GitHub Copilot in VS Code August 2026 Releases Introduce Agent Session Management and Improved Diff Reviews
The August 2026 updates for GitHub Copilot in VS Code (v1.132 to v1.135) introduce a dedicated Agents window for session tracking and enhanced diff reviews for AI-generated code. These improvements streamline managing long conversational contexts and reviewing complex file modifications.
GitHub has rolled out a series of updates for GitHub Copilot in VS Code spanning versions 1.132 through 1.135. The primary focus of this release is optimizing the workflow around AI agents and long-running chat sessions. A newly introduced Agents window allows developers to track active agent sessions, organize related conversations, and monitor agent activity directly within the editor. Code review processes for agent-generated changes have also received a significant overhaul. Developers can now navigate between original prompts and their resulting file modifications more seamlessly. This update introduces more intuitive diff reviews, making it easier to evaluate and merge changes without losing the conversational context of the chat interface. Additionally, the release addresses usability across various input methods and host environments. Improvements to the agent host, the VS Code integrated browser, and the dictation engine provide developers with more flexible ways to interact with Copilot. These features collectively reduce the cognitive load associated with tracking complex, multi-turn tasks and verifying code quality.
Primary source
Open GitHub Changelog ↗This article summarizes the source. Check the original for full details and conditions.
Comparison
| Aspect | Before / Alternative | After / This |
|---|---|---|
| Agent Session Management | Scattered chat histories with no central tracking capability | Dedicated Agents window to organize sessions and track activity |
| Diff Review Workflow | Manual navigation between prompts and modified files | Streamlined diff view with quick transitions from prompt to change |
| Chat History Navigation | Tedious manual scrolling through long conversational histories | Enhanced chat search to quickly locate specific past information |
Action Checklist
- Update VS Code to version 1.132 or higher Required to enable the latest Copilot agent features
- Open the new Agents window in the sidebar Use this interface to organize and track active AI sessions
- Utilize the enhanced diff view Compare agent-generated code changes directly from the prompt context
