Having trouble accessing premium AI models like Claude Sonnet 4 in GitHub Copilot? This comprehensive guide will help you troubleshoot and enable advanced AI models in Visual Studio Code.

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Enable Premium AI Models in GitHub Copilot

Step-by-step troubleshooting guide for accessing Claude Sonnet 4 and other advanced models.

Common Issue: Premium Models Not Visible

If you can't see premium models like Claude Sonnet 4 in your GitHub Copilot extension, the most common cause is organizational-level restrictions that are enabled by default.

Important: Premium models are often blocked at the organization level by default. You'll need to check both your account preferences and organizational settings.

Step 1: Access GitHub Copilot Extension Settings

Open Visual Studio Code
Go to the Extensions panel (Ctrl+Shift+X)
Find the GitHub Copilot extension
Click the gear icon next to the extension
Select Extension Settings or look for Account Preferences

Step 2: Check Account Preferences

In the extension settings, you need to ensure you're signed in with an account that has premium model access enabled:

Look for account selection options
Make sure you're using an account that doesn't have premium models disabled
If you have multiple GitHub accounts, try switching between them

Step 3: Configure GitHub Copilot Features

The key step is to visit your GitHub Copilot features settings:

Navigate to: https://github.com/settings/copilot/features
Review the model availability settings
Look for Claude Sonnet 4 and other premium models
Ensure they are not blocked or disabled

Step 4: Organization-Level Settings

If you're part of an organization, premium models might be disabled at the organizational level:

Personal accounts: You have full control over model access
Organization accounts: Check with your organization admin
Enterprise accounts: May require policy changes by administrators

Default Behavior: By default, many organizations block premium models to control costs and usage. This is a common security and budget management practice.

Step 5: Verify Model Access

After making changes:

Restart Visual Studio Code
Open the GitHub Copilot chat or inline suggestions
Look for model selection options
Verify that Claude Sonnet 4 and other premium models are now available

Additional Troubleshooting Tips

Update Your Extensions

Ensure you have the latest version of:

GitHub Copilot extension
GitHub Copilot Chat extension
Visual Studio Code itself

Check Your Subscription

Verify your GitHub Copilot subscription status:

Go to GitHub Billing Settings
Ensure your Copilot subscription is active
Check if you have access to premium features

Clear Extension Cache

Sometimes clearing the extension cache can resolve issues:

Open Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P)
Run "Developer: Reload Window"
Sign out and sign back into GitHub Copilot

Common Error Messages

"Premium models not available"

Solution: Check organizational settings and account preferences as described above.

"Model access restricted"

Solution: Contact your organization administrator or verify your subscription includes premium model access.

When to Contact Support

If you've followed all steps and still can't access premium models, consider:

Contacting GitHub Support
Checking GitHub Community forums
Reaching out to your organization's IT department
Getting help from Industrial Hypertext's development team

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GitHub Copilot Premium Models Troubleshooting