GitHub Copilot Agent Mode Challenges and the Need for Auto Approve
Have you ever felt frustrated with the constant clicking when using GitHub Copilot in VS Code??
Despite being called “Agent Mode,” you’re constantly asked for permission every time a command is executed, and after a certain number of repetitions, you’re prompted with a “Continue” button. Wouldn’t you like to reduce the number of clicks??
Table of Contents
Automatic Command Approval
Having to formally approve basic commands like mkdir or cd can feel quite silly. VS Code has a feature to automatically approve these commands!
InformationEnabling this feature allows basic file operation commands to be automatically approved, significantly improving development efficiency.
Step 1: Open VS Code Settings
Open the settings screen using one of the following methods:
Using keyboard shortcuts:
- Windows / Linux:
Ctrl + , - macOS:
Cmd + ,
Using GUI [Common]: Click the ⚙ (gear icon)
Select Settings.
If this screen appears, you’re on the right track.
Step 2: Change Auto Approve to true
Enter chat auto approve in the search box.
Select the checkbox for Chat > Tools: Auto Approve.
WarningThis operation carries risks and is an experimental feature that may change its behavior in the future.
Automatic Session Continuation
While you don’t want sessions to run too long, it’s also ridiculous to check every few minutes whether Agent Mode has stopped, despite being called “Agent Mode.”
Here’s how to increase the maximum number of requests per VS Code Copilot session, allowing for longer execution times.
Recommended SettingIncreasing the default value from 15 to around 50 allows for longer continuous work sessions.
Step 1: Open VS Code Settings
The procedure is the same as “Automatic Command Approval - Step 1” in the previous section.
Step 2: Change the Max Request Value
Search for Chat max request to find it.
In my case, the default was 15. The larger this value, the longer Copilot will continue coding. I changed mine to 50.
WarningWhile larger values allow for more continuous development, they also make it easier to hit Copilot’s request limits and other potential drawbacks, so use with caution.
Summary: Making Agent Mode Comfortable with Auto Approve
While VS Code’s Copilot has less configuration flexibility compared to tools like Cursor, there are still various settings you can adjust. I plan to continue using VS Code. Please consider discounting the paid plan
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