Copilot CLI Troubleshooting: Authentication, Access, Policies, and Recovery

gh auth status

# Verify whether GitHub CLI is already logged in.

copilot login

# Restore access with the OAuth login flow.

echo $COPILOT_GITHUB_TOKEN

# Inspect the highest-priority token variable.

echo $GH_TOKEN

# Inspect the GitHub CLI token env var.

echo $GITHUB_TOKEN

# Inspect the fallback GitHub token env var.

export COPILOT_GITHUB_TOKEN=PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN

# Export a supported token into the current shell.

copilot version

# Check whether your binary is current.

copilot update

# Refresh the binary to the latest release.

gh copilot --remove && gh copilot

# Reset a broken gh wrapper install.

Install libsecret or accept plaintext credential storage when prompted.

# Install keychain support when secure storage is unavailable.

Check that your Copilot plan is active and that your organization or enterprise has not disabled Copilot CLI.

# Verify subscription and org-level Copilot CLI policy.

copilot help permissions

# Inspect permission-related help text.

copilot help environment

# Inspect supported environment controls.

/usage

# Check how the session is behaving.

/context

# Check whether the session has too much accumulated context.

/compact

# Reduce context noise before asking again.

copilot logout && copilot login

# Log out and back in when account state looks wrong.