sign in github copilot chat

[ahmedaloui111]

hello,

I want to connect to GitHub Copilot Chat on VS Code, but it only offers three types of login: via GitHub, Google, or Apple. In my case, since I’m in a company environment and due to security restrictions, I only have access to a local GitLab or a Microsoft account. How can I connect in this situation?

[cengizhanarslan]

Copilot Chat authentication is hard-wired to GitHub identity. Even if you use Copilot inside VS Code, Microsoft accounts, GitLab accounts, or local identities are not supported for sign-in. Google/Apple are only shortcuts to create or access a GitHub account — they still end up as GitHub identities.

What you can do in a corporate environment:

• Ask your security team to allow a GitHub Enterprise account (this is the intended enterprise path)

• Create a company-approved GitHub account using your work email

• If GitHub is fully blocked, Copilot Chat simply won’t work — there’s no alternative login method

GitLab + Copilot isn’t supported today. If GitHub access is not possible at all, you’ll need to look at non-Copilot AI extensions that authenticate differently (Azure OpenAI–based tools, internal copilots, etc.).

[v-veshwara-msft]

Hi @ahmedaloui111 ,
Thanks for reaching out to Microsoft Fbaric Community.
Just wanted to check if the response provided by @burakkaragoz was helpful.

Since this is related to GitHub Copilot authentication, please consider posting this question in the GitHub Community for further clarification.

community Copilot Conversations · Discussions · GitHub

Thank you, @burakkaragoz , for taking the time to respond.

[burakkaragoz]

Hi @ahmedaloui111 ,

This is a strict licensing constraint: GitHub Copilot requires a GitHub identity to function. It verifies your active subscription through a GitHub user handle, not through a generic Microsoft or GitLab login.

However, since you have a corporate Microsoft Account, there is a specific pathway that might work if your company has set it up correctly.

Here is the breakdown of your situation:

1. The "Microsoft Account" Pathway (Enterprise Managed Users) If your company has purchased GitHub Copilot for Business, they might have set up SSO (Single Sign-On) or EMU (Enterprise Managed Users).

• The Test: Click "Sign in with GitHub" in VS Code.

• The Flow: When asked for the username/email, enter your corporate Microsoft email.

• The Result: If your company is configured correctly, GitHub will immediately redirect you to your company's Microsoft login page to authenticate. You are technically logging into GitHub, but using your Microsoft credentials.

2. The GitLab Constraint There is no way to authenticate GitHub Copilot using a local GitLab account. They are separate ecosystems, and the license validation server only speaks to GitHub.com.

3. The "Network Block" Issue If your company blocks access to github.com entirely (which prevents the login pop-up from appearing), you have two options to discuss with your IT Security team:

• Allowlist URLs: They must allow traffic to github.com, api.github.com, and copilot-proxy.githubusercontent.com.

• Proxy Support: If you are behind a strict corporate proxy (like Zscaler), you may need to configure the http.proxy setting in VS Code or install the "win-ca" extension to trust your company's self-signed certificates.

Summary: You must click "Sign in with GitHub." If your company has assigned you a license, using your corporate email there should trigger the Microsoft SSO flow. If that is blocked, you cannot use Copilot without IT intervention.

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