Unable to configure "Thinking Effort" since upgrading to VSCode 1.116

[aaronse]

Type: Bug

Unable to configure "Thinking Effort" since upgrading to VSCode 1.116 ?

Subscribed to Individual Pro+, using Windows 11.

Also... https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/reference/ai-models/supported-models should state status of per model tuning/configuration options like "thinking effort" availability.

The feature worked a few days ago. Microsoft even released a video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZJAxvGmRO8 (opens in a new tab) talking about "thinking effort" being configurable.

But, VSCode 1.116 (Windows 11 PC) is not letting me configure "thinking effort" for any of the AI models. Previously, roughly 24-48hrs ago, I was able to select Medium, High or XHigh for "thinking effort" for models like GPT-5.4

I can't tell if this is a product bug or intentional product behavior. Have wasted time trying to investigate.

Clear expectation setting documentation would save my time, and others.

Tried using the github support bot, but that was annoying.

VS Code version: Code 1.116.0 (560a9db, 2026-04-15T00:28:13Z)
OS version: Windows_NT x64 10.0.26200
Modes:

System Info

Item	Value
CPUs	AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D 16-Core Processor (32 x 4192)
GPU Status	2d_canvas: enabled GPU0: VENDOR= 0x1002, DEVICE=0x164e [AMD Radeon(TM) Graphics], DRIVER_VENDOR=AMD, DRIVER_VERSION=31.0.24002.92 ACTIVE GPU1: VENDOR= 0x10de, DEVICE=0x2204 [NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090], DRIVER_VERSION=32.0.15.9186 GPU2: VENDOR= 0x1002, DEVICE=0x164e [AMD Radeon(TM) Graphics], DRIVER_VERSION=31.0.24002.92 GPU3: VENDOR= 0x1414, DEVICE=0x008c [Microsoft Basic Render Driver], DRIVER_VERSION=10.0.26100.8246 Machine model name: Machine model version: 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: disabled_off trees_in_viz: disabled_off video_decode: enabled video_encode: enabled webgl: enabled webgl2: enabled webgpu: enabled webnn: disabled_off
Load (avg)	undefined
Memory (System)	95.14GB (57.27GB free)
Process Argv	--crash-reporter-id 7c505e40-4efc-4dd8-bb70-fa3785dcb7e8
Screen Reader	no
VM	0%

Extensions (33)

Extension	Author (truncated)	Version
copilot-chat	Git	0.44.2
extendscript-debug	Ado	2.1.0
Bookmarks	ale	14.1.1
markdown-mermaid	bie	1.32.0
prettier-vscode	esb	12.4.0
go	gol	0.52.2
openscad-language-support	Lea	2.0.1
rainbow-csv	mec	3.24.1
csdevkit	ms-	3.10.14
csharp	ms-	2.130.5
vscode-dotnet-runtime	ms-	3.0.0
debugpy	ms-	2025.18.0
python	ms-	2026.4.0
vscode-pylance	ms-	2026.2.1
vscode-python-envs	ms-	1.28.0
remote-wsl	ms-	0.104.3
cmake-tools	ms-	1.23.51
cpp-devtools	ms-	0.4.6
cpptools	ms-	1.32.1
cpptools-extension-pack	ms-	1.5.1
powershell	ms-	2025.4.0
chatgpt	ope	26.5417.40842
platformio-ide	pla	3.3.4
java	red	1.54.0
code-spell-checker	str	4.5.6
vscode-gradle	vsc	3.17.3
vscode-java-debug	vsc	0.59.0
vscode-java-dependency	vsc	0.27.2
vscode-java-pack	vsc	0.30.5
vscode-java-test	vsc	0.45.0
vscode-maven	vsc	0.45.2
JavaScriptSnippets	xab	1.8.0
markdown-all-in-one	yzh	3.6.3

(1 theme extensions excluded)

A/B Experiments

vsliv368:30146709
binariesv615:30325510
nativeloc1:31344060
dwcopilot:31170013
dwoutputs:31242946
copilot_t_ci:31333650
e5gg6876:31282496
pythonrdcb7:31342333
6518g693:31463988
aj953862:31281341
b6b4d950:31327385
6abeh943:31336334
envsdeactivate2:31464701
cloudbuttont:31379625
3efgi100_wstrepl:31403338
use-responses-api:31390855
ddidt:31399633
je187915:31401257
ec5jj548:31422691
xtab-294-ctrl:31487684
cp_cls_c_966_ss:31454199
a9239246:31499107
4je02754:31466945
c3h7c220:31478652
ge8j1254_inline_auto_hint_haiku:31490510
38bie571_auto:31478678
cp_cls_c_1081:31454833
conptydll_true:31498968
ia-use-proxy-models-svc:31452481
e9c30283:31461165
test_treatment2:31471001
control_6dc23131:31497324
idci7584:31464702
e3e4d672:31494082
ei9d7968:31496641
534a6447:31496642
nes-extended-on:31455476
chat:31457767
8hig5102:31480529
goldeneye_4j522994:31495261
67jbj424:31495046
dfc2j404:31496396
cpptoolsoff-v2:31475362
i2gc6536:31499202
1g3cj959:31499302
ghj88844:31499326
23c7c724:31491644
client_tst_t:31495907
po_split_t:31488386
ddid_t:31478206
1b2f8594:31498337
getcmakediagnosticsoff:31489825
g_20_d1382936:31495671
nes-perm-reb-0:31490411
pro_large_t:31499376
cp_cls_c_1082:31491634
719di409_sum_t:31499345
logging_enabled_new:31498466
j0d79568:31499440
nes-ew-div-cursorline:31495480
output_2x:31496635
748c7209:31497895

[aaronse]

Downgrading to VSCode 1.115 didn't help. So, looks like model list, and per model tuning capabilities are fetched from service.

So, guessing "thinking effort" has been intentionally disabled? Asking because the recent blog that upset many Devs didn't mention anything.

[aaronse]

What is going on? After burning a bunch of time trying to understand why "thinking effort" is not available (for example downgrading to 1.115 then upgrading back to 1.116, suddenly, without doing anything different, except for grabbing a coffee, am seeing configurable "thinking effort" again... 🥳

Man, I'm guessing the vscode DevOps teams are being pushed real hard 🫂. Thanks to whoever fixed something.

[MaximGrn]

Nothing was fixed. I'm having the same issues with the new version 1.117. It only started working again after I rolled back to 1.116.