Originally published on DebugRadar.
Meta Description (148 chars): GitHub Copilot's GPT models failing on Nov 13? Degraded availability hit GPT-6.1 Terra, GPT-5.6 Sol and GPT-6 Luna — switch to Auto and keep coding.
Quick Fix Summary
- Problem: On November 13, 2026, GitHub Copilot's GPT models showed degraded availability — GPT-6.1 Terra, GPT-5.6 Sol, and GPT-6 Luna returned elevated error rates in Copilot code completion and chat.
- Fix: None user-side. GitHub resolved the incident at 21:27 UTC on November 13 after an upstream model provider implemented a mitigation. If it happens again, switch to another model or select 'Auto' in the model picker and keep coding.
- What happened: GitHub status incident "Copilot experiencing degraded model availability for some GPT models" — investigating 20:13 UTC, resolved 21:27 UTC (1 hour 14 minutes). Cause: an issue with an upstream model provider.
Technical Root Cause
| Error Code | Affected Version | Root Cause | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| No error code — elevated error rates on GPT models | GitHub Copilot (code completion + chat, VS Code and other IDE surfaces); models gpt-5.6-sol-fast, gpt-5.6-sol, gpt-6.1-terra, gpt-6-luna | Issue with an upstream model provider (named by GitHub, not specified further); provider implemented a mitigation | Resolved 21:27 UTC, November 13, 2026 |
Step-by-Step: What to Do When Copilot's Models Fail
Step 1 — Check GitHub's Status Page First
Open https://www.githubstatus.com and look at the Copilot AI Model Providers component. On November 13 it showed degraded availability for the GPT models. If the status page shows a Copilot incident, the problem is upstream — nothing in your editor, extension, or network is causing it. This is the same first move as our Fix: ChatGPT Work Mode HTTP 500 Error — when the vendor's own status page shows an incident, stop troubleshooting your own setup.
Step 2 — Switch to Auto or Another Model
In the Copilot Chat model picker, select 'Auto' or pick a model that is not listed as affected. That is GitHub's own recommendation from the incident timeline — the degraded models were GPT-6.1 Terra, GPT-5.6 Sol, and GPT-6 Luna, so anything else in the picker keeps working. Keep coding; your completions and chats just run on a different model until the affected ones recover.
Step 3 — Do Not Reinstall VS Code or the Extension
Reinstalling VS Code or the Copilot extension changes nothing here — the model list and the errors both come from GitHub's servers. If the models are degraded, a fresh install shows the same warnings. Save the reinstall for a problem that is actually on your machine, like the sign-in failure we covered in Fix: Claude Code Failed to Refresh OAuth Token — that one is local, this one is not.
Step 4 — Retry the Affected Model Only After Resolution
After the status page marks the incident resolved (November 13: 21:27 UTC), switch back to your usual model and confirm completions work. If it still errors after resolution, that is a new problem — check the model picker warnings and try 'Auto' once more before digging into your setup.
Step 5 — Know the Pattern
This was the third Copilot model-availability incident in five days — November 9 (GPT-5.3 Codex, GPT-5.6 Luna/Sol, 49 minutes), November 11 (multi-product, 33 minutes), and November 13 (this one, 1 hour 14 minutes). Same upstream-provider cause each time. If Copilot's GPT models go wobbly again, your fastest move is always the same: status page first, switch to 'Auto', keep coding.
While Copilot's GPT models are down, keep a second AI assistant ready: If your coding flow depends on one AI product, a degraded-model incident stops you cold. Claude Pro runs the same kind of coding chats — completions, explanations, and long sessions — so you can keep shipping while GitHub fixes its side. (Affiliate link — DebugRadar earns a commission if you sign up through it.)
FAQ
Is GitHub Copilot down right now?
The November 13 incident is resolved — GitHub marked it resolved at 21:27 UTC after an upstream provider implemented a mitigation. If Copilot's models fail again, check githubstatus.com first: if the Copilot AI Model Providers component is degraded, the problem is upstream, not your setup.
Which Copilot models were affected?
GPT-6.1 Terra, GPT-5.6 Sol (including the fast variant gpt-5.6-sol-fast), and GPT-6 Luna. Code completion and chat using those models showed elevated error rates, and GitHub's in-product model warnings activated for them.
What should I do while Copilot's models are degraded?
Switch to another model or select 'Auto' in the model picker — that is GitHub's own recommendation — and keep coding. Do not reinstall VS Code or the Copilot extension; the model list comes from GitHub's servers. Retry the affected model only after the status page shows resolved.
Sources: GitHub status page (githubstatus.com), November 13, 2026; Pingoru GitHub Copilot timeline; PulsAPI status report, November 14, 2026.
Read the full guide on DebugRadar: Fix: GitHub Copilot Models Not Working
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