, or delete it and rephrase your comment to guide Copilot towards a better answer.

Keep reading

📘 Generate Basic, Reusable Code Snippets with GitHub Copilot Learn how GitHub Copilot can write starter code for you — from date formatting to simple API calls — even if you're not a full-time developer. 📘 Add helpful comments to your code with GitHub Copilot – beginner guide A friendly step‑by‑step walkthrough that shows anyone how to get GitHub Copilot to write plain‑language comments for any line of code 📘 Build a Simple Household Budget Calculator with GitHub Copilot Write a small calculator that adds your monthly expenses — Copilot helps you write the code, line by line. 📰 How to Write Your First Prompt in the GitHub Copilot App A beginner-friendly walkthrough to your first conversation with GitHub's AI helper — no coding background needed 📘 Safely Rename a Batch of Photos with a GitHub Copilot Script Use Copilot in VS Code to generate a small Python script, test it on copies, then rename your real photos in one click. 📘 How to Ask GitHub Copilot to Explain a Confusing Error Message A beginner's way to turn cryptic red text into a clear, friendly to-do list
Was this helpful?

✦ Generated by AI in AI World HQ's automated newsroom, written in plain language. Checked by automated fact and quality gates, and our editor spot-checks published guides every day. Spot a mistake? Use the buttons above.

📘 Prefer it in one file? First Steps with AI: The Beginner Pack (20 guides, free printable PDF)

← Back to all stories