Visual Studio: allow floating Copilot Chat to go behind the main IDE window

[tom-puckett]

🏷️ Discussion Type

Product Feedback

💬 Feature/Topic Area

Visual Studio

Body

🏷️ Discussion Type

Product Feedback

💬 Feature/Topic Area

Visual Studio

Body

Feature request: Allow an undocked/floating GitHub Copilot Chat window to go behind the main Visual Studio window, like a floating code editor window, rather than always remaining above it.

Environment: Visual Studio Professional 2026, version 18.11.3, on Windows.

Current experience: The floating Copilot Chat window stays above the main IDE window when the IDE is activated. This can obscure code and other IDE content. Docking or auto-hiding the chat changes the layout and does not address the desire to keep chat as a separate floating window.

Requested behavior: Provide an option, such as an "Always on top of Visual Studio" toggle in the chat window's title-bar/context menu or Visual Studio settings. When disabled, clicking or activating the main IDE should allow it to cover the floating chat window. Chat should remain open, undocked, and accessible for switching back without losing the conversation.

Please preserve the current behavior as an available option.

[github-actions[bot]]

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