github / github/app

Cloud session create times out waiting for remote sandbox CLI host

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#3,137 2 comments 0 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub
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Description

### Short summary

Cloud session creation fails every time with RPC -32603: timed out waiting for the remote sandbox CLI host to connect.

### Affected version or release

GitHub Copilot app 1.1.12 on macOS 26.6.2 (25G83)

### Installation context

GitHub Copilot desktop app. Creating a **Cloud** session against the private repository `Apex-Global-Solutions/ARWorkflow` (default branch `master`). Local/worktree sessions for the same repo work.

The original reporter uses Enterprise Managed User `FLuque_axg` (cannot file on this public repo). Filed from personal account `fabianluque`.

### What happened?

Every attempt to create a new Cloud session fails at approximately the 67-second mark. The client reports that the cloud session was created, but the remote CLI host never connects in time.

Error shown in the app:

```
Session creation failed
Failed to create session: RPC error -32603: Request session.create failed with message: Timed out waiting for the remote sandbox to start. The cloud session was created but its CLI host did not connect in time. Please try again.
```

This is 100% reproducible (every attempt).

### Steps to reproduce

1. Open the GitHub Copilot app (1.1.12) on macOS.
2. Create a new **Cloud** session targeting `Apex-Global-Solutions/ARWorkflow`.
3. Wait for session creation.

### Expected behavior

The cloud session starts and the remote CLI host connects so the session becomes usable.

### Additional context

- Timing is consistent: the error appears around **67 seconds** after starting creation.
- The remote session appears to be created; only the CLI host connection times out.
- Local / worktree sessions continue to work for the same repository.
- Repo includes `.github/workflows/copilot-setup-steps.yml` (sets up .NET from `global.json` and Node.js 20.19).
- GitHub-reported repository size is ~49 MB.
- This is a different failure from an earlier `Failed to create remote session in the cloud: 502` (GitHub Unicorn HTML page) seen on 2026-08-17 during a GitHub outage.

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

Reproduce the failure in GitHub Copilot app 1.1.12 on macOS using the specified private repository, and compare Cloud session creation with local/worktree sessions. Review .github/workflows/copilot-setup-steps.yml and the reported remote CLI host timeout; done means a Cloud session starts and its CLI host connects before the timeout.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
github, macos
Domain
cloud, desktop
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Active
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
35/100

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