Relocate Copilot Chat to VS Code's Primary Sidebar

Problem

Recent Visual Studio Code updates moved GitHub Copilot's chat interface from the primary left sidebar to the secondary right sidebar. This displacement forces developers to split attention between two side panels, disrupting workflow efficiency. Users seeking to restore Copilot's position to the original sidebar location won't find conventional settings options, making this a common configuration challenge.

Compatibility Note

Verified in VS Code versions 1.85+ with GitHub Copilot extension v1.200.0+

Solution

Move Copilot using VS Code's drag-and-drop view management:

1. Open Copilot Chat using Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+P (Mac) and type:

   View: Focus GitHub Copilot

2. Locate the Copilot icon in the right sidebar activity bar (blue gem symbol)

3. Click and hold the Copilot icon

4. Drag horizontally across the editor until reaching the left sidebar

5. Release the mouse when target zone highlights (position indicator appears between existing icons)

6. Confirm Copilot appears in left sidebar activity bar

Visual guide for moving views in VS Code (Source: Official Docs)

Alternative Method: Command Palette

Prefer keyboard navigation?

1. Press Ctrl+Shift+P
2. Execute command:

   View: Move Focused View

3. Select primary sidebar via keyboard arrows

Explanation

VS Code's interface uses customizable activity views that can relocate:

Feature	Primary Sidebar (Left)	Secondary Sidebar (Right)
Default Position	Explorer, Search, Git	Depends on extensions
Relocating	Drag any icon out	Drag any icon in
Customization	Position order adjustable	Same repositioning logic

The solution works because:

1. VS Code treats sidebar icons as movable components
2. Interface actions update internal workbench.parts.sidebar.location property
3. Position persists across sessions once moved
4. No settings modification needed

Limitations

• Copilot must be installed and enabled
• Some theme extensions may override sidebar behavior
• If drag fails, restart VS Code and try before extension initialization

For advanced customization, see VS Code Layout Documentation. This procedure also applies to relocating any extension icon (Docker, Test Explorer, etc.), providing full control over your development environment layout.