Clickable file links for IDEs beyond VS Code

Describe the feature or problem you'd like to solve

I use Visual Studio 2026 (not VS Code) with the Copilot CLI. It would be great to have a way to click on a modified/referenced file path in the terminal output and have it open directly in a Visual Studio tab, similar to how the Copilot Chat experience lets you open files by clicking. Currently  /ide  only supports VS Code-family editors. Native Visual Studio integration (or a generic protocol handler VS could register for) would be a valuable addition.

Proposed solution

Many developers use IDEs outside the VS Code family — such as Visual Studio 2022/2026, Rider, or other editors — where the current  /ide  integration doesn't apply. Adding clickable file links (or a lightweight open-in-editor protocol) that work across more IDEs would let users jump straight from a CLI response or diff to the exact file/line in their own editor, just like Copilot Chat already does. This would reduce friction for a large group of .NET/Visual Studio developers, cut down on manual file navigation, and make the CLI feel like a natural extension of their existing workflow rather than a separate, disconnected tool — ultimately increasing adoption and daily usage among non-VS Code users.

Example prompts or workflows

1. Reviewing a diff: After asking "what changed in this refactor?", click the listed file paths in the CLI's  /diff  output to open each one directly in a Visual Studio tab at the changed lines, instead of manually navigating the Solution Explorer.
2. Fixing a bug report: When Copilot CLI points to  UsersController.cs:142  as the likely cause, clicking that reference opens the file at that exact line in VS, speeding up verification.
3. Multi-file changes: After a CLI-driven refactor touches 5+ files, click through each modified file from the summary to quickly eyeball the changes in the IDE before committing.
4. Error/build output: When the CLI runs a build or test command and reports a failing file/line, clicking it opens the exact file/line in VS instead of copy-pasting the path.
5. Onboarding a new codebase: While exploring an unfamiliar solution with the CLI ("where is X handled?"), clicking referenced files lets a developer inspect real code in their editor immediately, keeping context and momentum instead of switching windows and searching manually.

Additional context

I frequently use GitHub Copilot Chat (in VS/other IDEs) for code review workflows, where clicking a referenced file opens it instantly in a tab — this is a habit I've built and rely on for fast review cycles. Moving more of my day-to-day work to the CLI, I miss that exact interaction: reviewing generated changes or explanations without a quick way to jump into the actual file breaks that flow and adds friction compared to the Chat experience. Bringing that same click-to-open behavior to the CLI (at least for Visual Studio users) would make the CLI a true drop-in replacement for review-heavy workflows, not just for code generation.

Begin with the existing /ide integration and the terminal output used by /diff; the issue names no files or tests, so trace where referenced paths and line numbers are rendered. Done means clickable references can open the target file and line in Visual Studio or through a generic protocol, while preserving the current VS Code-family behavior.