{"meta":{"title":"Getting started with the GitHub Copilot app","intro":"Sign in to the GitHub Copilot app, connect a repository or local folder, and create your first agent session to make code changes.","product":"GitHub Copilot","breadcrumbs":[{"href":"/en/copilot","title":"GitHub Copilot"},{"href":"/en/copilot/get-started","title":"Get started"},{"href":"/en/copilot/get-started/quickstart-copilot-app","title":"Copilot app quickstart"}],"documentType":"article"},"body":"# Getting started with the GitHub Copilot app\n\nSign in to the GitHub Copilot app, connect a repository or local folder, and create your first agent session to make code changes.\n\nFor a conceptual overview of the GitHub Copilot app, see [GitHub Copilot app](/en/copilot/concepts/copilot-surfaces/github-copilot-app).\n\nIn this quickstart, you will:\n\n1. Install and sign in to the GitHub Copilot app.\n2. Connect a repository or local folder.\n3. Make code changes in an agent session.\n\n## Prerequisites\n\n* A GitHub account.\n* A Copilot plan, or you can configure your own model provider.\n * If you use your own model provider, you will need provider credentials such as an API key. For setup steps, see [Adding LLM models to the GitHub Copilot app](/en/copilot/how-tos/github-copilot-app/use-byok-models).\n* [Git](https://github.com/git-guides/install-git) installed on your computer.\n\n> [!NOTE]\n> For Copilot Business and Copilot Enterprise users, the GitHub Copilot app policy must remain enabled. This policy is enabled by default and is separate from the Copilot CLI policy. See [Managing policies and features for GitHub Copilot in your organization](/en/copilot/how-tos/administer-copilot/manage-for-organization/manage-policies) or [Managing policies and features for GitHub Copilot in your enterprise](/en/copilot/how-tos/administer-copilot/manage-for-enterprise/manage-enterprise-policies).\n\n## Installing the GitHub Copilot app\n\nDownload and install the GitHub Copilot app for your operating system. For other operating systems and architectures, see the [download page](https://github.com/features/ai/github-app).\n\nDownload the GitHub Copilot app\n\n## Opening the GitHub Copilot app for the first time\n\n1. Open the GitHub Copilot app.\n2. Click **Sign in to GitHub** and follow the prompts to authenticate.\n\n If you use GitHub Enterprise Cloud with data residency, choose **Use GitHub Enterprise** and enter your `*.ghe.com` hostname when prompted. GitHub Enterprise Server is not supported by the GitHub Copilot app.\n3. If you do not have a Copilot plan, choose whether to sign up for a plan or continue with your own model provider.\n * If you choose to use your own model provider, select a provider, enter any required credentials, then click **Save and continue**.\n4. When prompted, select one or more repositories based on your recent GitHub activity. You can also add a local folder or repository, or skip this step and add repositories later.\n5. Choose a theme, then complete onboarding to open the app.\n\n## Connecting a repository or folder\n\nTo work on code, you need at least one repository or local folder connected to the app. You can connect a folder already on your machine, including a repository you've already cloned locally, or a repository you clone from GitHub or another remote Git host such as Azure DevOps. Connecting a repository or folder unlocks the core app workflow: reading code, making edits, and opening pull requests from agent sessions. If you skipped repository setup during onboarding, or want to add more repositories or folders later:\n\n1. In the sidebar, next to **Sessions**, click .\n2. Choose where to add the repository or folder from:\n\n* **Open local folder** — Select a folder already on your machine, including one that contains a repository you've already cloned locally.\n* **Add GitHub repository** — Browse and clone a repository from GitHub.\n* **Clone repository** — Clone from a Git URL for repositories hosted outside GitHub (for example, on Azure DevOps) or for private repositories without app access.\n\n## Making your first code changes\n\n1. In the sidebar, next to **Sessions**, click , then select the connected repository or folder under \"Start session in.\"\n\n2. Select a session mode from the dropdown below the prompt field—for example, **Interactive** to work collaboratively with the agent.\n\n3. In the prompt box, paste this prompt:\n\n ```copilot copy\n Suggest a small low-risk code change in this repository, implement it, and explain the diff.\n ```\n\n4. Respond to any requests for input from the agent. After the agent makes changes, click **Changes** above the prompt box to view the diff.\n\n5. Continue iterating in the same session until you are happy with the result.\n\n6. If you want to keep the change, click **Create PR** to open a pull request for review.\n\n7. If you create a pull request, click **PR** above the prompt box to view it directly in the app.\n\n**Optional:** If you already have tasks you want to complete in your repository, you can start a session from an issue in **[My work](https://github.com/copilot/app/launch?open=ghapp%3A%2F%2Fmywork)**. For more information, see [Managing issues and pull requests with the GitHub Copilot app](/en/copilot/how-tos/github-copilot-app/managing-issues-and-pull-requests).\n\n## Orienting yourself\n\nThe sidebar gives you access to the main areas of the app:\n\n* **New** — Start a new agent session.\n* **[My work](https://github.com/copilot/app/launch?open=ghapp%3A%2F%2Fmywork)** — Browse and filter issues and pull requests from your repositories, check CI status, and leave reviews.\n* **[Automations](https://github.com/copilot/app/launch?open=ghapp%3A%2F%2Fautomations)** — Saved agent tasks that run on a schedule or on demand.\n* **Customize** — Discover and manage plugins, skills, MCP servers, and canvases.\n* **Search** — Search across your repositories directly from the app.\n* **Sessions** — View connected repositories, local folders, and their active agent sessions, or start a new session for a repository or folder.\n* **Chats** — General conversations that do not require a dedicated branch or workspace.\n\n## Next steps\n\nFind out more about using the GitHub Copilot app:\n\n* [Working with agent sessions in the GitHub Copilot app](/en/copilot/how-tos/github-copilot-app/agent-sessions)\n* [Working with canvas extensions in the GitHub Copilot app](/en/copilot/how-tos/github-copilot-app/working-with-canvas-extensions)\n* [Managing issues and pull requests with the GitHub Copilot app](/en/copilot/how-tos/github-copilot-app/managing-issues-and-pull-requests)\n* [Using automations in the GitHub Copilot app](/en/copilot/how-tos/github-copilot-app/using-automations)\n* [Slash commands for the GitHub Copilot app](/en/copilot/reference/github-copilot-app-reference/slash-commands)\n* [Built-in skills for the GitHub Copilot app](/en/copilot/reference/github-copilot-app-reference/built-in-skills)"}