Skip to content
Draft
Changes from all commits
Commits
File filter

Filter by extension

Filter by extension

Conversations
Failed to load comments.
Loading
Jump to
Jump to file
Failed to load files.
Loading
Diff view
Diff view
19 changes: 18 additions & 1 deletion website/src/content/docs/learning-hub/github-copilot-app.md
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ title: 'Getting Started with the GitHub Copilot app'
description: 'Learn about the GitHub Copilot app, a desktop experience built for agent-native development. Understand its key features and who it''s for.'
authors:
- GitHub Copilot Learning Hub Team
lastUpdated: 2026-06-17
lastUpdated: 2026-08-07
estimatedReadingTime: '8 minutes'
tags:
- copilot-app
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -64,9 +64,14 @@ Each session the Copilot app creates runs in its own **git worktree**—a real,
- Each agent has its own branch, its own environment, and its own changes
- No manual branch juggling or cleanup required—the app handles it all
- You can pick up a session from any device, on any worktree
- A **Worktree location** setting in Settings > Sessions lets you customize where new worktrees are created, using a path template with repository, branch, and name placeholders

This makes it easy to dispatch multiple agents and trust they won't interfere with each other.

### Running in the Background

Closing the app's main window keeps it running in the background instead of quitting, with tray (Windows/Linux) or Dock (macOS) support to bring it back. This means scheduled automations and in-progress sessions keep running even when the window isn't open.

### Canvases

**Canvases** are interactive work surfaces where you and agents collaborate. Instead of long chat threads, a canvas shows the actual work:
Expand All @@ -88,6 +93,12 @@ For a hands-on guide to building canvases with `/create-canvas`, see [Working wi

You control the automation level—decide whether Agent Merge should just run CI, address feedback, or go all the way to merging. It's a way to let Copilot handle the tedious parts of the review and merge process.

Agent Merge also understands **stacked pull requests**: it shows a stack summary in the merge drawer with the pull requests that will be included, and lets you merge an entire stack together instead of merging each PR one at a time.

### Requesting Code Reviews

From the app, you can request a Copilot code review on a pull request—and re-request a review even from reviewers who already responded—without leaving the session. This keeps the review loop inside the same workspace where the change was made.

## Who is the Copilot app for?

The Copilot app isn't a replacement for existing Copilot experiences—it's another tool in the toolbox. Here's who it serves best:
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -284,4 +295,10 @@ Enable Agent Merge to automate routine PR workflows:
- **Understand Agent Skills**: [Creating Effective Skills](../creating-effective-skills/) — Build reusable task guidance
- **Automate with Hooks**: [Automating with Hooks](../automating-with-hooks/) — Add guardrails to autonomous work

## Further Reading

- [GitHub Copilot app changelog](https://github.com/github/app/blob/main/changelog.md) — Latest features and fixes, including stacked pull request support, Agent Merge improvements, and requesting Copilot code reviews from the app
- [GitHub Copilot CLI changelog](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/blob/main/changelog.md) — Companion CLI release notes for plugin, sandbox, and session management features
- [GitHub Changelog: Copilot](https://github.blog/changelog/label/copilot/) — Official announcements across all Copilot surfaces

---