Revise and update

Author: anandmeg

docs/ide/visual-studio-github-copilot-get-started.md

@@ -1,60 +1,63 @@
 ---
-title: Get Started with Copilot in Visual Studio 
-description: Learn how to get started successfully with using Copilot in Visual Studio.
-ms.date: 8/25/2025
+title: Get Started with Copilot
+description: Learn how to get started with Copilot in Visual Studio.
+ms.date: 8/29/2025
 ms.update-cycle: 180-days
-ms.topic: install-set-up-deploy
-author: meghaanand
+ms.topic: get-started
+author: anandmeg
 ms.author: meghaanand
 ms.manager: mijacobs
 ms.subservice: ai-tools
 ms.collection: ce-skilling-ai-copilot 
 monikerRange: '>= vs-2022'
-ms.custom: [copilot-learning-hub]
+ms.custom: copilot-learning-hub
 ---
 
 # Getting Started with Copilot
 
-Welcome to Copilot, your AI companion, right inside Visual Studio!
+Welcome to Copilot, your AI companion in Visual Studio!
 
-Copilot is here to help you code faster and with greater accuracy by suggesting entire lines or blocks of code, answering questions, and assisting with routine tasks such as writing unit tests, debugging and profiling — all directly in your Visual Studio environment.
+Copilot helps you code faster and with greater accuracy by suggesting entire lines or blocks of code, answering questions, and assisting with routine tasks such as writing unit tests, debugging and profiling — all directly in your Visual Studio environment.
 
-By the end of this guide, you will be well equipped to explore the best of your personal Copilot in Visual Studio.
+In this article you learn how to use Copilot and make the most of its features in Visual Studio.
 
 ## Launch Copilot
-1. Open **Visual Studio** (version 17.8 or later).
-> Note: Update to the latest version of Visual Studio to get the most out of Copilot.
-1. Create a new project, open an existing project, or continue without code.
-1. Click on the **GitHub Copilot** badge in the upper right corner of Visual Studio. Then, click **Open Chat Window to Sign In**
+
+1. Launch Visual Studio (version 17.8 or later). </br>
+   <sup>*</sup>It's recommended to update to the latest version of Visual Studio to get the most out of Copilot.
+1. Create a new project, open an existing project, or continue without code to launch the IDE.
+1. Select the **GitHub Copilot** badge in the upper right corner of Visual Studio, and select **Open Chat Window to Sign In**
 
    :::image type="content" source="media/vs-2022/visual-studio-github-copilot-install-and-states/copilot-state-inactive-sign-in.png" alt-text="GitHub Copilot badge in Visual Studio":::
 
-    > [!NOTE]
-    > If you do not have Copilot installed, click "Install Copilot" and make sure you have Copilot installed. For more guidance, see [Manage your GitHub Copilot installation in Visual Studio](visual-studio-github-copilot-install-and-states.md).
+   If Copilot isn't installed, select **Install Copilot** from the dropdown and follow the installer prompts. For more information, see [Manage Copilot installation and state](visual-studio-github-copilot-install-and-states.md).
+
+1. In the Chat window, choose to sign in with your existing GitHub account or [**Sign up for Copilot Free**](copilot-free-plan.md). Follow the prompts in your browser to complete the sign-in or sign-up process. After you finish, return to Visual Studio to continue using Copilot.
 
-1. From the Chat window, click one of the buttons to sign in with an existing account or [**Sign up for Copilot Free**](copilot-free-plan.md). Complete the sign up or sign in process in your browser through GitHub. Return to Visual Studio once you are signed in.
-1. Copilot is now ready to use in Visual Studio!
+Copilot is now ready to use in Visual Studio!
 
 ## Start using Copilot
-Once you're signed in, you'll be able to interact with Copilot in the Chat window and throughout the IDE.
 
-- **Use Copilot [agent mode](copilot-agent-mode.md) and MCP**: In the Chat window, click on **Ask** and switch to **Agent** to access agent mode. Click the tools icon to access MCP, configure servers, and select any tools you wish for Copilot to access. Send a message like "Write unit tests for the methods in this file" to get direct Copilot assistance with generating the code you need.
+Once you're signed in, you can use Copilot in the Chat window and throughout the IDE.
+
+- **[Agent mode](copilot-agent-mode.md) and [MCP](mcp-servers.md)**: In the Chat window, select **Ask** and switch to **Agent** to enable agent mode. Use the tools icon to access MCP, configure servers, and choose which tools Copilot can use. For example, send "Write unit tests for the methods in this file" to get Copilot assistance with generating targeted code.
+
+- **[Completions](visual-studio-github-copilot-extension.md) and [Next Edit Suggestions](copilot-next-edit-suggestions.md)**: As you code, Copilot provides suggestions directly in the editor. Copilot will suggest both new code(shown as gray text) and edits to existing code.
 
-- **Explore [Copilot Completions](visual-studio-github-copilot-extension.md) and [Next Edit Suggestions](copilot-next-edit-suggestions.md)**: Code in Visual Studio as you normally do and Copilot will offer intelligent code suggestions directly in your editor. Copilot will suggest both new code in the form of "gray text" as well as edits to your existing code.
+- **Copilot actions across Visual Studio**: Find Copilot-powered actions and suggestions in the editor context menu, Error List, Feature Search, and other areas of the IDE.
 
-- **Discover Copilot actions across Visual Studio**: Uncover Copilot-powered actions and suggestions throughout the IDE - from your editor context menu, Error List, Feature Search, and more!
+## Tailor Copilot Chat to your workflow
 
-## Tailor your Copilot Chat to you
 Make Copilot work best for you, your project, and whatever you need most in your development workflow.
 
-- **Share references for [context](copilot-chat-context-references.md)**: Click the **+** button to attach any additional desired context, from uploading images to asking Copilot to look at your entire solution.
+- **Manage [context with references](copilot-chat-context-references.md)**: Use the **+** button to attach additional context, such as files, images, or ask Copilot to reference your entire solution.
 
-- **Access different [models](copilot-usage-and-models.md#understand-model-selection)**: Use the model picker in the prompt window to explore the latest AI models, or [bring your own model](https://devblogs.microsoft.com/visualstudio/bring-your-own-model-visual-studio-chat/) to Copilot! Experiment with different models for different scenarios - whether it's answering quick questions, writing documentation, or generating multi-file code edits.
+- **Access different [models](copilot-usage-and-models.md#understand-model-selection)**: Use the model picker in the prompt window to select AI models, or [bring your own model](copilot-select-add-models.md#bring-your-own-model-byom) to Copilot! Explore different models for different scenarios, whether it's answering quick questions, writing documentation, or generating multi-file code edits.
 
-- **Add custom instructions**: Add reusable [custom instructions](copilot-chat-context.md#enable-custom-instructions) in `.github/copilot-instructions.md` and [prompt files](copilot-chat-context.md#use-prompt-files)) to `.github/prompts` to tailor how Copilot responds to you, from honoring your unique coding style to considering special edge cases for your project.
+- **Add custom instructions**: Add reusable [custom instructions](copilot-chat-context.md#enable-custom-instructions) in `.github/copilot-instructions.md` and [prompt files](copilot-chat-context.md#use-prompt-files) in `.github/prompts` to customize Copilot’s responses for your coding style or project needs.
 
 ## Next steps
 
-Access the **Copilot Walkthrough** (from the **GitHub Copilot** badge in the upper right corner of Visual Studio) at any time to revisit what you can achieve with Copilot in Visual Studio.
+To review Copilot features at any time, select **GitHub Copilot Walkthrough** from the **GitHub Copilot** badge in the upper right corner of Visual Studio.
 
-To learn more, consider building a full app from scratch through a [Hands-on lab with GitHub Copilot in Visual Studio 2022](https://github.com/dotnet-presentations/build-2025-lab300).
+For a hands-on experience, try building a complete app with the [Hands-on lab: GitHub Copilot in Visual Studio 2022](https://github.com/dotnet-presentations/build-2025-lab300).