Skip to content

New Chat Mode Cannot Act as Agent Mode – Tools Unavailable #251313

Closed
@Chiruu191

Description

@Chiruu191

Does this issue occur when all extensions are disabled?: YES

I’ve tested the new Chat Mode feature, and it currently cannot function like Agent Mode. Despite checking and confirming that all tools (e.g., file creation, terminal execution, tool calling) are available and enabled, the new chat mode is unable to:
• Create files
• Execute terminal code
• Call or use built-in tools (e.g., Python, image generation, web access, etc.)

I’ve retried multiple times and verified the settings, but the issue persists.

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Switch to the new Chat Mode
2. Check that all tools are enabled
3. Attempt to create a file or run terminal code

Expected Behavior:
Chat Mode should behave like Agent Mode and be able to use built-in tools when enabled.

Actual Behavior:
Chat Mode fails to perform any actions involving tools – it neither creates files nor executes any code or tool-based operations.

  • VS Code Version: Latest
  • OS Version: Win 11 26100.4349

Activity

Chiruu191

Chiruu191 commented on Jun 12, 2025

@Chiruu191
Author

@isidorn
it says disabled even though its configured in the chat mode instructions.

Image

assigned and unassigned on Jun 12, 2025
4regab

4regab commented on Jun 13, 2025

@4regab

any update? I have the same issue.

aeschli

aeschli commented on Jun 13, 2025

@aeschli
Contributor

Hm, you are correct, I can reproduce.

---
description: Think like a pirate.
mode: agent
tools: ['changes', 'codebase', 'editFiles', 'extensions', 'fetch', 'findTestFiles', 'githubRepo', 'new', 'openSimpleBrowser', 'problems', 'readCellOutput', 'runCommands', 'runNotebooks', 'runTasks', 'search', 'searchResults', 'terminalLastCommand', 'terminalSelection', 'testFailure', 'usages', 'vscodeAPI', 'configurePythonEnvironment', 'getPythonEnvironmentInfo', 'getPythonExecutableCommand', 'installPythonPackage']
---
Think like a pirate. Use pirate slang and phrases in your responses. 
Be bold, adventurous, and take some risks.

run /list test

  • create_file tool is not part of the list
aeschli

aeschli commented on Jun 13, 2025

@aeschli
Contributor

@roblourens FYI, maybe a recovery candidate

SlalomJustin

SlalomJustin commented on Jun 13, 2025

@SlalomJustin

I have this same issue, and found that it occurs only when running local custom prompts in .github/prompts. When opening a new chat window and simply asking the agent to use tools, it does so as expected. When trying to run a custom prompt from a file, it does not.

a-h-abid

a-h-abid commented on Jun 14, 2025

@a-h-abid

I also tried using below contents. Generated markdown contents shows in the chat, but the file not generates. I've to create it manually, or I switch to Agent mode then have to tell it to generate the file.

---
description: Generate an implementation plan in markdown for new features or refactoring existing code and prepare tasks, subtasks.
tools: ['changes', 'codebase', 'editFiles', 'fetch', 'findTestFiles', 'githubRepo', 'search', 'usages']
---

# Planning mode instructions

You are in planning mode. Your task is to generate an implementation plan for a new feature or for refactoring existing code.
Just generate a plan in markdown file, don't make any other code edits.

The plan consists of a Markdown document that describes the implementation plan, including the following sections:

* Overview: A brief description of the feature or refactoring task.
* Requirements: A list of requirements for the feature or refactoring task.
* Implementation Steps: A detailed list of steps to implement the feature or refactoring task.
* Testing: A list of tests that need to be implemented to verify the feature or refactoring task.
edk208

edk208 commented on Jun 14, 2025

@edk208

I had this problem too. After some digging I found that "editFiles" is not the correct tool name, it is "insertEdit". Then it works as expected.

a-h-abid

a-h-abid commented on Jun 14, 2025

@a-h-abid

I had this problem too. After some digging I found that "editFiles" is not the correct tool name, it is "insertEdit". Then it works as expected.

You are right. This worked. Thank you.

4regab

4regab commented on Jun 15, 2025

@4regab

That worked, @edk208 However, I encountered another issue: it makes some MCPs unable to work.

8 remaining items

charris-msft

charris-msft commented on Jun 17, 2025

@charris-msft

Did you specifically add the tools from the BrowserMCP to your chat mode?

4regab

4regab commented on Jun 17, 2025

@4regab

I initially enabled all tools and configured the following permissions: 'editFiles', 'createFiles', 'insertEdit', 'runInTerminal', 'getTerminalOutput', 'getTerminalSelection', and 'getTerminalLastCommand'. However, the agent didn’t function as expected.

I managed to get it working by creating a new chat mode agent in a new chat and enabling all tools without modifying the configuration. This worked temporarily, but after some time, the agent stopped being able to use those tools again.

To make it work again, I have to restart VS Code, but even that only works intermittently. The issue seems to persist regardless of configuration changes or restarts.

AdamRidleyAW

AdamRidleyAW commented on Jun 19, 2025

@AdamRidleyAW

Same issue here, @edk208's comment helped. It seems the Configure Tools option isn't working properly!

janaka

janaka commented on Jun 20, 2025

@janaka

Yep same issue. Doesn't look like they are very interested.

Reported here also.
microsoft/vscode-copilot-release#12647

added a commit that references this issue on Jun 23, 2025
f33cda7
added a commit that references this issue on Jun 23, 2025
8710201
added
unreleasedPatch has not yet been released in VS Code Insiders
insiders-releasedPatch has been released in VS Code Insiders
and removed
unreleasedPatch has not yet been released in VS Code Insiders
on Jun 23, 2025
Sign up for free to join this conversation on GitHub. Already have an account? Sign in to comment

Metadata

Metadata

Labels

bugIssue identified by VS Code Team member as probable bugchat-agentchat-custom-modesinsiders-releasedPatch has been released in VS Code InsidersverifiedVerification succeeded

Type

No type

Projects

No projects

Relationships

None yet

    Development

    Participants

    @janaka@roblourens@utapyngo@amunger@a-h-abid

    Issue actions

      New Chat Mode Cannot Act as Agent Mode – Tools Unavailable · Issue #251313 · microsoft/vscode