GitHub Copilot in VS Code: Integrated Browser with Device Emulation
GitHub CopilotVS Code's integrated browser, introduced in VS Code 1.122, now includes full device emulation support for testing website responsiveness across screen sizes, mobile/touch emulation, and custom user agents, all without leaving VS Code. GitHub Copilot agents can interact directly with the integrated browser, triggering device emulation via Playwright code to catch mobile layout issues autonomously. New screenshot tools allow developers to capture viewport, area, or full-page screenshots and attach them directly to Copilot Chat as context for reproducing UI bugs. Local HTML files can also be previewed directly in the browser without any extension.
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Visual Studio Code and GitHub Copilot - What's new in 1.122
Youtube
VS Code 1.122 Lets BYOK Work Without GitHub Sign-In
Visual Studio Magazine
Microsoft Adds Offline AI Support and Device Emulation to VS Code
WindowsReport
Visual Studio Code Updates by Microsoft - June 2026
Releasebot
Visual Studio Code and GitHub Copilot - What's new in 1.122
Microsoft Tech Hub
GitHub Copilot in VS Code: Integrated Browser with Device Emulation
VS Code's May 2026 releases (v1.120-v1.123) introduced a significantly upgraded integrated browser, adding device emulation and deep Copilot agent integration that closes a long-standing gap in the web development workflow: the need to constantly switch between VS Code and an external browser to test responsive layouts.
Device Emulation Inside VS Code
The integrated browser now ships with out-of-the-box support for device emulation. Developers can select from preset screen sizes, switch between desktop and mobile/touch modes, set custom user agents, and test responsive behavior directly inside a VS Code tab. Activating it requires only selecting the Show Emulation Toolbar command from the browser tab's overflow menu, with no extensions or additional configuration needed.
This is especially valuable for frontend developers working on responsive interfaces who previously had to either open Chrome DevTools externally or install a third-party VS Code extension to simulate mobile viewports.
Copilot Agent Integration
The most significant dimension of this feature is how deeply GitHub Copilot agents can leverage the integrated browser. Agents can now be instructed to:
- Open a web app in the integrated browser
- Activate device emulation via Playwright code
- Verify that a feature works correctly at a target viewport
- Take screenshots to capture and explain layout issues
This makes it possible to ask a Copilot agent to check if the checkout page looks correct on an iPhone 14 screen and have it autonomously open the browser, switch to mobile emulation, screenshot the result, and report back, without any manual browser switching.
Screenshot Capture as Chat Context
New screenshot capabilities complement the device emulation feature. Developers (and agents) can capture the viewport, a selected region, or a full-page screenshot and attach it directly to a Copilot Chat conversation. This creates a natural workflow for reproducing UI bugs: screenshot the issue, drop it into chat, and ask Copilot to explain or fix it.
HTML File Preview Without Extensions
A companion improvement allows developers to preview local HTML files directly in the integrated browser by right-clicking a file in the Explorer or editor tab and selecting Open in Integrated Browser. This eliminates the need for extensions like Live Server for basic HTML previewing tasks.
Availability
The integrated browser with device emulation is available in VS Code 1.122 and later, released as part of the May 2026 VS Code bundle. It is available to all VS Code users and does not require a Copilot subscription, though the agent-driven automation capabilities require an active Copilot plan.