Can copilot approve pull requests?

[justinmchase]

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Copilot Feature Area

Copilot in GitHub

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I am able to get copilot to review my pull requests but it doesn't seem to approve them ever. Is there a way to configure it to actually approve / request changes instead of just comment on it?

[nihabali]

Currently, GitHub Copilot can help with reviewing pull requests by suggesting comments, pointing out possible improvements, or highlighting issues. However, it cannot actually approve or request changes on a pull request.

Approving or requesting changes is considered a formal code review action, and at this moment only real users (with proper permissions) can perform that in GitHub. Copilot is limited to generating review comments to assist you, but the final approval must be done by a team member.

If you want automated approvals, you would need to set up GitHub Actions or a bot (using the GitHub API) that can programmatically approve PRs under specific conditions. Copilot itself does not have that capability.

[Leorev01]

Hey @justinmchase,
I wish it could but unfortunately not, Copilot can only review PRs as you mentioned.
However you can configure GitHub actions to approve PRs.
Hope this helps

[nihabali]

Hey @justinmchase,
You’re right — Copilot can only review and comment, it can’t actually approve PRs.
If you need auto-approval, you’d have to use GitHub Actions or a bot via the API.

[Leorev01]

This guy nihabali is just copying and pasting ai everywhere, please don't support this, its obvious cos he replied to me as if I was you and used the same language as me (PR rather than pull request he used before)

[ikrishanaa]

No — Copilot cannot approve or request changes on PRs.
It can only suggest comments, point out improvements, or highlight issues.

Approving or requesting changes is a formal code review action, and only real users with proper permissions can do that in GitHub.
If you want automated approvals, you’d need to set up:

• GitHub Actions or
• a custom bot using the GitHub API

to programmatically approve PRs under specific conditions.
Copilot itself does not have this capability.