How to fix 'unable to verify the first certificate' issue with GitHub Copilot

[ace1959899]

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GitHub Copilot could not connect to server. Extension activation failed: "unable to verify the first certificate"

[the-officialjosh]

The error message "unable to verify the first certificate" when trying to activate the GitHub Copilot extension in VS Code may be caused by a corporate proxy setup that intercepts secure connections, terminates the secure connection to GitHub, and instead uses a self-signed certificate to act like a TLS middleman. Here are some possible solutions:

🔧 Contact your IT department to see if they can configure the proxy to not intercept secure connections.

🔧 Properly install the proxy certificates on your machine in the OS trust chain. Note that this requires a GitHub Copilot for Business subscription.

🔧 Configure a different proxy that does not intercept secure connections.

If the above solutions do not work, it is possible that something has either corrupted the set of SSL roots on your machine or a third party is intercepting your SSL connections. In this case, you can try the following:

🔧 Uninstall and reload GitHub Copilot.

🔧 Change the version of GitHub Copilot.

🔧 Quit VS Code, turn off the accelerator, and then reopen VS Code.

If none of the above solutions work, it may be necessary to try using GitHub Copilot on a different machine.

[alrik11es]

I'm having the same problem on windows. I've tried everything. In mac works well.

[noweihed]

I have the same problem on the one computer, i tried everything uninstalled/reinstalled copilot, i even uninstalled Rider twice and still the same problem. I just tried form my laptop and there is NO Problem on that machine... it is using v1.2.9... i want to try installing that version on the desktop but i cant figure out how to switch it, it automatically installs 1.5.2

[lada-olc]

I added an Ignore rule in ESET SSL/TLS configuration as advised in https://github.com/orgs/community/discussions/120205#discussioncomment-9165225 and Copilot works now.

[noweihed]

FINALLY!!! I have been after this for like 3 days ! i guess i have been searching for the wrong terms or in the wrong place! This worked for me!

[okirmis]

Can confirm that this is the solution for us, too.

[alrik11es]

Damn ESET🤦🏻‍♂️
Can confirm this works for me too. THANKS.