{"id":95185,"date":"2026-04-10T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/github.blog\/?p=95185"},"modified":"2026-04-10T10:37:30","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T17:37:30","slug":"github-copilot-cli-for-beginners-getting-started-with-github-copilot-cli","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/github.blog\/ai-and-ml\/github-copilot\/github-copilot-cli-for-beginners-getting-started-with-github-copilot-cli\/","title":{"rendered":"GitHub Copilot CLI for Beginners: Getting started with GitHub Copilot CLI"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Welcome to GitHub Copilot CLI for Beginners! In this series (available in video format<\/a> and on the GitHub Blog), we’ll explore how to use your AI coding assistant directly in your terminal, along with tips and tricks on how to navigate the command line like a pro!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this blog, we’ll walk through what GitHub Copilot CLI<\/a> is, how it works, and how to get started. You’ll learn how to install it using npm, authenticate with your GitHub account, grant folder permissions, and run your first prompts to generate code directly from the terminal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s get started!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is GitHub Copilot CLI?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The GitHub Copilot CLI brings Copilot’s agentic AI capabilities right into the command-line interface (CLI), becoming like any terminal or console based tool you use (with the full context of your repos)!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What makes agents so special is their ability to perform tasks like building code and running tests autonomously, so you can build iteratively. They can even self-correct and fix errors without needing a human to prompt them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means you can assign tasks to Copilot, focus on other to-do list items, and then review the results and request additional changes from the terminal—all without having to interrupt your workflow or switch tools. (You can even delegate tasks to Copilot Cloud agent from inside the CLI, more on this later.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Installing Copilot CLI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Not surprisingly, the first step to using Copilot CLI is installation. The core cross-platform way—if you already have node—to do this is via npm, using:<\/p>\n\n\n

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npm install -g @github\/copilot <\/code><\/pre>\n<\/path><\/path><\/svg><\/path><\/svg><\/clipboard-copy><\/div>\n\n\n
If you’re using a package manager like WinGet or Homebrew, you can install Copilot CLI through those tools as well. (You’ll want to consult those tools’ documentation for the exact specifics on how to do this.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Getting started with GitHub Copilot CLI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Once you install the product, you can launch it by typing “Copilot” in your command line. There are numerous switches you can use, which we’ll cover later in the series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If it’s your first time in the terminal, you’ll need to log in with your GitHub credentials.<\/p>\n\n\n
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\/login<\/code><\/pre>\n<\/path><\/path><\/svg><\/path><\/svg><\/clipboard-copy><\/div>\n\n\n
This will:<\/p>\n\n\n\n