How to Install and Use Copilot CLI

Copilot CLI is GitHub’s command line tool that helps you build and manage code.

To install Copilot CLI, go to https://github.com/features/copilot/cli: and the Install Now button:

Depending on your OS and installation, you can use one of the options below:

• Cross-platform (npm) (Node.js 22+).

  npm install -g @github/copilot
  

• Windows (WinGet)

  winget install GitHub.Copilot
  

• macOS/Linux (Homebrew)

  brew install --cask copilot-cli

If you run into an error like below – “Not Found – GET https://registry.npmjs.org/@github%2fcopilot-cli – Not found” it’s possible you do not have the right versions of Node or NPM. Upgrade those and try again:

Successful run should look like:

Now in PowerShell run:

copilot

This will launch the CLI:

Type /login to login to GitHub:

Note the permissions. It took a little while for the Authorize github button to become available for me, fyi:

Once authorized you should be able to return back to the CLI to see you connected successfully.

Pressing “/” in the command bar brings a list of the available commands you can run:

For example, you can run:

/plugin

To see a list of the plugins available:

You can also:

• Add skills
• View agents with /agent
• Use hooks to extend the CLI behavior
• Add an MCP Server
• Manage your context window with /usage /context /compact

Keep learning. Keep building.

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Carl de Souza Enterprise Architect at Microsoft · AI Technology Expert