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docs/content/copilot/customizing-copilot/adding-personal-custom-instructions-for-github-copilot.md
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Adding personal custom instructions for GitHub Copilot Personal custom instructions You can add personal instructions for {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_chat %} to customize chat responses for your conversations.
feature
copilot
Copilot

{% data reusables.copilot.personal-instructions-note %}

About personal custom instructions for {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_chat %}

You can add instructions for {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_chat %} in order to receive chat responses that are customized to your personal preferences, across your conversations on the {% data variables.product.github %} website. Your saved instructions will not be displayed in the chat, but they are automatically provided to {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} so that it can provide responses aligned with your personal preferences.

For example, you can choose to always have {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_chat_short %} respond in a preferred language or with a particular style. Some examples of instructions you could add are:

  • Always respond in Spanish.
  • Your style is a helpful colleague, minimize explanations but provide enough context to understand the code.
  • Always provide examples in TypeScript.

Personal custom instructions apply to conversations that you, as a user, have with {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_chat_short %} across {% data variables.product.github %}, and are different from repository custom instructions, which apply to conversations in the context of a single repository. For more information on repository instructions, see AUTOTITLE.

{% data reusables.copilot.repository-vs-personal-instructions-note %}

Adding personal custom instructions

  1. In the top right of any page on {% data variables.product.github %}, click the {% octicon "copilot" aria-hidden="true" %} {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot %} icon next to the search bar.

  2. Select the {% octicon "kebab-horizontal" aria-label="Open conversation options" %} dropdown menu at the top of the Chat panel, then click {% octicon "tools" aria-hidden="true" %} Customize {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot %}. If in the immersive view, select the {% octicon "kebab-horizontal" aria-label="Feedback and settings" %} dropdown menu at the top right of the page, then click {% octicon "note" aria-hidden="true" %} Personal instructions.

  3. Add natural language instructions to the text box.

    The instructions can be written as a single paragraph, each on a new line, or separated by blank lines for legibility.

  4. Click Save. Your instructions are now active, and will stay active until you change or remove them.