Unknown tool 'github/issue_read' warning in Copilot Chat

[whaan]

Type: Bug

Description

VS Code Copilot Chat repeatedly displays warnings about an unknown tool github/issue_read, despite the GitHub Pull Requests extension being properly installed and up to date.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Open VS Code with GitHub Copilot Chat extension installed
2. Have GitHub Pull Requests and Issues extension installed (version 0.132.2)
3. Use Copilot Chat (any conversation)
4. Warning appears: Unknown tool 'github/issue_read'

Expected Behavior

No warnings should appear. The tool should either exist or not be referenced.

Actual Behavior

The warning Unknown tool 'github/issue_read' appears in Copilot Chat conversations, even though:

• The extension is installed and functioning
• The correct tool name is now github-pull-request_issue_fetch
• The tool works correctly when used

Environment

• VS Code Version: 1.113.0 (cfbea10, arm64)
• Copilot Chat Extension: github.copilot-chat@0.41.1
• GitHub PR Extension: github.vscode-pull-request-github@0.132.2
• OS: macOS (arm64)

Investigation Findings

1. The warning originates from ~/.vscode/extensions/github.copilot-chat-0.41.1/dist/cli.js
2. The code contains: V(\Unknown tool ${Y}: ${A.id}`)` in the tool invocation handler
3. The tool was renamed from github/issue_read to github-pull-request_issue_fetch
4. Something in the Copilot system is still attempting to invoke the old tool name
5. No workspace files or configuration contain references to github/issue_read

Attempted Solutions (None Worked)

• ✗ Reloading VS Code window (Developer: Reload Window)
• ✗ Clearing GitHub extension cache (~/Library/Application Support/Code/User/globalStorage/github.vscode-pull-request-github)
• ✗ Reinstalling GitHub Pull Requests and Issues extension
• ✗ Checking user settings.json for references
• ✗ Searching all workspace files for tool references

Impact

• Severity: Low (cosmetic issue)
• Functionality: No impact on Copilot functionality
• User Experience: Annoying noise in chat conversations

Additional Context

The tool appears to be referenced internally by the Copilot Chat extension or the GitHub PR extension integration, but there's no user-facing setting to suppress these warnings or update the tool reference.

Suggested Fix

1. Update internal tool references from github/issue_read to github-pull-request_issue_fetch
2. Add graceful handling for renamed/deprecated tools (warnings only in debug mode)
3. Consider adding a setting to suppress tool warnings: github.copilot.suppressToolWarnings

Related Skills/Tools

The GitHub PR extension provides these skills that reference GitHub issues:

• summarize-github-issue-pr-notification
• suggest-fix-issue
• form-github-search-query
• show-github-search-result

The current available tool is: github-pull-request_issue_fetch (not github/issue_read)

VS Code version: Code 1.113.0 (Universal) (cfbea10, 2026-03-24T15:07:18+01:00)
OS version: Darwin arm64 25.4.0
Modes:

System Info

Item	Value
CPUs	Apple M4 Pro (14 x 2400)
GPU Status	2d_canvas: enabled GPU0: VENDOR= 0x106b [Google Inc. (Apple)], DEVICE=0x0000 [ANGLE (Apple, ANGLE Metal Renderer: Apple M4 Pro, Version 26.4 (Build 25E246))], DRIVER_VENDOR=Apple, DRIVER_VERSION=26.4 ACTIVE Machine model name: Mac Machine model version: 16.7 direct_rendering_display_compositor: disabled_off_ok gpu_compositing: enabled multiple_raster_threads: enabled_on opengl: enabled_on rasterization: enabled raw_draw: disabled_off_ok skia_graphite: enabled_on trees_in_viz: disabled_off video_decode: enabled video_encode: enabled webgl: enabled webgl2: enabled webgpu: enabled webnn: disabled_off
Load (avg)	1, 2, 2
Memory (System)	48.00GB (2.30GB free)
Process Argv	--crash-reporter-id 7aa1eb6e-3028-4b71-8186-9cb8f5f43dee
Screen Reader	no
VM	0%

Extensions (17)

Extension	Author (truncated)	Version
claude-code	Ant	2.1.84
atlascode	atl	4.0.27
unique-lines	bib	1.0.0
markdown-mermaid	bie	1.32.0
githistory	don	0.6.20
password-generator	fto	0.0.5
copilot-chat	Git	0.41.1
vscode-pull-request-github	Git	0.132.2
terraform	has	2.39.2
vscode-edit-csv	jan	0.11.8
vsnotes-todo	maf	0.1.5
rainbow-csv	mec	3.24.1
powershell	ms-	2025.4.0
vscode-xml	red	0.29.0
vscode-yaml	red	1.21.0
trailing-spaces	sha	0.4.1
pdf	tom	1.2.2

(3 theme extensions excluded)

A/B Experiments

vsliv368cf:30146710
binariesv615:30325510
nativeloc1:31344060
dwcopilot:31170013
dwoutputs:31242946
copilot_t_ci:31333650
e5gg6876:31282496
pythonrdcb7:31342333
6518g693:31463988
aj953862:31281341
63221493:31336333
envsdeactivate2:31464701
editstats-enabled:31346257
cloudbuttont:31379625
aihoversummaries_f:31469309
3efgi100_wstrepl:31403338
use-responses-api:31390855
je187915:31401257
ec5jj548:31422691
cp_cls_t_966_ss:31454198
find_all_ref_in_bg_t:31469306
8hhj4413:31478653
ge8j1254_inline_auto_hint_haiku:31431912
38bie571_auto:31478677
cp_cls_t_1081:31454832
ia-use-proxy-models-svc:31452481
e9c30283:31461165
test_control1:31471004
g_63ac8346:31467999
idci7584:31464702
showingstats:31481873
534a6447_copy:31478748
nes-extended-on:31455476
chat:31457767
8hig5102:31480529
bg_compact_c:31481651
t-some:31483862
cpptoolson-v2:31475363
db0gd219:31481871
po_com_t:31483952
ddid_t:31478206
getcmakediagnosticson:31483360
nes-perm-reb-0:31481661

[pcw3]

A duplicate of #302880 ?

[SadariyaJevin]

install extension: GitHub Pull Requests ;
and next, install MCP SERVER: GitHub ；( in search extensions text area, input text "@mcp github" , you should allow the mcp market)
fix the all problems.