Newly enabled model remains unavailable until local Copilot state/cache/login is cleared
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Description
Describe the bug
Newly enabled Copilot models can remain unavailable because the local model catalog does not refresh. Sonnet 5 was enabled in GitHub settings but unavailable in CLI and Visual Studio until local Copilot state/cache was manually reset. This seems to also affect the model list in the Visual Studio copilot extension. It was never a problem with Visual studio before I installed CLI and wasn't an issue for my coworkers who haven't used the CLI.
Note: I did both renames and re-login in the repro, I didn't check the model list in-between, so I'm unclear on what specifically fixed it and I don't have the admin rights to keep testing this by enabling models.
Affected version
1.0.80, also affected Visual Studio Insiders 12106.202
Steps to reproduce the behavior
- Enable a previously unavailable model in Copilot settings.
- Restart/re-authenticate CLI and Visual Studio.
- Model remains unavailable.
- Close Copilot and VS
- Rename %LOCALAPPDATA%\copilot to something like copilot-backup.
- Rename %USERPROFILE%.copilot\config.json to config.json.backup.
- Start Copilot CLO, /logout /login
- Model becomes available in CLI and Visual Studio.
Expected behavior
I assume model availability should refresh on restart at least. I don't see any documentation for manually updating the model list, so I assume it isn't something the user is supposed to worry about.
Additional context
No response
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 by reproducing the model availability flow in the CLI and Visual Studio after enabling a model, using the reported %LOCALAPPDATA%\copilot and %USERPROFILE%.copilot\config.json state locations and /logout /login commands. Compare behavior before and after manually renaming those files; done means the model catalog refreshes after restart or re-authentication without manual state removal.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- github
- Domain
- authentication, cli, tooling
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Quiet
- Clarity
- Needs clarification
- Newbie friendliness
- 38/100