GitHub Copilot changelog

Copilot global default policy for features starts applying to unconfigured settings

GitHub began rolling out enforcement of the global default policy for Copilot Business and Enterprise through October 26. Generally available features and MCP server settings left unconfigured are set once to the chosen default of Enabled, Disabled or Let organizations decide. Explicit choices are kept.

Who is affected:

Copilot Business and Enterprise admins with unconfigured feature settings.

What to do:

Check AI Controls, Copilot, Default policy for new features before October 26.

Copilot code review now defaults to Balanced effort

The Default review effort level for Copilot code review now uses Balanced for new and existing repositories and organizations, effective September 28, 2026. Settings explicitly set to Lite were kept.

Who is affected:

Teams using Copilot code review on the Default effort setting.

What to do:

Set the review effort to Lite if you want the previous lighter reviews.

Copilot auto model selection gets efficiency, balance and intelligence tiers

Copilot auto model selection now offers three tiers that weigh cost, quality and response time differently. Usage is charged for the model auto picks, with a 10% discount for paid subscribers.

Who is affected:

Copilot users who rely on auto model selection.

What to do:

Pick the tier that matches your cost and quality needs.

New Copilot models turn on by default for Business and Enterprise from August 26

GitHub added a default enablement policy so newly GA models are on by default for Business and Enterprise from August 26, 2026, unless admins opt out. Open-weight models and models outside GitHub's data retention agreement are excluded.

Who is affected:

Copilot Business and Enterprise admins who approve models manually.

What to do:

Set the policy to disabled before August 26 if you want to approve each model.

Copilot Free and Student plans lose manual model choice

Copilot Free and Student now use auto model selection as the default and only model selection experience.

GPT-5.3-Codex becomes the Copilot base model for Business and Enterprise

GPT-5.3-Codex replaced GPT-4.1 as the base model for all Copilot Business and Enterprise organizations, at a 1x premium request multiplier. It is a long-term support model available through February 4, 2027.

Who is affected:

Copilot Business and Enterprise organizations that have not approved other models.

What to do:

Review premium request usage, since the base model now has a 1x multiplier.