| title | Copilot customization cheat sheet | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| shortTitle | Customization cheat sheet | ||
| intro | Compare the different customization options for {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot %}. | ||
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| contentType | reference |
{% data variables.product.prodname_copilot %} offers several customization features that let you tailor its behavior to your workflow, your team's standards, and your project's needs. Use the tables below to find the right one for your use case.
This table shows what each customization feature is and where it lives.
| Feature | What it is | Filename and location |
|---|---|---|
| Custom instructions | Always-on context that automatically applies to every interaction within its defined scope | .github/copilot-instructions.md (repo-wide), .github/instructions/*.instructions.md (path-specific), AGENTS.md (third-party agents), or personal/org settings via UI on {% data variables.product.github %} |
| Prompt files | Reusable, standalone prompt template with input variables | .github/prompts/*.prompt.md |
| AUTOTITLE | Specialist persona with its own instructions, tool restrictions, and context | .github/agents/AGENT-NAME.md (repository), /agents/AGENT-NAME.md in the organization's .github or .github-private repository (org-level), /agents/AGENT-NAME.md in a designated .github-private repository (enterprise-level), or user profile |
| {% data variables.copilot.subagents_caps_short %} | Separate agent spawned by the main agent to handle delegated work in an isolated context | N/A (runtime process, not a user-configured file) |
| Agent skills | Folder of instructions, scripts, and resources that {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} loads when relevant to a task | .github/skills/<skill-name>/SKILL.md, .claude/skills/<skill-name>/SKILL.md, or .agents/skills/<skill-name>/SKILL.md (project); ~/.copilot/skills/<skill-name>/SKILL.md or ~/.agents/skills/<skill-name>/SKILL.md (personal) |
| Hooks | Custom shell commands that execute deterministically at specific points in an agent's workflow | .github/hooks/*.json |
| AUTOTITLE | Connection to external systems, APIs, and databases | mcp.json (path varies by IDE), repository MCP settings on {% data variables.product.github %} (applies to {% data variables.copilot.copilot_in_the_cloud_short %} and {% data variables.copilot.copilot_code-review_short %}), or mcp-servers property in {% data variables.copilot.copilot_custom_agent_short %} configurations |
This table helps you decide which customization feature to use.
| Feature | How to trigger | Best for | Example use cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom instructions | Automatic | Standards, guidelines, or expectations that apply broadly across a context | Enforce coding standards, accessibility rules, review checklists |
| Prompt files | Manual: reference directly in chat or use the prompt file picker | Focused single tasks you run once with different inputs each time | Generate unit tests, run a code review checklist |
| AUTOTITLE | Manual: select from the agent dropdown in your IDE, on {% data variables.product.github %}, or in {% data variables.copilot.copilot_cli_short %} | Projects or processes with distinct stages that need specialized capabilities or strict handoffs | React reviewer agent, read-only auditing agent |
| {% data variables.copilot.subagents_caps_short %} | Automatic, or reference a {% data variables.copilot.subagent_short %} directly in your prompt | Complex subtasks that should run in isolation from the main agent | Codebase research, running test suites |
| Agent skills | Automatic: chosen by {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} when relevant to your prompt | Multi-step workflows with bundled assets that should be loaded as needed | {% data variables.product.prodname_actions %} failure debugging, deployment procedures, release note drafting |
| Hooks | Automatic: at configured lifecycle events | Tasks that need to run at a specific point in the agent lifecycle, with guaranteed execution | Run a formatter after every file edit, approve or deny tool executions, prevent credential leaks with {% data variables.product.prodname_secret_scanning %} |
| AUTOTITLE | Automatic, or ask for a specific tool by name | Tasks that require access to external tools or real-time data | Manage issues and PRs ({% data variables.product.github %} MCP server), automate browser testing (Playwright MCP server) |
| {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} connectors | Automatic when relevant, or ask for a connected service | Tasks that combine repository context with external project information | Find requirements in connected documents, then propose code changes and tests |
This table shows which customization features are supported in each IDE and surface. For the full {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} feature matrix, see AUTOTITLE.
{% data variables.product.company_short %} recommends using the latest stable IDE, {% data variables.copilot.copilot_cli_short %}, and {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} extension versions to get the best {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} experience.
Key:
- ✓ = supported
- ✗ = not supported
- P = under preview
| Feature | {% data variables.product.prodname_vscode_shortname %} | {% data variables.product.prodname_vs %} | JetBrains IDEs | Eclipse | Xcode | {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %} .com | {% data variables.copilot.copilot_cli_short %} |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custom instructions | ✓ | ✓ | P | P | P | ✓ | ✓ |
| Prompt files | ✓ | ✓ | P | ✗ | P | ✗ | ✗ |
| {% data variables.copilot.custom_agents_caps_short %} | ✓ | ✓ | P | P | P | ✓ | ✓ |
| {% data variables.copilot.subagents_caps_short %} | ✓ | ✗ | P | P | P | ✗ | ✓ |
| Agent skills | ✓ | ✓ | P | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hooks | P | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| MCP servers | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Connectors are in {% data variables.release-phases.public_preview %} in the {% data variables.copilot.github_copilot_app %}, {% data variables.copilot.copilot_cli %}, {% data variables.product.prodname_vscode %}, {% data variables.copilot.copilot_in_the_cloud_short %}, and {% data variables.product.prodname_mobile %}. In {% data variables.copilot.copilot_in_the_cloud_short %}, they work in sessions running in a cloud sandbox, but not in sessions running on {% data variables.product.prodname_actions %}. See AUTOTITLE.
For a detailed breakdown of which types of custom instructions are supported in each IDE and surface, see AUTOTITLE.
In JetBrains IDEs, you can use the Agent Customizations editor to manage multiple {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} customizations from one place. In the {% data variables.copilot.copilot_chat %} panel, click the settings icon in the top-right, then click Customizations.
From the editor, you can:
- View and edit {% data variables.copilot.custom_agents_short %}
- Manage reusable skills
- Configure workspace or personal instructions
- Manage prompt files
- Choose Workspace customizations for the current project or Personal customizations that follow you across projects
For steps to create repository instructions and prompt files in JetBrains IDEs, see AUTOTITLE.
- AUTOTITLE—a curated collection of examples