Unable to run GitHub Copilot CLI.

[anuraj]

Describe the bug

I installed GitHub Copilot CLI using winget - winget install GitHub.Copilot command. But when I am running the command copilot --help I am getting some error - node permission issues. I don't have admin rights on the machine.

Affected version

1.0.34

Steps to reproduce the behavior

1. Install GitHub Copilot CLI.
2. Run copilot --help or copilot --version command.

Expected behavior

It should display the help information or version information.

Additional context

No response

[devm33]

Hi @anuraj does your user not have permissions to the AppData\Local directory?

[anuraj]

@devm33 Yes, I can create / modify / delete files and folders.

[anuraj]

I fixed it using following powershell script.

$npmRoot = npm root -g
$exePath = "$npmRoot\@github\copilot-win32-x64\copilot.exe"
$sourcePath = "$npmRoot\@github\copilot"
$wrapperPath = "$env:USERPROFILE\bin\copilot.ps1"

New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path "$env:USERPROFILE\bin" | Out-Null

@"
`$basePath  = "`$env:LOCALAPPDATA\copilot\pkg\win32-x64"
`$target    = "`$basePath\1.0.40"
`$source    = "$sourcePath"
`$exe       = "$exePath"

# Only re-populate if 1.0.40 is missing or empty
if (-not (Test-Path `$target) -or (Get-ChildItem `$target -Force).Count -eq 0) {
    # Clean stale .replaced-* folders
    Get-ChildItem `$basePath -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue |
        Where-Object { `$_.Name -like ".replaced-*" -or `$_.Name -like ".extracting-*" } |
        Remove-Item -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

    # Pre-populate 1.0.40
    New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path `$target | Out-Null
    Copy-Item -Path "`$source\*" -Destination `$target -Recurse -Force -Exclude "node_modules"
}

& `$exe `$args
"@ | Set-Content $wrapperPath

# Ensure ~/bin is on PATH
$currentPath = [Environment]::GetEnvironmentVariable("PATH", "User")
if ($currentPath -notlike "*$env:USERPROFILE\bin*") {
    [Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("PATH", "$currentPath;$env:USERPROFILE\bin", "User")
    $env:PATH += ";$env:USERPROFILE\bin"
}

Write-Host "Smart wrapper installed at: $wrapperPath" -ForegroundColor Green
Write-Host "It will only re-populate 1.0.40 when missing - no slowdown on normal runs!" -ForegroundColor Green
copilot --version

Seems some issue with my office antivirus / IT Policy.