OpenRouter (free) Models Missing from Manage Models

[dylbarne]

OpenRouter with BYOK (free) Models are Missing from Manage Models

• Copilot Chat Extension Version: 0.27.1
• VS Code Version: 1.100.2
• OS Version: Windows
• Feature (e.g. agent/edit/ask mode): Any, when selecting Manage Models

Steps to Reproduce:

1. Open new Copilot Chat side window
2. Select Manage Models... > OpenRouter (enter Api key as necessary)
3. Filter by free or look for particular model, ex any on list is missing for instance meta-llama/llama-4-maverick:free
   

I feel like this may be a somewhat more recent regression, I don't recall having this issue of missing models when I had added some OpenRouter free models some few weeks ago (Note: I think may have done this in the Preview/Insiders version of vscode originally I believe) and now the list just shows the ones I had previously added at that time.

[lramos15]

We've decided to go with just the most popular models from the Open Router API in the pre-populated list. You can add any model though via the + in the top right.

[isidorn]

I think we should sort by popularity but ideally show all (as this is the point of quick pick - showing multiple items, with easy filtering).

[dylbarne]

ah I see, that wasn't necessarily intuitive to me initially; although I see is working for me now this way.

maybe could update the helptext to something like Select models to register or deregister. Or add (+) additional models

Or initially just show popular common models , but once the user starts entering search text then return filtered list of all models sorted by popularity or something like that

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Edit: similarly for Gemini models, I am now noticing is not up-to-date with latest models provided by Gemini Api via https://aistudio.google.com etc.

I had to add the highlighted latest models manually via + suggestion, but I would more expect these to be displayed as the initial default choices and list being continuously dynamically updated as newer models are released

[gyk]

Adding models via + doesn't support the :nitro suffix on OpenRouter, though. Currently Copilot is slow to respond, hope we can set up a medium sized model that is smart enough for simple tasks, with web search disabled, and choose a fast provider like Cerebras for 2000+ tokens/s throughput.

[ChauThan]

I added the model, but it’s not appearing in the model list. Any idea what might be causing this?

[lramos15]

@ChauThan Can you try insiders a lot has been rewritten here

[shreedhar01]

July 2025 (version 1.103) this version come. Update your vscode to latest version and you can add model. Old style of showing free model also come back.

[lucas-labs]

The latest update is missing the <- and + buttons. Is there another way to add other modeles than the pre-populated ones with the latest vscode vesions?

[lramos15]

There is not currently a way on the new version to add models except for the pre-populated ones. We propulate all models which support tool calls as they will work in agent mode which is where Copilot Chat really shines.

[lucas-labs]

There is not currently a way on the new version to add models except for the pre-populated ones. We propulate all models which support tool calls as they will work in agent mode which is where Copilot Chat really shines.

Thanks for the answer! Correct me if I'm wrong but I think there are a few of the free models that are currently missing even though they support tools. For example, openai/gpt-oss-20b:free is not in the list. I can see the openai/gpt-oss-20b but not the :free one. Same for deepseek/deepseek-r1.

[lramos15]

Free ones don't support tool calls. The free ones aren't really meant to be used for long term use and have high rate limits. To have a good experience with AI you're going to need to pay.

Free

Paid

Notice tools not listed under supported params