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Configuration Overview

Elastic Copilot offers extensive customization options to tailor the AI assistant to your development workflow and preferences. Configure everything from API providers to keyboard shortcuts.

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Settings Access

Extension Settings

Click the gear icon in the Elastic Copilot sidebar or use Ctrl+, and search “Elastic Copilot”

VS Code Settings

Access global VS Code settings that affect Elastic Copilot behavior and appearance

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Core Configuration Areas

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Authentication & Providers

  • Subscription Mode
  • Direct Provider Mode
Recommended for most users
  • Account Management: Sign in/out, subscription status
  • Usage Tracking: Monitor token usage and billing
  • Model Selection: Choose from available models
  • Subscription Plans: Upgrade/downgrade plans

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AI Behavior Settings

Customize how AI responds to your requests
  • Explanation Detail Level: Brief, detailed, or educational
  • Code Style Preferences: Coding standards and conventions
  • Language Preferences: Preferred frameworks and patterns
  • Error Handling Approach: How to suggest fixes and improvements
Personalize AI behavior with custom instructions
  • Project Context: Describe your project and goals
  • Coding Preferences: Preferred patterns, libraries, and approaches
  • Communication Style: How you want the AI to communicate
  • Specific Requirements: Industry standards, compliance needs
Example Custom Instructions:
I'm working on a React TypeScript project using Next.js 13+ with:
- App Router (not Pages Router)
- Tailwind CSS for styling
- Prisma for database operations
- Prefer functional components with hooks
- Always include error handling and loading states
Configure intelligent code completion behavior
  • Completion Triggers: When to show suggestions
  • Suggestion Length: Single line vs. multi-line completions
  • Context Window: How much surrounding code to consider
  • Language Filters: Enable/disable for specific file types

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User Interface Settings

Sidebar Configuration

  • Panel position and size
  • Default views and tabs
  • Conversation history display
  • Quick action buttons

Editor Integration

  • Inline suggestion appearance
  • Error highlighting styles
  • Command palette integration
  • Context menu options

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Keyboard Shortcuts

Customize all keyboard shortcuts for faster access:
Default shortcuts for core features
  • Ctrl+L - Explain selected code
  • Ctrl+Shift+F - Fix selected code
  • Ctrl+I - Improve selected code
  • Ctrl+Shift+E - Open Elastic Copilot panel
Customization: Modify in VS Code’s Keyboard Shortcuts (Ctrl+K Ctrl+S)
Shortcuts for interactive features
  • Tab - Accept code completion
  • Esc - Dismiss completion
  • Ctrl+Space - Trigger completion manually
  • Alt+] / Alt+[ - Navigate suggestions
Create your own shortcuts for:
  • Specific AI commands
  • Custom instructions
  • Tool operations
  • Workflow automation

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Advanced Configuration

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Auto-Approval Settings

Control which operations require your approval:

File Operations

  • Reading files: Auto-approve or require permission
  • Writing files: Always, never, or ask each time
  • Directory operations: Listing and navigation

Terminal Commands

  • Safe commands: npm install, git status
  • Potentially destructive: rm, git reset
  • Custom command patterns

MCP Tools

  • Database operations: Read vs. write permissions
  • External API calls: Always require approval
  • Custom tool permissions

Browser Automation

  • Web page visits: Auto-approve trusted domains
  • Screenshot capture: Always allow
  • Form submissions: Require approval

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Memory Bank Configuration

Configure how Elastic Copilot remembers your project
  • Memory Bank Location: Where to store project documentation
  • Auto-Update: Automatically update memory with changes
  • Context Inclusion: What information to include
  • Retention Policy: How long to keep historical information
Store your coding preferences and patterns
  • Preferred Libraries: React, Vue, Angular preferences
  • Code Style: Formatting and naming conventions
  • Architecture Patterns: MVC, microservices, etc.
  • Testing Approach: Unit tests, integration tests, etc.

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Workspace-Specific Settings

Override global settings for specific projects:
1

Create Workspace Settings

Create .vscode/settings.json in your project root
2

Configure Project Preferences

Set project-specific API providers, custom instructions, or tool permissions
3

Team Sharing

Share configurations with your team via version control
Example Workspace Settings: 
{
  "elastic-copilot.customInstructions": "This is a React TypeScript project. Use modern hooks and functional components.",
  "elastic-copilot.autoApproval.fileRead": true,
  "elastic-copilot.autoApproval.terminalCommands": ["npm", "yarn", "git status"],
  "elastic-copilot.preferredApiProvider": "anthropic"
}

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Privacy & Security Settings

Control what data is shared with AI models
  • Code Context: How much code to include in requests
  • File Filtering: Exclude sensitive files (config, secrets)
  • Request Logging: Log AI interactions for debugging
  • Telemetry: Usage analytics and error reporting
Configure local vs. remote processing
  • Tree-sitter Parsing: Always local
  • File Operations: Local file system access
  • Sensitive Data Detection: Local scanning for secrets
  • Cache Management: Local caching policies

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Export & Import Settings

Export Configuration

Save your settings for backup or sharing with team members

Import Configuration

Restore settings from backup or apply team configurations

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Performance Tuning

  • Memory Usage: Limit cache size and conversation history
  • CPU Usage: Control background processing intensity
  • Network: Optimize API call frequency and batch requests
  • File Watching: Configure which files to monitor for changes
  • Completion Delays: Balance speed vs. accuracy
  • Request Timeouts: Set maximum wait times
  • Parallel Processing: Enable concurrent operations
  • Caching Strategies: Optimize for your workflow

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Configuration Best Practices

Start Simple: Begin with default settings and customize gradually as you discover what works best for your workflow.
Team Consistency: Use workspace settings to ensure team members have consistent AI behavior and code style preferences.
Security First: Review auto-approval settings regularly and be conservative with permissions for external tools.
Backup Settings: Export your configuration regularly, especially before making major changes.

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Getting Help

Specific Settings

Detailed guides for API providers, shortcuts, and workspace settings

Troubleshooting

Solutions for common configuration issues and problems

Community

Get help from other users and the Elastic Copilot team