GitHub Copilot CLI Remote Control: Now GA on Mobile, Web & VS Code
GitHub CopilotGitHub has moved Copilot CLI remote control sessions to general availability, extending support to GitHub Mobile (iOS and Android), github.com, VS Code, and JetBrains IDEs. Developers can start a CLI session in their terminal and then monitor, steer, and respond to the agent from any device — including approving permission requests and queuing follow-up instructions — without returning to the terminal. The feature also gains support for non-GitHub repositories and unassociated directories, significantly expanding the range of projects it can serve.
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From Preview to General Availability
GitHub Copilot CLI remote control first launched in public preview on April 13, 2026. On May 18, GitHub promoted the feature to general availability, simultaneously expanding its platform reach and removing the preview limitation that restricted it to GitHub-hosted repositories.
The core capability remains the same: start a copilot CLI session in a local terminal, then hand off monitoring and interaction to another device. What has changed is the breadth of that capability.
What Remote Control Enables
Once a session is started with copilot --remote (or enabled mid-session with /remote on), the CLI displays a link and a QR code. Scanning or opening either connects a remote device to the live session, where users can:
- Stream session activity in real time as the agent works through tasks
- Steer mid-session or queue the next instruction before the current task completes
- Approve or deny permission requests that the agent surfaces
- Stop or pause the session at any time from the remote device
- Review and adjust plans before the agent begins implementing
This turns the traditional "start and pray" agent workflow into an interactive one — developers retain oversight and control regardless of where they physically are.
New Platform Support and Non-GitHub Repos
The GA release brings remote control to VS Code (via a github.copilot.chat.cli.remote.enabled setting) and extends existing Mobile and web support. Critically, the GA also adds support for non-GitHub repositories and unassociated directories — a significant expansion that means any local codebase, not just those hosted on GitHub, can benefit from remote CLI session management.
Getting Started
Remote sessions are available across GitHub Mobile (iOS and Android), github.com, VS Code, and JetBrains IDEs. Enterprise users require administrator enablement of remote control policies before team members can use the feature. Full documentation is available in GitHub's official docs on remote control of Copilot CLI sessions.