How to Get Started with the New GitHub Copilot Desktop App: A Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

GitHub has released a standalone desktop application for Copilot that brings its AI-powered coding assistance out of the editor and into its own dedicated environment. This new app allows you to manage coding agents, issues, pull requests, and multiple development sessions—all from a single interface. Instead of jumping between your terminal, IDE, and browser, you can now supervise tasks, review changes, and collaborate with agents right from your desktop. Whether you're tackling a complex bug fix or orchestrating a large feature, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know to get started.

What You Need

• A GitHub account – You'll need an active GitHub account to sign in and link repositories.
• A qualifying Copilot subscription – The app is currently in public preview for Copilot Business and Enterprise users. Copilot Pro and Pro+ subscribers can join a waitlist for early access. Check your GitHub billing settings to confirm.
• Supported operating system – The app runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux. Make sure your system meets the minimum requirements.
• Stable internet connection – The app relies on cloud-based AI agents, so a reliable connection is essential.
• Familiarity with basic Git workflows – While the app simplifies many tasks, knowing how branches, pull requests, and issues work will help you get the most out of it.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Install the GitHub Copilot App

Visit the official GitHub Copilot app download page (typically linked from your GitHub dashboard or Copilot settings). Choose the installer for your operating system. Run the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions. The app will install as a standalone desktop client, separate from any IDE plugins.

Step 2: Sign In with Your GitHub Account

Once installed, launch the app. You'll be prompted to authenticate using your GitHub credentials. Click the “Sign in to GitHub” button and complete the OAuth flow in your default browser. After successful authentication, the app will sync your connected repositories and Copilot subscription status.

Step 3: Explore the Unified Interface

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the main window. On the left sidebar, you'll find sections for:

• Inbox – A unified view of your issues and pull requests across all repositories.
• Agent Sessions – Where you can start, monitor, and manage multiple coding agents running simultaneously.
• Session History – A log of past agent runs, including their outputs and results.
• Repository Context – Quickly switch between repositories or clone new ones directly from the app.

The central area displays the currently active session or agent conversation. You can resize panels and customize the layout to suit your workflow.

Step 4: Launch Your First Coding Agent

To start a new task, click the “New Agent” button in the Agent Sessions panel. You have three ways to trigger a task:

• From an Issue – Select an open issue from your inbox, and the agent will analyze it and suggest code changes or implementations.
• From a Prompt – Type a natural-language description of the work you want done (e.g., “Add input validation to the login form”).
• From an Existing Code Session – If you have a partially completed session, you can resume it right where you left off.

Once you choose a trigger, the agent will begin working. You can observe its reasoning, generated code, and file modifications in real time.

Step 5: Supervise and Interact with the Agent

As the agent runs, you can inspect proposed changes using the built-in side-by-side diff viewer. Leave inline feedback by commenting on specific lines or blocks. If needed, you can pause the session to review a partial result, then resume later. The agent respects your active repository context and will not modify files outside the scope of the task unless instructed.

Step 6: Manage Multiple Agents Simultaneously

One of the app's strengths is the ability to run several agents at the same time. For example, you could have one agent refactoring an API endpoint while another writes documentation for a separate module. Use the Agent Sessions panel to switch between active agents, see their status (running, paused, completed), and review their outputs independently.

Step 7: Finalize Changes and Create Pull Requests

When you're satisfied with an agent's work, you can transition the session into a pull request. The app will automatically generate a sensible PR title and description based on the agent's activity. You can edit these before submitting. The pull request will be opened against the configured base branch in your repository, complete with the proposed file changes. From there, you can continue collaborating using GitHub's standard review process.

Step 8: Use Session History as a Knowledge Base

Every agent session is recorded in the Session History section. This includes the prompts, intermediate steps, and final outputs. You can revisit or resume past sessions at any time. This feature is especially useful for audit trails, debugging, or reapplying similar patterns in future tasks.

Tips for Maximizing Your Copilot App Experience

• Start with small tasks – Get comfortable with how agents interpret your prompts by testing on minor refactors or simple features before tackling complex rewrites.
• Use descriptive prompts – The more context you give (e.g., file paths, expected behavior, constraints), the better the agent's output will align with your intentions.
• Leverage the unified inbox – Assign issues directly to an agent from the inbox to save time. This also ensures the agent has full context from the issue description.
• Combine with your existing IDE workflow – The desktop app doesn't replace your editor; it complements it. Use the app for large-scale orchestration and heavy agent tasks, and your IDE for fine-grained manual coding.
• Stay within subscription limits – Depending on your plan, there may be rate limits on agent usage. Monitor your usage via the app's settings or your GitHub dashboard.
• Keep the app updated – GitHub frequently releases updates that improve agent performance and add new features. Enable automatic updates if available.
• Explore keyboard shortcuts – The app supports common shortcuts for navigation (e.g., Ctrl+K for quick command palette). Check the Help menu for a full list.