Where do custom instructions for the GitHub Copilot app live?

A .github/copilot-instructions.md file defines guidance that applies across the repository. Path-specific instruction files go inside .github/instructions and use an applyTo field.

What is an agent skill?

A skill is a folder containing instructions and, optionally, scripts and other resources Copilot can load when relevant. Project-level skills can live in .github/skills, with each skill in its own subfolder.

How do MCP servers expand what Copilot can do?

MCP servers connect Copilot to external tools, data sources, and services. A server such as Playwright can let it open and interact with an application in a browser.

Large Language ModelsAI Coding AssistantsGitHub Copilot Blog8m agoOct 13, 2026, 04:00 JST

GitHub Copilot app for Beginners: 4 ways to teach Copilot your codebase

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3 Key Points

What happened
GitHub published the latest installment of its GitHub Copilot app for Beginners series, outlining four ways to tailor Copilot to a project: custom instructions, agent skills, custom agents, and MCP servers.
Why it matters
Teams that repeatedly explain conventions, run the same procedures, or connect outside tools can put that knowledge into the repository so Copilot picks it up automatically instead of being told each time.

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Context & Analysis

The guide places repository-level context at the center of working with an AI coding assistant. Its four customization types are presented as complementary: custom instructions define conventions Copilot should follow across the repository or for particular files, agent skills package repeatable procedures Copilot can load when relevant, custom agents provide focused expertise for broader tasks, and MCP servers connect Copilot to external tools, services, and data sources.

The post also points readers to Awesome Copilot, where the community has shared ready-made instructions, skills, agents, and more. For teams unsure where to start, it recommends picking one convention they keep explaining, adding it to .github/copilot-instructions.md, and seeing how Copilot applies it to the next task.

FAQ

Where do custom instructions for the GitHub Copilot app live?: A .github/copilot-instructions.md file defines guidance that applies across the repository. Path-specific instruction files go inside .github/instructions and use an applyTo field.
What is an agent skill?: A skill is a folder containing instructions and, optionally, scripts and other resources Copilot can load when relevant. Project-level skills can live in .github/skills, with each skill in its own subfolder.
How do MCP servers expand what Copilot can do?: MCP servers connect Copilot to external tools, data sources, and services. A server such as Playwright can let it open and interact with an application in a browser.

GitHub Copilot BlogRead Original Article

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