Clarify startup message "No copilot-instructions.md found" to specify it means the repo-scoped file
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Description
Describe the feature or problem you'd like to solve
On session start, the CLI prints "No copilot-instructions.md found." This wording is ambiguous.
Proposed solution
On session start, the CLI prints "No copilot-instructions.md found." This wording is ambiguous — it reads as though NO custom instructions were loaded at all, when in fact it only means the repository-scoped file (.github/copilot-instructions.md in the git root/cwd) is absent.
A user-scope file at $HOME/.copilot/copilot-instructions.md (and other supported sources like AGENTS.md, CLAUDE.md, $HOME/.copilot/instructions/**) may still be fully loaded and active. The current message caused me to believe none of my instructions were in effect, when my user-scope instructions actually were loaded.
Requested change / proposed solution: reword the message to name the specific missing file/scope, e.g. "No repository-scoped .github/copilot-instructions.md found" — and ideally note that user-scope or other instruction sources may still be active.
Benefits to GitHub Copilot CLI and its users:
- Removes a misleading signal that makes users think their instructions aren't loaded.
- Reduces confusion and wasted time spent debugging a non-issue.
- Sets accurate expectations about which instruction scope is missing vs. active.
- Encourages correct use of layered instruction sources (repo-scoped vs. user-scoped).
Example prompts or workflows
- User has a populated $HOME/.copilot/copilot-instructions.md with personal workflows.
- User starts a session in a repo that has no .github/copilot-instructions.md.
- CLI prints "No copilot-instructions.md found."
- User reasonably concludes NONE of their instructions loaded — but the user-scope file is active.
- Running /env confirms the user-scope instructions ARE loaded, contradicting the startup message.
Suggested improved message:
"No repository-scoped .github/copilot-instructions.md found. (User-scope and other instruction sources, if present, are still active — see /env or /instructions.)"
Additional context
Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
Start at the CLI session-start path that emits "No copilot-instructions.md found." and trace how repository-scoped instructions are checked. Update the wording to identify the missing repository-scoped file while preserving the behavior of user-scope and other instruction sources; verify the result during startup and with /env or /instructions.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- shell
- Domain
- cli
- Issue type
- Feature
- Difficulty
- 1/5
- Estimated time
- 1-3 hours
- Activity status
- Quiet
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 72/100