We’re streamlining and enhancing Copilot code review! Upcoming features include moving from coding guidelines to copilot-instructions.md, making the Request pull request review from Copilot checkbox easier to find, and introducing a dedicated Copilot code review policy for more targeted organizational control. Let’s get started! 🚀

Deprecating coding guidelines in favor of copilot-instructions.md

We’re retiring coding guidelines (previously in private preview for Copilot Enterprise) and standardizing all Copilot customization in the new copilot-instructions.md file, which will be generally available for all customers on August 1, 2025. The coding guidelines playground will be deprecated the same day, and coding guidelines will be fully deprecated on September 1, 2025. Any existing guidelines you have created will continue to work until the full deprecation on September 1, 2025.

Automatic Copilot code review checkbox: Easier to find, easier to use ✅

The Request pull request review from Copilot checkbox in your repository rules, found in your repository’s settings, is moving out of the “Require pull request for merging” option and becoming a standalone, easily accessible option on August 6, 2025. This update requires no action for UI users-your existing selections will be migrated on your behalf. If you use the current API endpoint, plan to migrate before it is deprecated in September 2025. Stay tuned for future updates, including the option to automatically run Copilot code review on new pushes and drafts!

An example view of the updated settings highlighting the new location of the Request pull request review from Copilot location

Introducing a dedicated enterprise and organizational policy for Copilot code review

Copilot code review is getting its own distinct policy, separate from Copilot in github.com, and rolling out soon! Organizations with the current policy will see Copilot code review automatically match their existing settings. In addition, enterprises can soon globally disable Copilot code review for all users, including Free, Pro, and Pro+ licenses. This brings clearer, more granular control, without disrupting current usage.

Questions or feedback?

For questions about any of these updates, join the conversation in our GitHub Community discussion. We’d love to hear your thoughts!
We’re excited to keep improving Copilot code reviews for everyone!