Setup guide - Documented by GitHub Copilot
Use OpenAI in GitHub Copilot
GitHub Copilot includes OpenAI models as GA options in its model picker, including GPT-6.1 Sol, GPT-6 Astra, GPT-6 Sol, GPT-6 Luna and the GPT-5.6 family. Which ones you see depends on your plan and client. VS Code can also add more models from providers such as OpenAI through Manage Models.
Last verified 4 steps2 official sources
Steps
- Step 1.
VS Code: open Copilot Chat from the chat icon in the title bar, then at the bottom of the chat view select the CURRENT-MODEL dropdown and click the OpenAI model you want.
- Step 2.
Visual Studio: View > GitHub Copilot Chat, then pick from the CURRENT-MODEL dropdown at the bottom right (Visual Studio 2022 17.12 or later).
- Step 3.
JetBrains: open GitHub Copilot Chat from the status bar icon, pick a model from the CURRENT-MODEL dropdown, and optionally set a Thinking Effort for reasoning models.
- Step 4.
VS Code, adding more models: in the chat view click the CURRENT-MODEL dropdown, click Manage Models, click the provider (for example OpenAI), enter the API key or model ID when prompted and press Enter, then select the models and click OK.
Caveats
- Copilot lists models by display name, not API id.
- Copilot Student and Copilot Free users get models through auto model selection only.
- Copilot Business users need their organization to allow model switching. Using your own key on Business or Enterprise requires the Bring Your Own Language Model Key in Select IDEs policy.
- Minimum IDE versions apply, for example GPT-6 Astra needs VS Code 1.136.1 and GPT-6.1 Sol needs Visual Studio 17.14.19.
- GPT-5.4 nano is only available in the Codex Visual Studio Code extension (Copilot Pro+ only), not in Copilot Chat.
More setup guides
Same tool, other providers
Related reading
- Codex CLI 0.163: Instant Steering Is Now the DefaultCodex CLI 0.163.0 makes mid-response steering the default and adds searchable /config and a leader key. What changed and what to check before upgrading.
- Tool Calling Under the Hood: Claude Messages vs OpenAI ResponsesHow tool calling works on the wire: JSON schema tools, parallel calls, tool_choice, strict mode and streaming deltas in Claude Messages vs OpenAI Responses.
- Codex 'gpt-5.5 Model Is Not Supported' Error: The FixCodex says gpt-5.5 is not supported with a ChatGPT account because OpenAI retired it from ChatGPT sign-in on October 14. The fix and what still works.
- Codex CLI Background Daemon: How to Turn It OffCodex CLI starts a persistent, self-updating background daemon since 0.157.0. What it does, why it hit Hacker News and the reported workaround to turn it off.
- Codex CLI 0.162: Managed Worktrees and Pinned TasksCodex CLI 0.162 lets the agent create and list its own Git worktrees, adds pinned tasks and custom provider capability overrides. What to change this week.
- ChatGPT Free vs Go vs Plus After GPT-6: Which Model You GetFree and Go ($8) both get GPT-6 Luna in Chat. Plus ($20) is the cheapest plan with GPT-6 Sol and full Codex. What each ChatGPT plan buys now.
FAQ
How do I use OpenAI in GitHub Copilot?
GitHub Copilot includes OpenAI models as GA options in its model picker, including GPT-6.1 Sol, GPT-6 Astra, GPT-6 Sol, GPT-6 Luna and the GPT-5.6 family. Which ones you see depends on your plan and client. VS Code can also add more models from providers such as OpenAI through Manage Models.
Which OpenAI model ids work in GitHub Copilot?
The official docs read for this guide list GPT-6.1 Sol, GPT-6 Astra, GPT-6 Sol, GPT-6 Luna, GPT-5.6 Sol, GPT-5.6 Terra, GPT-5.6 Luna, GPT-5.5, GPT-5.4, GPT-5.4 mini, GPT-5.3-Codex and GPT-5 mini.
Is this an official OpenAI and GitHub Copilot setup?
GitHub Copilot documents this setup in its own docs. It was last checked against 2 official pages on October 17, 2026.
Sources
Last verified against 2 official pages.
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