GitHub Copilot Chat for Pull Requests: Side-by-Side Diff View Now Generally Available
GitHub CopilotGitHub Copilot Chat for pull requests on github.com moved from public preview to general availability on June 4, 2026, and is now accessible to anyone with a Copilot license. The GA release introduces a side-by-side interface that keeps the code diff and the chat conversation visible simultaneously, eliminating the need to toggle between views when asking questions or requesting inline edits. Underlying the experience is an improved pull request understanding model that automatically injects relevant diff and repository context into every conversation about a PR, delivering faster, more accurate answers without manual context-setting.
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Copilot Chat for Pull Requests Reaches General Availability
GitHub Copilot Chat for pull requests on github.com is now generally available to all users with a GitHub Copilot license. The feature, which was first introduced in preview in April 2026, exits that phase with a meaningful upgrade to the interaction model and a new side-by-side layout.
The New Side-by-Side Interface
The core UX improvement in the GA release is a persistent side-by-side layout: the code diff and the Copilot Chat conversation appear together in the same view. Previously, developers had to toggle between the diff and the chat panel, which broke the review flow whenever a question prompted a context switch.
With the new layout, a developer can:
- Read a diff on the left while asking Copilot questions about the change on the right
- Select a specific line of code, open the Copilot dropdown, and ask about that line without losing the broader diff view
- Request inline edits and see them reflected in context
There are three entry points into the experience: the "Ask about this diff" button at the top of any diff, the Copilot button in the top navigation bar of a pull request, and the line-level dropdown that appears when code is highlighted.
Improved Context Injection
Alongside the interface improvement, GitHub upgraded the pull request understanding capabilities that power the chat. The model now automatically pulls in relevant repository and diff context whenever a question is asked, meaning developers no longer need to manually paste file names, function signatures, or PR descriptions to get accurate answers.
The result is that questions like "Why was this function changed?" or "Does this patch introduce any edge cases around null inputs?" receive answers grounded in the actual diff and codebase, rather than requiring the developer to supply that background manually.
Availability
The feature is available to all users with any paid GitHub Copilot plan (Pro, Pro+, Max, Business, Enterprise) and is accessible directly on github.com. No extension installation or configuration is required.