GitHub Copilot CLI Gets Tabs and No-Config-File Tool Setup in Redesigned Terminal UI

GitHub made the redesigned terminal interface for GitHub Copilot CLI generally available, introducing a tabbed layout, in-session tool configuration, and improved accessibility. The update allows developers to browse issues, pull requests, and gists, and configure MCP servers without editing config files.

GitHub has made the redesigned terminal interface https://github.blog/changelog/2026-06-23-copilot-cli-new-terminal-interface-is-generally-available/ for GitHub Copilot CLI generally available. The interface had been available to try experimentally via the /experimental flag since GitHub previewed it at Microsoft Build 2026. The update brings a tabbed layout, an in-session experience for configuring tools, and a cleaner, more accessible interface for developers working with GitHub directly from the command line. An interactive Copilot CLI session now presents tabs across the top of the screen. Developers press Tab to move between the default Session tab and a Gists tab for personal gists, and running the CLI inside a repository adds Issues and Pull requests tabs scoped to that repository. Highlighting an issue or pull request and pressing c drops a reference into the prompt, so Copilot can be asked to investigate, fix, comment on, or review it; pressing o opens the highlighted item on GitHub in the browser, and pressing / on the Issues or Pull requests tab searches GitHub with a custom query. Tabs can also be selected with the mouse and reordered, hidden, or turned off entirely from settings. Configuring the tools that extend Copilot CLI is now a guided, in-session experience that removes the need to hand-edit configuration files. Developers run /mcp add to complete an interactive form, or the experimental /mcp search command to browse the GitHub MCP Registry https://github.com/mcp and install a Model Context Protocol https://modelcontextprotocol.io MCP server directly. GitHub says newly added servers are available immediately, without restarting the CLI. The /skills command toggles individual skills on or off, the /plugin command installs plugins from a marketplace, a repository, or a local path, and /settings opens an inline dialogue for viewing and changing configuration. The new interface also targets accessibility and readability. It uses theme-aware semantic colours and responsive components that adapt to narrow terminals without truncating content. A /theme command lets developers pick a colour mode such as default , dim , high-contrast , or colorblind , and screen reader support turns on automatically when a screen reader is detected, adding labelled icons and disabling animations. The release builds on GitHub Copilot CLI itself reaching general availability in February 2026, adding ways to browse and act on GitHub issues, pull requests, and gists, and to configure tools, without leaving the terminal. Developers can update by running copilot update in their terminal and share feedback with the /feedback command or by opening an issue in the public repository.