BYO LLM blocked when you cannot use Copilot

Version: 1.131.0-insider
Commit: a816e1a9ae176eba4e3972e9884bed39c3f269d5
Date: 2026-07-22T16:53:50Z
Electron: 42.7.0
ElectronBuildId: 14710161
Chromium: 148.0.7778.280
Node.js: 24.18.0
V8: 14.8.178.38-electron.0
OS: Linux x64 7.1.4-202.fc44.x86_64

I have a BYOK setup with my own selection of models. Copilot isn't an LLM enabled by my employer for development workflows, however, in order to use my own agents, it appears vcode has a dependence on a functioning Copilot subscription.

Please allow me to edit my `chatLanguageModels.json` without a copilot subscription

UPDATE:

Even if I update the `chatLanguageModels.json` by hand, I can't access models from the UI. I need the UI to set the secrets (we can't use `${env:XXX_BIFROST_TOKEN}` right? Secrets must be added through the UI)