How to Change GitHub Copilot Model in IntelliJ (2025 Guide)

To change the GitHub Copilot model in IntelliJ, you need to update the Copilot plugin to the latest version (released or nightly build). Once updated, a model selection dropdown appears in the Copilot chat panel. If the dropdown does not show immediately, restart IntelliJ, resize the panel, or toggle the chat window. As of early 2025, this feature is available in the released plugin, but some users report UI quirks that require a few attempts to see the option. If the dropdown still does not appear, you can use the GitHub Copilot chat web interface or switch to VS Code as a workaround.

The Full Answer

GitHub Copilot in IntelliJ IDEA and other JetBrains IDEs (PyCharm, WebStorm, etc.) has historically lagged behind the VS Code extension in feature parity. The ability to switch between different AI models (like GPT-4o, Claude 3.5 Sonnet, or o1) was missing from the IntelliJ plugin for a long time. As confirmed by a Stack Overflow accepted answer from Augusto (score 28, accepted), this feature is now available in the released plugin, but the path to accessing it can be finicky.

Prerequisites

Before attempting to change the model, ensure you have:

• The latest version of the GitHub Copilot plugin for JetBrains installed. You can check for updates in IntelliJ via File > Settings > Plugins (or IntelliJ IDEA > Settings > Plugins on macOS) and search for "GitHub Copilot." Click Update if available.
• A GitHub Copilot subscription (Individual, Business, or Enterprise) that supports model selection. Free tiers may have limited model options.
• Restarted IntelliJ after any plugin update to ensure changes take effect.

Step-by-Step: Changing the Model via the Plugin UI

1. Update the Copilot Plugin

   • Go to File > Settings > Plugins (Windows/Linux) or IntelliJ IDEA > Settings > Plugins (macOS).
   • Search for "GitHub Copilot." If an update is available, click Update. If not, you may need to install the nightly build (see below).
   • Restart IntelliJ after the update.

2. Open the Copilot Chat Panel

   • Click the Copilot icon in the right toolbar (usually a small robot or chat bubble icon).
   • Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+I (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+I (macOS) to open the chat panel.

3. Locate the Model Dropdown

   • In the chat panel, look for a dropdown selector near the top or bottom of the panel. It may be labeled with the current model name (e.g., "GPT-4o" or "Claude 3.5 Sonnet").
   • If you do not see the dropdown, try the following troubleshooting steps:
     • Restart IntelliJ again. Some users report that the dropdown only appears after a second restart.
     • Resize the chat panel by dragging its edges. This can force a UI refresh that reveals the dropdown.
     • Toggle the chat panel off and on again (close it via the X button, then reopen it from the toolbar).
     • Switch to a different tool window (e.g., Project view) and then back to the Copilot chat.

4. Select Your Desired Model

   • Click the dropdown and choose from available models. Common options include:
     • GPT-4o (default for many users)
     • Claude 3.5 Sonnet (if you have access via Copilot)
     • o1 (if available)
     • Other models depending on your subscription and region.
   • The selection takes effect immediately for new chat messages. Existing conversations may still use the previous model.

If the Dropdown Does Not Appear: Use the Nightly Build

If you have updated the plugin but still cannot see the model dropdown, you may need to install the nightly build of the Copilot plugin. This was confirmed by the Stack Overflow accepted answer (Augusto, score 28) and a GitHub community discussion (https://github.com/orgs/community/discussions/149173).

To install the nightly build:

1. Go to the GitHub Community discussion page: https://github.com/orgs/community/discussions/149173
2. Look for a link to the nightly build artifact (usually a .zip file).
3. Download the nightly build.
4. In IntelliJ, go to File > Settings > Plugins.
5. Click the gear icon (⚙️) and select Install Plugin from Disk....
6. Navigate to the downloaded .zip file and select it.
7. Restart IntelliJ.

After installing the nightly build, the model dropdown should appear. If it still does not, repeat the troubleshooting steps (restart, resize panel, toggle chat).

Workaround 1: Use the GitHub Copilot Chat Web Interface

If you cannot get the dropdown to work in IntelliJ, you can use the GitHub Copilot chat web interface as a fallback. This approach has a major drawback: the model will not have access to your IntelliJ project context (open files, code structure, etc.). You will need to manually provide relevant code snippets and context in your questions.

To use the web interface:

1. Open a browser and go to https://github.com/copilot/chat (you must be signed in to GitHub).
2. Select the desired model from the dropdown at the top of the chat interface.
3. Paste your code or describe your problem. Since the web interface lacks project context, be explicit: include file paths, relevant code blocks, and error messages.

This workaround is useful for quick questions or when you need a specific model (like Claude 3.5 Sonnet) that is not accessible in IntelliJ. However, for complex tasks that require understanding your full codebase, it is less effective.

Workaround 2: Use VS Code for Heavy Chat

Another workaround, as suggested by the Stack Overflow accepted answer, is to keep your project open in both IntelliJ and VS Code. Use IntelliJ for your primary development (where you prefer the IDE) and VS Code for heavy Copilot chat sessions where model selection is critical.

Steps:

1. Open your project in VS Code (you can have both IDEs open simultaneously; they do not conflict).
2. In VS Code, the model selector is a button at the bottom of the editor window (as noted in the original question). Click it to switch models.
3. Ask your complex questions in VS Code, where the model has full project context.
4. Switch back to IntelliJ for coding.

This is not ideal, but it works. Many developers find this acceptable given that GPT-4o sometimes fails to answer questions or goes into a loop repeating the last two answers, while Claude 3.5 Sonnet or o1 perform better for certain tasks.

Why This Happens: Plugin Lag

The IntelliJ Copilot plugin has historically lagged behind the VS Code extension in feature updates. The model selection feature was requested in multiple GitHub community discussions:

• https://github.com/community/community/discussions/149173
• https://github.com/community/community/discussions/147932
• https://github.com/community/community/discussions/145565

As of early 2025, the feature is available in the released plugin, but the UI can be unreliable. The accepted Stack Overflow answer notes that it took several tries (restarting IntelliJ, resizing the panel) for the dropdown to show up. The issue may be in the UI rendering rather than the plugin logic.