github / github/copilot-cli

Fix browser login URL wrapping and fallback

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#4,400 0 comments 1 reaction 0 assignees View on GitHub
area:authentication area:terminal-rendering
Dominant language
Shell
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Description

## Describe the bug

The Device Code login flow works as expected: it displays a one-time code and URL, opens the URL automatically, and offers to copy the code to the clipboard when a key is pressed.

The **Sign in with your browser (recommended)** flow behaves differently. Although it displays a message such as “If your browser didn't open, visit:”, pressing a key does not open the browser. The fallback URL is also difficult or impossible to use in the terminal:

- The URL is long enough to wrap across terminal lines.
- Only the beginning of the URL (for example, `https://github.com/login/oauth/authorize?`) is rendered as a clickable link.
- The query string containing `client_id` and the remaining parameters appears after the line break and is neither clickable nor reliably selectable/copied.
- Resizing the terminal changes the wrapping behavior unpredictably; depending on the width, the URL may appear on one line with its end clipped or wrap inconsistently.

This prevents users from completing browser authentication when automatic browser opening fails.

## Affected environment

- GitHub Copilot CLI
- Linux under WSL2

## Steps to reproduce

1. Start the GitHub Copilot CLI login flow.
2. Select **Sign in with your browser (recommended)**.
3. Observe the fallback message and URL.
4. Press a key when prompted.
5. If the browser does not open, try selecting or clicking the displayed URL, then resize the terminal and observe the URL again.

## Expected behavior

The browser login flow should use the same browser-opening behavior as the Device Code flow: pressing a key should open the browser automatically.

If automatic browser opening fails, the complete fallback URL should be rendered as one usable clickable link without being split into a non-interactive suffix. The CLI should also provide a final copy-to-clipboard option so users can paste the complete URL into a browser manually.

## Additional context

Please preserve the full URL and its query parameters across terminal widths, or otherwise provide a terminal-safe presentation that remains clickable and copyable.

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

Start at the GitHub Copilot CLI login flow and compare the Sign in with your browser path with the Device Code flow. Trace the fallback URL presentation across terminal widths; done means pressing a key opens the browser, and a complete fallback URL remains clickable and copyable, with a final clipboard option.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
shell
Domain
authentication, cli
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
48/100

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