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BYOM in Visual Studio 2026 now requires Agent (Preview) mode

clearly official source

The BYOM feature in Visual Studio 2026 is moving to Agent (Preview) mode. The previous Ask and Agent modes no longer support it. After updating, previously configured models must be added again through Ollama.

According to GitHub, the Bring Your Own Model (BYOM) feature in Visual Studio 2026 now requires Agent (Preview) mode. The previous Ask and Agent modes no longer support BYOM. After updating, users must add previously configured models connected through Ollama again.

BYOM remains in preview and is enabled by default in the Community, Professional and Enterprise editions. It allows users to use models through GitHub Copilot as well as their own model deployments, including without signing in to GitHub. Supported providers include Microsoft Foundry, OpenAI, Anthropic and Ollama. The update is available on all GitHub Copilot plans, including Copilot Free.

What changed

Why it matters

The change requires adjustments to the existing setup: continued use of BYOM requires switching to the new mode and restoring the configuration of models connected through Ollama. The update itself therefore does not fully preserve the existing setup.

Two audiences, two different impacts

What this means

01

For individuals

If you use your own models through Ollama, you will need to add them again after updating and use them in Agent (Preview) mode.

What to do After updating, switch to Agent (Preview) mode and add your previously configured models again through Ollama.
More practical updates →
02

For a business

Teams using the BYOM feature must plan for a change of mode and the restoration of model connections through Ollama on affected workstations when updating the development environment.

Development
What to decide Before rolling out the update to your team, check which workstations use the BYOM feature and require a switch to the new mode or restoration of model configurations.
More business impacts →
BYOM GitHub Copilot Ollama Visual Studio 2026

Check the original

Event sources

clearly official source · 1 publisher, 0 independent. We count feeds from the same owner only once.

1
GitHub Copilot Changelog primary source · first detected GitHub Copilot in Visual Studio — September update An overview of multiple AI topics; AI Radar covers only this event.