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GitHub Copilot: Next Edit Suggestions Jump Across Files in JetBrains

GitHub CopilotView original changelog

GitHub Copilot's next edit suggestions (NES) in JetBrains IDEs can now move the developer's cursor across files, not just within the current one. When a suggested change continues in another file, Copilot jumps directly to that location instead of requiring the developer to find it manually. The update makes coordinated, multi-file edits (renames, refactors, propagated logic changes) easier to follow end to end.

Key Takeaways

  • Cross-file navigation is new: Copilot's next edit suggestions in JetBrains now move the cursor into another file when a suggested change continues there.
  • Builds on existing cross-file consistency detection, which already proposed edits across multiple files for a single logical change.
  • Reduces manual file-hunting during multi-file refactors like renames or propagated logic changes.
  • Ships as part of the September 8, 2026 JetBrains release, alongside sandbox policies and CLI-to-IDE integration.
  • Available automatically wherever Next Edit Suggestions (NES) is already enabled in JetBrains Copilot settings.
  • Requires no additional configuration: the cursor jump is automatic, not a separate opt-in toggle.

New Feature: Cross-File Navigation for Next Edit Suggestions

GitHub Copilot's next edit suggestions (NES) feature in JetBrains IDEs gained a navigation upgrade on September 8, 2026: when a coordinated edit continues into a different file, Copilot now moves the developer's cursor there automatically instead of leaving the developer to search for it.

Why It Matters

NES already recognized when a change in one part of a codebase implied related edits elsewhere, such as propagating a renamed variable or completing a refactor across multiple call sites. Previously, a developer had to notice that a suggestion pointed to another file and then manually open and navigate to it. With this update, following a suggestion carries the cursor straight to the relevant spot in the target file, keeping multi-file edits contiguous rather than interrupted by manual file-hunting.

Availability

The capability works wherever next edit suggestions are already enabled in JetBrains (Settings > GitHub Copilot > Completions > Enable Next Edit Suggestions), requiring no separate opt-in. It shipped alongside a broader September update to GitHub Copilot for JetBrains IDEs that also introduced enterprise-managed sandbox policies, global project context in chat, and a terminal-to-IDE connection for Copilot CLI.