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title Customizing the GitHub Copilot app
shortTitle Customize the GitHub Copilot app
intro Customize the {% data variables.copilot.github_copilot_app %} so it works the way you and your team do.
allowTitleToDifferFromFilename true
product {% data reusables.gated-features.github-app %}<br><a href="https://github.com/features/ai/github-app" target="_blank" class="btn btn-primary mt-3 mr-3 no-underline"><span>Download {% data variables.copilot.github_copilot_app %}</span> {% octicon "link-external" height:16 %}</a>
versions
feature
copilot
contentType how-tos
redirect_from
/copilot/how-tos/github-app/customize-github-app
category
Author and optimize with Copilot
Configure Copilot

Tailor the {% data variables.copilot.github_copilot_app %} to your workflows so your agents follow your conventions, use your preferred tools, and apply the right expertise to every task.

The Customize tab in the app sidebar allows you to discover and manage MCP servers, plugins, skills, and canvases in one place. From this tab, you can:

  • Explore featured customizations as a starting point if you do not already know which customization you need.
  • Browse by customization type.
  • Find MCP servers by viewing trending options or browsing by category.
  • Review customizations already available for you to use in the Installed view.

Setting global and repository instructions

You can add instructions that apply globally or only to a specific repository.

Setting global instructions

Global instructions apply to every session across all projects.

  1. Open the app settings.
  2. Click Sessions.
  3. Under "Instructions," edit "App instructions."

Setting repository-specific instructions

Repository-specific instructions apply to every session for the selected repository.

  1. Open the app settings.
  2. Under "Projects," click the repository.
  3. Edit the "Instructions" field.

Adding agent skills

Agent skills are folders of instructions, scripts, and resources that {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} can load when relevant to improve its performance in specialized tasks. Any skills configured for your repositories or {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} CLI are automatically available in the {% data variables.copilot.github_copilot_app %}. To add or manage skills, click Customize in the app sidebar, then click Skills.

For more information about agent skills, see AUTOTITLE.

For a {% data variables.product.github %}-provided built-in skills reference, see AUTOTITLE.

Configuring MCP servers

MCP servers connect the agent to external tools and data sources. Any MCP servers configured for your repositories or {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} CLI are automatically available in the {% data variables.copilot.github_copilot_app %}.

To discover and install an MCP server:

  1. Click Customize in the app sidebar.
  2. Click MCP.
  3. Explore featured or trending servers, browse by category, or add a custom server.
  4. Select a server and follow the prompts to install it.

To view or manage MCP servers that are already installed, click Installed.

For more information about MCP, see AUTOTITLE.

Using custom agents

{% data variables.copilot.custom_agents_caps_short %} are specialized versions of {% data variables.copilot.copilot_cloud_agent %} that you can tailor to specific tasks and workflows.

Use the agent picker dropdown in the prompt box to select a {% data variables.copilot.copilot_custom_agent_short %} before or during a session.

Alternatively, type /agent in the prompt box to choose and invoke a {% data variables.copilot.copilot_custom_agent_short %}.

For more information, see AUTOTITLE.

Adding plugins

Plugins are installable packages that add a preconfigured set of capabilities, such as skills, hooks, {% data variables.copilot.custom_agents_short %}, MCP servers, and canvas extensions, extending the functionality of the {% data variables.copilot.github_copilot_app %}.

The Plugins view shows plugins from the marketplaces configured in the app. You can filter the list by marketplace or add a custom marketplace.

To browse and install a plugin:

  1. Click Customize in the app sidebar, then click Plugins.
  2. Optionally, use the marketplace dropdown to filter the available plugins.
  3. Find the plugin you want to use, then click Install.

To add a custom marketplace:

  1. In the Plugins view, click the {% octicon "gear" aria-label="The marketplace settings icon" %} icon next to the marketplace dropdown.
  2. Follow the prompts to add the {% data variables.product.github %} repository or Git URL that hosts the marketplace.

For more information, see AUTOTITLE.

Working with canvas extensions

Use canvas extensions to build shared, agent-driven artifacts and interfaces for team or personal workflows. You can find canvases under Canvas in Customize, or use /create-canvas in a session to create your own. For more information, see AUTOTITLE.

Organization and enterprise management

Enterprise and organization owners can set policies to govern how {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} is used across surfaces. For the major policies supported by the {% data variables.copilot.github_copilot_app %}, see AUTOTITLE.

Enterprises can also define a {% data variables.copilot.managed_setting_file %} file to control which actions users can take in supported {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} clients, such as which plugins users can install and whether "YOLO-style" commands are permitted. See AUTOTITLE.