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Starting April 24, 2026, GitHub may use Copilot interaction data to train and improve AI models by default. The change covers individual Copilot Free, Pro, Pro+, and—according to GitHub’s current documentation—Max users unless they disable a personal setting. Copilot Business and Enterprise customer data is excluded from this model-training use under GitHub’s stated policy.
Here is what the policy covers, how private code is treated, and exactly where to turn the setting off.
1. The default changed on April 24, 2026
GitHub announced the policy change on March 25, 2026, with an effective date of April 24, 2026. The policy concerns Copilot interactions—the data generated when you use Copilot and related GitHub features—not a blanket statement that GitHub will train models on every file stored on GitHub.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsGitHub says the goal is to improve coding assistance, understand development workflows, improve code-pattern suggestions, and help detect potential bugs. Those are GitHub’s stated objectives, not independent evidence that the changes improve performance.
For eligible individual plans, the treatment is opt-out rather than opt-in. If you take no action, GitHub says qualifying interaction data may be used for model training and improvement after the effective date. See the announcement and current policy documentation.
2. The data can be broader than prompts
GitHub’s description includes information exchanged with Copilot and context about how the feature is used. It is not limited to the sentence you type into a chat box.
| Data category | Included in GitHub’s description? |
|---|---|
| Prompts and other inputs | Yes |
| Generated outputs | Yes |
| Code snippets shown to Copilot | Yes |
| Outputs you accept or modify | Yes |
| Code surrounding the cursor | Yes |
| Comments and documentation | Yes |
| File names and repository structure | Yes |
| Navigation patterns and feature interactions | Yes |
| Chat, inline-suggestion, and feedback activity | Yes |
GitHub also says data used in the program may be shared with GitHub affiliates, including Microsoft. It says the data will not be shared with third-party AI model providers or other independent service providers.
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What this means for private repositories
“GitHub trains on private repositories” is too broad. GitHub says content from private repositories, issues, and discussions that is at rest is not used in this program. However, when you actively use Copilot with private-repository code, that code may be processed to provide the service. The resulting interaction data could be used for training unless you opt out.
3. Your Copilot plan determines whether the policy applies
| Plan | Training-policy position |
|---|---|
| Copilot Free | Covered unless you opt out |
| Copilot Pro | Covered unless you opt out |
| Copilot Pro+ | Covered unless you opt out |
| Copilot Max | Covered unless you opt out under current documentation |
| Copilot Business | GitHub says customer data is not used to train AI models |
| Copilot Enterprise | GitHub says customer data is not used to train AI models |
The original announcement named Free, Pro, and Pro+. GitHub’s current documentation also names Copilot Max, so Max should be treated as covered unless GitHub changes its documentation.
Students and teachers should not assume they are automatically exempt. Your actual Copilot plan and any organization arrangement determine which policy applies.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.4. How to opt out—and what the switch does not do
- Sign in to GitHub.
- Click your profile picture in the upper-right corner.
- Select Copilot settings.
- Find Allow GitHub to use my data for AI model training.
- Set the dropdown to Disabled.
Use the menu path above rather than relying on an older direct URL; GitHub’s labels and page addresses can change. If you previously opted out of data collection for product improvements, GitHub says that preference was retained, so your data will not be used for training unless you opt in.
If the setting is missing
GitHub says Business and Enterprise accounts do not show the personal control because their customer data is already excluded from this model-training use under the applicable terms. Organization-managed seats may also inherit policies set by an organization or enterprise administrator. Check your plan and contact the organization administrator rather than searching indefinitely for a control that is intentionally absent.
Opting out is not a no-processing switch
Disabling the setting prevents your interaction data from being used for this model-training program. It does not mean Copilot stops processing prompts, code, or context while delivering the service. In particular, active Copilot use with private code still requires processing to provide the feature.
Practical checklist
- Identify whether your account is Free, Pro, Pro+, Max, Business, or Enterprise.
- Open Profile picture → Copilot settings.
- Check Allow GitHub to use my data for AI model training.
- Choose Disabled if you do not want eligible interactions used for training.
- If the control is absent, verify whether the account is organization-managed or on Business/Enterprise.
- Do not treat repository privacy alone as a substitute for the Copilot opt-out.
For the authoritative wording and any later changes, consult GitHub’s policy page and announcement.
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