---
title: Troubleshooting Copilot coding agent
shortTitle: Troubleshooting
intro: 'Learn how to resolve problems that may occur when you assign tasks to {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %}.'
product: '{% data reusables.gated-features.copilot-coding-agent %}
Sign up for {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} {% octicon "link-external" height:16 %}'
versions:
feature: copilot
topics:
- Copilot
type: reference
redirect_from:
- /copilot/using-github-copilot/using-copilot-coding-agent-to-work-on-issues/troubleshooting-copilot-coding-agent
---
{% data reusables.copilot.coding-agent.preview-note %}
## {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} is not available in the "Assignees" list on my issue
You can only assign issues to {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} if you have access to {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} through either the **{% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_pro_plus %}** plan or the **{% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_enterprise %}** plan.
If you do not already have a subscription for one of these plans, click this button for more information:
Sign up for {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} {% octicon "link-external" height:16 %}
If you _do_ have either {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_pro_plus %} or {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_enterprise %}, check that {% data variables.copilot.copilot_coding_agent %} {% ifversion ghec %}is enabled and{% endif %} has been made available for the repository:
{% ifversion ghec %}
* If you are on the {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_enterprise_short %} plan, your ability to use {% data variables.copilot.copilot_coding_agent %} is controlled at the enterprise level. See [AUTOTITLE](/enterprise-cloud@latest/copilot/managing-copilot/managing-copilot-for-your-enterprise/adding-copilot-coding-agent-to-enterprise).
{% endif %}
* For organization-owned repositories, the availability of {% data variables.copilot.copilot_coding_agent %} in the repository is configured in the settings for the organization. See [AUTOTITLE](/enterprise-cloud@latest/copilot/managing-copilot/managing-github-copilot-in-your-organization/adding-copilot-coding-agent-to-organization).
* For personal repositories, the availability of {% data variables.copilot.copilot_coding_agent %} in the repository is configured in your account settings. See [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/managing-copilot/managing-copilot-as-an-individual-subscriber/managing-your-copilot-plan/managing-copilot-policies-as-an-individual-subscriber#enabling-or-disabling-copilot-coding-agent).
> [!NOTE]
> You can check whether {% data variables.copilot.copilot_coding_agent %} has been enabled for you in the features page of your {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} settings: [github.com/settings/copilot/features](https://github.com/settings/copilot/features).
## {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} can't create a pull request from {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_chat_short %}
If you asked {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} to create a pull request and it responds that it cannot directly create a pull request, check that {% data variables.copilot.copilot_coding_agent %} is available.
> [!IMPORTANT]
> {% data reusables.copilot.coding-agent.use-chat-participant-in-vsc %}
## I assigned an issue to {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %}, but nothing is happening
Wait a while, then refresh the page. You should see {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} leave an 👀 reaction on the issue. Shortly after this, {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} will open a draft pull request linked to the issue, which will be shown in the issue timeline.
## {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} has opened a pull request, but nothing is happening
If there is a "{% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} started work" event in the pull request timeline, click **View session** to see the session logs. These will stream live, and you will be able to see what {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} is doing.
## {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} won't respond to my pull request comments
When you leave a pull request comment on a pull request that is assigned to {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %}, {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} will consider your comment, and decide whether to start a new agent session to respond.
If {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} decides to take action and start a new agent session in response to your comment, it will leave an 👀 reaction on the comment, and then a "{% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} started work" event will appear in the pull request timeline.
If this doesn't happen, you may have unassigned {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} from the pull request, or {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} may have decided that your comment is not actionable.
Check that {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} is assigned to the pull request. If it is, you can force {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} to respond to your comment by @mentioning {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} in the comment with `@copilot`.
## Based on the agent session logs, {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} appears to be stuck
{% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} can appear to be stuck for a while, and then get moving again.
If the session remains stuck, it will time out after an hour. You can retry by unassigning the issue and then reassigning it to {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %}.
If {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} got stuck while responding to a comment, try adding the same comment to the pull request again.
## My {% data variables.product.prodname_actions %} workflows are not running when Copilot pushes
{% data variables.product.prodname_actions %} workflows will not run automatically when {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} pushes changes to a pull request.
To allow {% data variables.product.prodname_actions %} workflows to run, click the **Approve and run workflows** button in the pull request's merge box. See [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/using-github-copilot/using-copilot-coding-agent-to-work-on-tasks/using-copilot-to-work-on-an-issue#allowing-github-actions-workflows-to-run-when-copilot-pushes-changes).
## {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} is pushing changes which don't pass my CI checks
While working on an issue, {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} has access to its own ephemeral development environment, powered by {% data variables.product.prodname_actions %}, where it can execute automated tests and linters to validate its work before it pushes.
It is most likely to do this if given clear instructions on what to do. The best way to do this is with a `.github/copilot-instructions.md` file. See [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/using-github-copilot/using-copilot-coding-agent-to-work-on-tasks/best-practices-for-using-copilot-to-work-on-tasks#adding-custom-instructions-to-your-repository).
## There is a warning from {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot %} about the firewall
By default, {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %}'s access to the internet is limited by a firewall.
Limiting access to the internet helps to manage data exfiltration risks, where surprising behavior from {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} or malicious instructions given to it could lead to code or other sensitive information being leaked to remote locations.
If {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} tries to make a request which is blocked by the firewall, a warning is added to the pull request body (if {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} is responding to an issue assignment) or to a comment (if {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} is responding to a comment). The warning shows the blocked address and the command that tried to make the request.
For more information, see [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/customizing-copilot/customizing-or-disabling-the-firewall-for-copilot-coding-agent).
## Further reading
* [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/using-github-copilot/using-copilot-coding-agent-to-work-on-tasks/best-practices-for-using-copilot-to-work-on-tasks)
* [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/customizing-copilot/customizing-the-development-environment-for-copilot-coding-agent)