GitHub Copilot Data Training Opt-Out: April 24 Deadline
GitHub will start using Copilot Free, Pro, and Pro+ interaction data to train AI models on April 24, 2026 unless users opt out first.
GitHub just announced it will start using your Copilot interaction data — every input, every output, every code snippet, every piece of context — to train AI models. The start date is April 24, 2026. And if you do not opt out before then, you are opted in by default.
TL;DR: Starting April 24, GitHub will use Copilot Free, Pro, and Pro+ interaction data to train AI models. Opt-out takes under two minutes in your GitHub settings. Business and Enterprise users are not affected. If you previously opted out, your setting is still active — no action needed.
Who Does This Affect?
Anyone on Copilot Free, Pro, or Pro+. That is the individual tier — the one most developers, freelancers, and solo builders are on.
Here is what is not affected: Copilot Business and Enterprise accounts. If your organization manages your GitHub access, this change does not apply to you. And if you already opted out of data training under the previous policy, your preference carries forward. You are good.
Everyone else? Your inputs, outputs, code context, and suggestions are on the table starting April 24.
How to Opt Out, Step by Step
Here is what I want you to do:
- Go to GitHub Settings. Click your profile picture in the top-right corner, then click Settings.
- Navigate to Copilot settings. In the left sidebar, find and click Copilot.
- Find the data training toggle. Look for the option that controls whether GitHub can use your Copilot interaction data for product improvement and model training.
- Turn it off. Uncheck or disable the toggle, then save your changes.
That is it. Under two minutes. Do it now, not on April 23.
Why This Matters Beyond Code
This is not just about lines of code. "Interaction data" includes the context you give Copilot — project descriptions, comments, variable names, the way you frame problems. It is a window into how you think and what you are building.
The broader pattern here is worth watching. AI tools are quietly shifting from "we use your data to help you" to "we use your data to train the next model." The opt-out exists. Use it before the default decides for you.