Complete Guide to Removing GitHub Copilot Chat History in VS Code, JetBrains, and the Web

Overview

This guide explains how to delete GitHub Copilot chat history across common environments. Instructions cover Visual Studio Code local storage, manual file removal, options inside other integrated development environments, the GitHub web interface, and privacy settings to stop data from being used for model training. The content focuses on practical steps and important caveats for developers and administrators.

Delete Copilot Chat in Visual Studio Code

Option 1: Use VS Code commands

Open the Command Palette with Ctrl+Shift+P on Windows or Cmd+Shift+P on macOS. Search for the following chat commands and run the appropriate action:

• Chat: Delete Session to remove an individual conversation.
• Chat: Delete All Sessions to clear all stored sessions.
• Alternatively, right-click an individual chat session in the Copilot chat panel and choose Delete.

Option 2: Reset or clear context

Use the three dots menu in the Copilot chat panel and select Reset Chat or Clear Context. This removes the current conversation context but does not always delete persisted session files.

Manually Delete Local Chat Files in VS Code

Copilot chat history in VS Code is stored locally in workspace storage folders. To remove stored session files, locate the workspace storage directory and delete the related files. Typical locations:

• Windows: %APPDATA%CodeUserworkspaceStorage
• macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Code/User/workspaceStorage/
• Linux: ~/.config/Code/User/workspaceStorage/

Inside the workspaceStorage folder, each workspace has a unique alphanumeric folder name. Look for a chatSessions folder or JSON files that contain conversation history and delete those files. After deletion, restart VS Code to ensure changes take effect.

Removing Copilot Chat in Other IDEs

JetBrains IDEs (PyCharm, IntelliJ, WebStorm)

• Open the Copilot chat panel and click the three dots menu.
• Select Reset Chat to clear the active conversation.
• Persistent storage locations vary by IDE and operating system; consult IDE documentation for cache or workspace storage paths.

GitHub.com Web Interface

• The web chat interface typically does not persist chat sessions in the same way as local IDE extensions.
• Close and reopen the chat session to start fresh. There is no central cloud dashboard for bulk deletion of chat history across all environments.

Privacy: Stop Data From Being Used for Training

To prevent Copilot from using personal data for model training, change the privacy settings in the GitHub account:

• Go to GitHub Copilot settings at https://github.com/settings/copilot
• Navigate to the Privacy section.
• Disable the option that allows GitHub to use data for AI model training. This opt-out is available for Copilot Free, Pro, and Pro+ accounts. Business and Enterprise customers are typically protected by a Data Protection Agreement and do not have their data used for training by default.

Important Notes and Best Practices

• Local storage: Most Copilot chat history in IDEs is stored locally rather than on GitHub servers.
• No recovery: Deleted chat files cannot be recovered once removed.
• Auto-purging: GitHub does not guarantee indefinite retention; older conversations may be purged periodically.
• Back up before deleting: If retention of some data is required, back up session files before removal.

Quick checklist

• Use VS Code command palette to delete single or all sessions.
• Manually remove chatSessions JSON files from workspace storage if needed.
• Reset chat context using the chat panel menu for a quick clear.
• Adjust GitHub Copilot privacy settings to opt out of model training.

Following these steps enables effective removal of GitHub Copilot chat history across common development environments while addressing privacy concerns and operational caveats.