GitHub Copilot Deprecates Claude Opus 4.1, GPT-5, and GPT-5-Codex
GitHub CopilotGitHub has retired three AI models from GitHub Copilot effective February 17, 2026: Claude Opus 4.1, GPT-5, and GPT-5-Codex. These models are no longer available across Copilot Chat, inline edits, ask and agent modes, and code completions. GitHub has published recommended replacements for each deprecated model.
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Three Copilot Models Retired as of February 17, 2026
GitHub has completed a round of model deprecations in Copilot, removing Claude Opus 4.1, GPT-5, and GPT-5-Codex from all Copilot experiences. The deprecations took effect on February 17, 2026, and affect every Copilot surface: Chat, inline edits, ask mode, agent mode, and code completions.
Replacement Models
For each deprecated model, GitHub has identified a supported successor:
| Deprecated Model | Recommended Replacement |
|---|---|
| Claude Opus 4.1 | Claude Opus 4.6 |
| GPT-5 | GPT-5.2 |
| GPT-5-Codex | GPT-5.2-Codex |
The replacements represent more recent generations of each model family. In the case of the Claude line, the jump from 4.1 to 4.6 is significant — Claude Opus 4.6 has been generally available in GitHub Copilot since February 5, 2026.
What This Means for Users and Administrators
No manual removal steps are required for deprecated models — they simply disappear from the model selector automatically. However, teams that have built workflows or integrations that reference specific model versions by name will need to update those references to avoid breakage.
Enterprise administrators must take an active step to enable the replacement models through Copilot settings policies.
Broader Context
The February 19 announcement also noted additional model shutdowns. Claude 3.5 Sonnet and its v2 variant reached their end-of-life date on February 19, while Claude 3.5 Haiku faces a cutoff date in July 2026.