GitHub Copilot

GitHub Copilot Chat Not Opening or Showing Blank Screen — How to Fix

GitHub Copilot Chat may fail to open or display a blank panel in VS Code or JetBrains when the extension is outdated, authentication has expired, or your subscription does not include Chat access. This issue is commonly seen after IDE updates, plan changes, or first-time setups. Following the steps below will get your Copilot Chat panel working again in minutes.

Why does this error happen?

Copilot Chat is a separate extension layer built on top of the core GitHub Copilot extension, and it relies on a valid, active GitHub authentication token scoped to a plan that explicitly includes Chat features. When the extension version falls out of sync with the IDE or the GitHub API, the Chat webview can fail to initialize and render a blank panel. Additionally, stale OAuth tokens or a GitHub account that has only a basic Copilot for Individuals plan without Chat entitlements will cause the panel to silently refuse to load, since the backend rejects the session before the UI can fully mount.

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How to fix it

Update the GitHub Copilot Chat Extension

Open the Extensions panel in VS Code (Ctrl+Shift+X) or the Plugins marketplace in JetBrains and search for 'GitHub Copilot Chat'. If an update is available, install it and restart your IDE. Running an outdated version is one of the most common causes of the blank Chat panel, as API contracts change frequently between releases.

Sign Out and Re-Authenticate with GitHub

Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P in VS Code) and run 'GitHub Copilot: Sign Out', then run 'GitHub Copilot: Sign In' to generate a fresh OAuth token. Expired or corrupted authentication sessions prevent the Chat service from verifying your identity, which causes the panel to stall on load. After re-authenticating, reopen the Chat panel to confirm the issue is resolved.

Verify Your Plan Includes Copilot Chat

Navigate to github.com/settings/copilot and confirm that your active subscription includes Copilot Chat access, as not all plans provide this feature by default. If your plan does not include Chat, you will need to upgrade to a tier that supports it before the panel will load. Organization-managed accounts should check with their GitHub admin to ensure the Chat policy is enabled at the org level.

Reload the VS Code Window

Open the Command Palette with Ctrl+Shift+P, type 'Reload Window', and press Enter to fully restart the VS Code renderer without closing the application. This clears any in-memory extension state that may be preventing the Chat webview from mounting correctly. After the window reloads, click the Copilot Chat icon in the Activity Bar to test if the panel opens successfully.

Pro tip

Pin both the GitHub Copilot and GitHub Copilot Chat extensions to a specific stable version in VS Code by right-clicking the extension and selecting 'Install Another Version', so IDE updates do not silently break the Chat panel until a compatible release is available.

Frequently asked questions

Why does Copilot Chat open but show only a blank white screen?

A blank white screen typically means the Chat webview loaded but failed to receive a valid session token from GitHub, often due to an expired sign-in or a plan mismatch. Signing out, re-authenticating, and reloading the window as described above will resolve this in most cases.

Does GitHub Copilot Chat work in JetBrains IDEs like IntelliJ or PyCharm?

Yes, Copilot Chat is available in JetBrains IDEs through the GitHub Copilot plugin version 1.3.0 and later, accessible from the JetBrains Marketplace. If the Chat tool window is missing, update the plugin and ensure you are signed in with a GitHub account on an eligible plan.

Can a firewall or proxy cause Copilot Chat to not open?

Yes, corporate firewalls or proxy configurations that block WebSocket connections or the api.githubcopilot.com domain can prevent the Chat panel from initializing. Ask your network administrator to allowlist GitHub Copilot endpoints, or test on a different network to confirm whether the issue is network-related.

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