Microsoft Ends VS Code IntelliCode Support, Recommends GitHub Copilot Chat for C# Developers

Breaking: Microsoft Ends IntelliCode Support in VS Code, Recommends Copilot Chat for AI Coding Help

Microsoft has announced the official end of IntelliCode support inside Visual Studio Code. IntelliCode is an AI-powered coding assistant developed by Microsoft that assists developers by proposing more suitable code completions as they type.

The move comes with a clear recommendation: for C# developers, switch too GitHub Copilot Chat for code suggestions and inline autocompletion.

In a GitHub notice, Microsoft named the extensions affected by the shutdown – IntelliCode, intellicode Completion, intellicode for C# advancement kit, and IntelliCode API – and outlined the path forward. Users are advised to either remove the IntelliCode extension for the C# kit while continuing to rely on Roslyn-based language server support, or adopt GitHub Copilot Chat for enhanced AI-assisted coding.

Even with the discontinuation, Visual Studio Code users can still rely on IntelliSense, the language-server based code-completion list powered by the Roslyn .NET compiler platform. Other language server features, such as signature help, hover details, and syntax highlighting, remain available as part of the editor’s core toolset.

What stays and what changes

The official IntelliCode experience is no longer supported,but the core IntelliSense experience persists through Roslyn. Developers will now be nudged toward Copilot chat for more advanced AI-assisted suggestions, while continuing to access standard language-server capabilities.

Aspect	Before	After
Official IntelliCode support	Active for specific VS Code extensions	Discontinued for those extensions
Recommended alternative	Not specified	GitHub Copilot Chat for code suggestions and inline completion
Core editor features	IntelliSense alongside IntelliCode	IntelliSense remains via Roslyn; other language-server features stay

Evergreen insights for developers

The change underscores a broader shift toward AI-assisted tooling while preserving customary language-server capabilities. Roslyn will continue to power the standard IntelliSense experience in VS Code,ensuring familiar autocomplete behaviour remains. For teams, the update invites a deliberate evaluation of Copilot Chat versus existing tooling, balancing speed, accuracy, and security considerations.

Organizations can approach the transition by piloting Copilot Chat on representative projects, tracking productivity and quality metrics, and updating onboarding materials to reflect the new workflow. In parallel, teams should audit their extension inventories and align development practices with the absence of IntelliCode-specific C# extensions.

Practical steps include removing the C# IntelliCode extension if Roslyn-based IntelliSense suffices, and setting up Copilot Chat as a supplementary aid to compare responses against standard suggestions. Maintaining Roslyn-powered IntelliSense helps preserve editor familiarity during the migration.

External resources offer further context: explore the Roslyn IntelliSense documentation and Copilot Chat guidance from official sources to understand how best to leverage these tools in your workflow.

Reader questions: Which route will your team pursue – GitHub copilot Chat or Roslyn-based IntelliSense? How will you measure the impact on productivity and code quality during this transition?

We invite you to share your experiences and opinions in the comments as the code editor ecosystem adjusts to this shift in AI-assisted development.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute professional advice.

Further reading: Roslyn Documentation • GitHub Copilot Chat Documentation • GitHub Copilot Overview

Chat.suggestions”: “inline”

Microsoft ends VS Code IntelliCode support for C#

Effective date: 2025‑12‑18

• Official announcement – In a blog post dated 2025‑10‑31, Microsoft confirmed the discontinuation of the IntelliCode extension for C# in Visual Studio Code.
• Reason – Microsoft is consolidating its AI‑assisted growth stack under GitHub Copilot, aiming for a single, more powerful experience across editors and ides.
• Impact timeline –

1. 12 Nov 2025 – IntelliCode updates stop.
2. 30 Nov 2025 – Extension removal from the VS Code Marketplace.
3. 01 Dec 2025 – All new VS Code installations default to Copilot Chat for C# suggestions.

---

What developers lose with IntelliCode deprecation

Feature	IntelliCode (deprecated)	Copilot chat (replacement)
context‑aware completions	Trained on public C# repos, limited to local project context.	Real‑time analysis of entire solution, including test projects and NuGet packages.
Custom model training	User‑provided metrics for team‑specific patterns.	Copilot Teams can ingest private repos, preserving corporate code style.
Performance	Runs locally,modest CPU usage.	Cloud‑based inference, faster suggestion latency with on‑device caching.
Pricing	Free (open‑source).	Subscription‑based (Copilot for Individuals, Teams, or Enterprise).

---

Switching to GitHub Copilot Chat: step‑by‑step migration

1. Install the Copilot extension

• Open VS Code → Extensions (Ctrl+Shift+X).
• Search “GitHub Copilot” and click Install.

2. authenticate with GitHub

• Click Sign in in the Copilot pane.
• Authorize the “GitHub Copilot” OAuth scope.

3. Enable Chat UI

• Press Ctrl+Shift+P → Copilot: open Chat.
• Pin the Chat view to the sidebar for persistent access.

4. Configure C#‑specific settings

“`json

// .vscode/settings.json

{

“github.copilot.enable”: true,

“github.copilot.languageFilters”: [“csharp”],

“github.copilot.chat.enabled”: true,

“github.copilot.chat.suggestions”: “inline”

}

“`

5. Migrate IntelliCode snippets

• Export favorite IntelliCode completions via IntelliCode: Export Settings.
• Import them into Copilot Teams as custom prompts for consistent style.

6. Validate the workflow

• Open a C# file, type a partial method name, and watch Copilot suggest the full signature.
• Use the Chat pane to ask: “Generate a unit test for ValidateUserInput using xUnit.”

---

Benefits of GitHub Copilot Chat for C# developers

• AI pair programming – Conversational prompts let you draft complex LINQ queries, refactor async code, or generate Entity Framework migrations in seconds.
• Contextual documentation – Copilot can surface XML doc comments,API usage examples,and NuGet package recommendations without leaving the editor.
• Integrated debugging assistance – Ask “Why does this NullReferenceException happen?” and receive a step‑by‑step analysis of the call stack.
• Team‑wide consistency – Copilot Teams enforces coding standards through shared prompts and policy files, reducing code review cycles.

---

Practical tips to get the moast out of Copilot Chat

• Prompt phrasing matters – Start with “Write”, “Refactor”, or “Explain” to guide the model. Example: “Refactor this async method to use ConfigureAwait(false).”
• Leverage the “/code” block – Enclose code snippets in backticks when asking for modifications; Copilot respects the exact context.
• Use “/search” for external docs – Type /search .NET 7 minimal API to pull official Microsoft docs directly into the chat.
• Turn off inline suggestions if you prefer pure chat interaction: set "github.copilot.inlineSuggest.enable": false in settings.

---

Real‑world case study: Contoso Bank’s migration to Copilot Chat

• Background – Contoso Bank maintained a 20‑developer C# team using VS code with IntelliCode.
• Challenge – the impending deprecation forced a rapid shift to a new AI assistant without disrupting sprint cycles.
• Approach –

1. Adopted Copilot Teams (Enterprise license).
2. Created a coding‑style prompt containing Contoso’s naming conventions and security guidelines.
3. Integrated Copilot Chat into CI pipelines to auto‑generate unit tests for new PRs.
4. Results (Q4 2025) –
5. 30 % reduction in average code‑review time.
6. 15 % increase in test coverage, driven by auto‑generated xUnit tests.
7. Zero downtime during the IntelliCode cut‑off, as the team completed migration within two weeks.

---

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Q1: Do existing IntelliCode settings automatically transfer to Copilot?

No. IntelliCode preferences are not auto‑migrated. export any custom settings and re‑create them as Copilot prompts or policy files.

Q2: Is Copilot Chat free for C# developers?

Copilot offers a 30‑day free trial. Afterward, a subscription is required (individual: $10 /mo, Teams: $15 /user /mo, Enterprise custom pricing).

Q3: How does Copilot handle privacy for proprietary code?

with Copilot Teams, data is processed in a private Azure surroundings. Code is not stored beyond the inference session, complying with ISO 27001 and SOC 2 standards.

Q4: Can I disable copilot for specific projects?

Yes. Add a .copilotignore file at the repository root and list file patterns (e.g., *.csproj) to opt‑out of AI suggestions for those paths.

Q5: Will IntelliCode ever be revived?

Microsoft’s roadmap indicates a full transition to Copilot. No plans to reinstate IntelliCode for C# in VS Code.

---

Optimization checklist for C# projects after migration

• Enable Copilot inline suggestions for rapid code completion.
• Define a shared prompt library in Copilot Teams to enforce architectural patterns.
• Audit generated code for security vulnerabilities using GitHub Advanced Security.
• Update .gitignore to exclude generated files that should not be committed (e.g., *.g.cs from Copilot scaffolding).
• Monitor usage metrics in the Copilot admin dashboard to track suggestion acceptance rates and identify improvement areas.