Using GitHub Copilot Models with OpenClaw

Prerequisites

• ✓An existing OpenClaw installation with the `openclaw` CLI available in your shell.
• ✓A GitHub account with access to GitHub Copilot models for your plan.
• ✓Access to an interactive terminal (TTY) where you can complete the GitHub device login flow.

Steps

1. 1

   Choose how you want to use GitHub Copilot with OpenClaw

   Decide whether you use the built-in `github-copilot` provider or the Copilot Proxy plugin. The built-in provider uses a native device-login flow and is the default path that does not require VS Code.

   The Copilot Proxy plugin talks to a local `/v1` endpoint from the VS Code extension and only makes sense if you already run that proxy and keep VS Code open.

2. 2

   Run the GitHub Copilot device login flow

   Use the dedicated auth command to start the GitHub device flow and link OpenClaw to your GitHub account. This command saves an auth profile and updates your config to use that profile, so later model calls can exchange your GitHub token for Copilot API tokens automatically.

   Keep the terminal open while you visit the URL and enter the one-time code.

   bashCopy

   openclaw models auth login-github-copilot

3. 3

   Automate login with the non-interactive flag when needed

   If you want to skip extra prompts during the login flow, add the `--yes` flag. This is useful when you already know you want to accept the defaults and don’t want to confirm each step.

   You still need an interactive TTY for the device code, but the CLI won’t ask additional questions.

   bashCopy

   openclaw models auth login-github-copilot --yes

4. 4

   Log in and set the recommended default Copilot model in one step

   Use the generic `login` auth command when you want OpenClaw to both authenticate with GitHub Copilot and apply the provider’s recommended default model automatically. The `--provider github-copilot --method device --set-default` flags tell OpenClaw which provider to configure, which auth method to use, and that it should update your default model.

   This keeps your config in sync with the provider’s best default without a separate command.

   bashCopy

   openclaw models auth login --provider github-copilot --method device --set-default

5. 5

   Set your default GitHub Copilot model explicitly

   If you want to control the default model yourself, or change it later, run the `models set` command. Here you point OpenClaw at a specific Copilot model ID like `github-copilot/gpt-4o`.

   This default applies wherever your agents rely on the primary model setting.

   bashCopy

   openclaw models set github-copilot/gpt-4o

6. 6

   Wire GitHub Copilot into your agent defaults config

   Update your OpenClaw config so agents use the Copilot model by default. primary` to `github-copilot/gpt-4o`, which means new agents inherit this model unless you override it.

   This keeps your configuration declarative and makes it obvious which provider backs your primary model.

   jsonCopy

   {
     agents: { defaults: { model: { primary: "github-copilot/gpt-4o" } } },
   }

Configuration

Troubleshooting

Frequently asked questions