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Yes—GitHub Copilot supports user-configured local models in several clients, but the setup and features depend on which client you use. As of the announcements dated April–June 2026, the documented paths include Copilot CLI, VS Code, and the GitHub Copilot app. GitHub also documents local BYOK support in other clients, including JetBrains and Xcode. “BYOK” means bringing your own model or provider configuration; it is not one universal Copilot switch.
Local models in Copilot: choose the client first
GitHub’s local bring-your-own-key (BYOK) model support lets users configure models running on their own machine or hosted by an external provider. The details vary by client: VS Code BYOK is for Chat rather than code completions, Copilot CLI has its own provider configuration, and the Copilot app supports BYOK for agent sessions. GitHub’s documentation also lists JetBrains, Xcode, and the Copilot SDK among local-BYOK client areas. Check the documentation for the client you actually use before choosing a runtime or model.
| Copilot client or pathway | Documented model options and scope | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Copilot CLI | GitHub’s April 7, 2026 announcement names Ollama, vLLM, and Foundry Local, as well as Azure OpenAI, Anthropic, and OpenAI-compatible endpoints. | GitHub authentication is optional. Signing in enables GitHub-integrated features such as /delegate, GitHub Code Search, and the GitHub MCP server. |
| VS Code | GitHub’s April 22, 2026 announcement names locally running Ollama and Foundry Local, alongside hosted providers. BYOK models are available in VS Code Chat, including the built-in plan agent and custom agents. | BYOK does not apply to code completions. Provider usage is billed directly and does not count against GitHub Copilot request quotas. |
| GitHub Copilot app | GitHub’s June 23, 2026 announcement names Ollama and LM Studio, along with OpenAI, Azure OpenAI, Microsoft Foundry, Anthropic, and OpenAI-compatible endpoints. BYOK is for agent sessions. | The linked documentation describes app BYOK as a public preview subject to change. |
| Other documented clients | GitHub’s BYOK documentation lists JetBrains, Xcode, and the Copilot SDK as local-BYOK client areas. | Check the relevant client’s current documentation for supported providers, feature coverage, and setup details. |
Sources: GitHub BYOK documentation; GitHub announcements for Copilot CLI, VS Code, and the Copilot app.
How each route works
Copilot CLI: configure a provider or local runtime
GitHub’s April 7, 2026 announcement says Copilot CLI can connect to an external model provider or run fully local models instead of using GitHub-hosted model routing. It names Ollama, vLLM, and Foundry Local for local runtimes. GitHub authentication is optional; if you sign in, you can use GitHub-connected features such as /delegate, GitHub Code Search, and the GitHub MCP server. The announcement does not establish a universal setup command or hardware specification, so follow the current CLI documentation for configuration details.
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VS Code: use BYOK in Chat, not completions
In its April 22, 2026 announcement, GitHub says Copilot Business and Enterprise users can use BYOK in VS Code with providers including Anthropic, Gemini, OpenAI, OpenRouter, and Azure, as well as local Ollama and Foundry Local. Configured models work in VS Code Chat, including the built-in plan agent and custom agents. They do not power code completions. Provider usage is billed directly by the provider and does not count against GitHub Copilot request quotas. See GitHub’s VS Code announcement for its supported-provider details.
Copilot app: BYOK for agent sessions
GitHub announced BYOK for agent sessions in the Copilot app on June 23, 2026, naming Ollama and LM Studio among the supported options, alongside hosted providers and OpenAI-compatible endpoints. GitHub’s linked documentation marks app BYOK as a public preview subject to change, so confirm its status and current provider list in the BYOK documentation before relying on it.
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Local BYOK is different from enterprise BYOK
GitHub’s documentation describes two mechanisms with different configuration and request paths. With local BYOK, users configure a model in a supported client and handle keys client-side. With enterprise BYOK, an organization or enterprise administrator configures custom models for users, and requests go through the Copilot API. GitHub describes enterprise BYOK as a public preview; that mechanism requires a Copilot license and internet access.
For Copilot Business and Enterprise users, organization or enterprise policy can disable local BYOK in IDEs. If the option is unavailable in a managed account, an administrator’s policy may be the reason. These mechanisms should not be treated as interchangeable: check which one your organization supports and which client you are configuring. Details are in GitHub’s BYOK documentation.
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What to check before choosing a local model
- Client and task: Decide whether you need CLI, VS Code Chat, app agent sessions, or another documented client. Do not assume local BYOK supports every Copilot feature; VS Code code completions are a specific exception.
- Runtime and model: Choose from the runtimes and providers documented for that client. Availability differs across CLI, VS Code, and the app.
- Account policy: If you use Copilot Business or Enterprise, check whether your organization permits local BYOK in IDEs.
- Billing: In the VS Code BYOK path described by GitHub, provider usage is billed directly and is separate from Copilot request quotas.
- Hardware: GitHub’s cited Copilot sources do not specify a universal RAM, GPU, or VRAM minimum. Requirements depend on the model and runtime you choose; the sources do not establish that you need a new computer or GPU.
Does using a local model make Copilot fully offline?
Not necessarily. GitHub’s CLI announcement says local models can be used instead of GitHub-hosted model routing, but that does not establish that every Copilot feature works offline. GitHub separately says enterprise BYOK requires internet access. Treat model location, connectivity, GitHub sign-in, and access to integrated features as distinct questions, and verify the requirements for your chosen client and mechanism.
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