Can I still use GitHub Copilot Free with the new admin policy?

[Rod-at-DOH]

🏷️ Discussion Type

Question

💬 Feature/Topic Area

Other

Body

Today I got an email, which I'm sure everyone is getting, with the title of, "New admin policy for the GitHub Copilot app — what to know before it rolls out." It discusses changes that GitHub is introducing in the GitHub Copilot App on July 27, 2026. It sounds exciting, but I don't believe we'll be able to take advantage of it, as we're not going to be getting GitHub Copilot. I have used GitHub Copilot Free for a long time. I'm wondering if I can continue using GitHub Copilot Free? I'm sure I will not be able to use this GitHub Copilot app, but I'm hoping I won't lose being able to use GitHub Copilot Free on GitHub.com and within Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code.

[henderson-01]

Hi Rod-at-DOH,

I have some great news for you: your access to GitHub Copilot Free isn't going anywhere, and you actually will be able to use the new Copilot app!

Here is the breakdown of what these changes mean for your workflow:

Copilot Free in Your IDEs

You will absolutely not lose access to GitHub Copilot Free. You can continue using it exactly as you have been on GitHub.com, Visual Studio, and Visual Studio Code. The upcoming policy rollout does not deprecate the free tier or restrict your current IDE extensions.

The GitHub Copilot App is Available to You

While it sounds like your organisation isn't purchasing a paid Business or Enterprise tier, you don't need one to use the new standalone desktop application. As of July 7, 2026, GitHub explicitly expanded the Copilot app to support every Copilot plan.

• Copilot Free is included: You can sign in with your GitHub account and start using the agent-driven desktop app on Windows, macOS, or Linux.
• Bring Your Own Key (BYOK): The app now allows you to plug in your own API keys from other model providers to run agent sessions, even on the free tier.

Why Did You Get the Admin Email?

The email regarding the "new admin policy" rolling out on July 27 is primarily aimed at enterprise and organisation administrators. Because the new desktop app can handle broader agent tasks, GitHub is requiring Business and Enterprise admins to explicitly enable the "Copilot CLI" policy settings before their corporate users can access it.

If you are using Copilot Free individually, this administrative requirement doesn't block your personal usage.

You can verify all of these details in the official announcement here: [GitHub Copilot app available to all (GitHub Changelog)](https://www.google.com/search?q=https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.blog%2Fchangelog%2F2026-07-07-github-copilot-app-available-to-all%2F)

Hope this puts your mind at ease! You get to keep your current workflow and gain a new tool in the process.