GitHub Copilot CLI Launches Tabbed Interface and In-Terminal Configuration Setup

GitHub has released a redesigned terminal interface for Copilot CLI as a production-ready feature, graduating it from the experimental phase that began at Microsoft Build 2026. The overhaul delivers a more streamlined experience for developers managing repositories and automating tasks without leaving the command line.

Tabbed Navigation and GitHub Integration#

The new interface organizes information across tabs that appear at the top of an interactive session. Users navigate between a default Session tab and dedicated Gists, Issues, and Pull requests tabs (the latter two appear when working inside a repository). This structure lets developers reference and act on GitHub content directly: pressing c on a highlighted issue or PR drops it into the prompt for investigation or fixes, o opens it in a browser, and / enables custom GitHub searches. Users can also interact with tabs via mouse selection, reordering, hiding, or disabling them through settings.

Simplified Tool Configuration#

Setting up extensions no longer requires hand-editing configuration files. Developers can run /mcp add to walk through an interactive form, or use the /mcp search command to browse the GitHub MCP Registry and install Model Context Protocol servers on the fly. New servers become active immediately without requiring a CLI restart. Additional commands—/skills to toggle features, /plugin to add marketplace or local extensions, and /settings for inline configuration—keep all setup within the terminal.

Accessibility and Design#

The redesigned UI prioritizes readability across different terminal sizes and user needs. It employs theme-aware colors, responsive layouts that scale to narrow windows, and a /theme command offering modes like default, dim, high-contrast, and colorblind. Screen reader support activates automatically when detected, adding labeled icons and disabling animations for better usability.

Next Steps#

Users can upgrade by running . The feature builds on the general availability of Copilot CLI itself in February 2026. Feedback can be shared through the command or by .