Merge pull request #14341 from anandmeg/copilot-admin-updates

Updates for disabling agent mode

Author: prmerger-automator[bot]

docs/ide/visual-studio-github-copilot-admin.md

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ---
 title: Admin controls for GitHub Copilot in Visual Studio
 description: Learn about the new features for administrators in GitHub Copilot for Visual Studio that enable admins to manage Copilot effectively. 
-ms.date: 2/25/2025
+ms.date: 9/23/2025
 ms.update-cycle: 180-days
 ms.topic: how-to 
 author: anandmeg
@@ -18,10 +18,10 @@ ms.custom: ai-learning-hub
 Visual Studio 2022 introduces new features that enable administrators to configure and manage GitHub Copilot more effectively within their enterprise. These features provide administrators greater control over the use of Copilot within their organization. Admins can disable Copilot for individual accounts, disable it entirely, and configure content exclusion to prevent certain files from being available to Copilot in Visual Studio.
 
 In this article, you learn how to:
-- [Disable Copilot](#disabling-copilot-skus)
+- [Disable Copilot](#disable-copilot-skus)
 - [Configure content exclusion](#configure-content-exclusion)
 
-## Disabling Copilot SKUs
+## Disable Copilot SKUs
 
 With Visual Studio 2022 version 17.10 or later, project administrators can disable Copilot for individual accounts or disable it entirely using the [Visual Studio Administrative Templates (ADMX/ADML)](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=104405). This helps ensure that your repository remains protected.
 
@@ -43,6 +43,13 @@ To configure and deploy these policies, you can use [Microsoft Intune](../instal
 
 4. Restart your Visual Studio instance to apply the new policy changes.
 
+### Disable Copilot Agent Mode
+
+With Visual Studio 2022 version 17.14.16 or later, project administrators can fully disable Agent Mode using [Visual Studio Administrative Templates (ADMX/ADML)](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=104405). With this policy setting administrators can control which AI-assisted features are available in their organization, helping ensure usage aligns with security and compliance requirements.
+
+Policy location in the Local Group Policy Editor:
+**Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Visual Studio > Copilot Settings > Disable Agent Mode**
+
 ## Configure content exclusion
 
 Content exclusion for GitHub Copilot enables administrators to prevent certain files from being available to Copilot and keep sensitive content secure from Copilot use. You can use content exclusions to configure GitHub Copilot to ignore specific files in a [repository](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/managing-github-copilot-in-your-organization/configuring-content-exclusions-for-github-copilot#configuring-content-exclusions-for-your-repository) or [organization](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/managing-github-copilot-in-your-organization/configuring-content-exclusions-for-github-copilot#configuring-content-exclusions-for-your-organization).

docs/ide/visual-studio-github-copilot-troubleshoot.md

@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ Occasionally, you may need to refresh your credentials due to expected timeouts.
 
 ## Copilot is disabled
 
-Your administrator may have disabled GitHub Copilot for individual or any Copilot license. With Visual Studio version 17.10, your [admin can disable Copilot](visual-studio-github-copilot-admin.md#disabling-copilot-skus).
+Your administrator may have disabled GitHub Copilot for individual or any Copilot license. With Visual Studio version 17.10, your [admin can disable Copilot](visual-studio-github-copilot-admin.md#disable-copilot-skus).
 
 **Action:** Contact your IT department to confirm whether your admin has disabled Copilot.
 

docs/ide/work-with-github-accounts.md

@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ With Visual Studio 17.13 or later, you can now sign in with a GitHub account whe
 
 If you sign in with a GitHub account that doesn't have an active GitHub Copilot subscription, you can choose to **Activate Copilot Free** during first launch with Visual Studio 17.14 or later, or [sign up later](copilot-free-plan.md#get-started-with-copilot-free-in-visual-studio) from the GitHub Copilot badge in the IDE or the chat window.
 
-> If [Copilot is disabled by your administrator](visual-studio-github-copilot-admin.md#disabling-copilot-skus), the first launch experience respects the group policy.
+> If [Copilot is disabled by your administrator](visual-studio-github-copilot-admin.md#disable-copilot-skus), the first launch experience respects the group policy.
 
 If you choose to not sign in with GitHub at first launch, you can add your GitHub account later using the **Copilot Chat window**, **profile card**, or **Account Settings** dialog.
 

docs/install/administrative-templates.md

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ---
 title: Administrative Templates (ADMX)
 description: Configure and deploy group policy settings to the client machines in the Visual Studio ADMX Template and control Visual Studio behavior.
-ms.date: 8/8/2023
+ms.date: 9/23/2025
 ms.topic: conceptual
 ms.custom: vs-acquisition
 helpviewer_keywords:
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ manager: mijacobs
 ms.subservice: installation
 ---
 # Administrative Templates (ADMX) 
-
 
 IT Administrators in organizations may want to control certain aspects of Visual Studio behavior to achieve consistency, compliance, or compatibility across their client machines. An easy way to accomplish this level of control is to configure and then deploy group policy settings to the client machines. The Visual Studio policies are consolidated in the [Visual Studio ADMX Template](https://aka.ms/vs/admx/details) into different categories, making them easily understandable and discoverable.   
 
@@ -28,14 +27,16 @@ The Visual Studio group policy settings contained in the ADMX file are machine-w
 
  ## Visual Studio policy categories
 
- There are five main categories of Visual Studio policies that are included in the Visual Studio Administrative Templates (ADMX):
+ The following are the main categories of Visual Studio policies that are included in the Visual Studio Administrative Templates (ADMX):
 
+  - [**Copilot**](../ide/visual-studio-github-copilot-admin.md#disable-copilot-skus) - controls Copilot SKUs and agent mode 
+  - [**Dev Tunnels**](https://aka.ms/devtunnels/vs/admx) - controls test functionality
   - [**Feedback**](./feedback-survey-policies.md) - controls behavior of feedback and survey avenues.
   - [**Install and Update**](./configure-policies-for-enterprise-deployments.md) - controls product acquisition behavior.
   - [**Live Share**](https://aka.ms/vsls-policies) - controls user and hosts settings.
   - **Privacy** - controls [Intellicode](/visualstudio/intellicode/intellicode-privacy) and [Customer Experience Improvement Program](https://aka.ms/vs/admx/telemetry) settings.
-  - [**Dev Tunnels**](https://aka.ms/devtunnels/vs/admx) - controls test functionality
- 
+
+
  ## Acquiring the Visual Studio Administrative Template (ADMX)
 
  The [Visual Studio Administrative Template (ADMX)](https://aka.ms/vs/admx/details) can be downloaded from the Microsoft Download Center. The default installation path is `C:\Windows\PolicyDefinitions`, a location that makes them instantly visible to the Group Policy Editor (gpedit.exe) tool, but you can install them anywhere. The templates are updated periodically, so if you use them we recommend that you check back periodically to get the latest updates. 
@@ -57,3 +58,4 @@ For machines within a corporate network, you can use the [Group Policy editor](/
 * [Use command-line parameters to install Visual Studio](use-command-line-parameters-to-install-visual-studio.md)
 * [Create a network installation of Visual Studio](create-a-network-installation-of-visual-studio.md)
 * [Visual Studio workload and component IDs](workload-and-component-ids.md)
+* [Admin controls for GitHub Copilot](../ide/visual-studio-github-copilot-admin.md)