GitHub adds scheduled automations and agent-assisted merge to VS Code
GitHub's September 2026 VS Code releases add scheduled or on-demand automations, preview agent-assisted pull request merge, pull-request creation from Copilot, Claude, or Codex agent sessions, and Dev Container sessions from the Agents window.
SessionWatcher editorial · Published · Updated · Source announcement: 2026-10-01
Automate and merge agent work
GitHub's changelog covers VS Code versions 1.136 through 1.140, shipped throughout September 2026. In the Agents window, automations can run hourly, daily, weekly, or on demand, starting from a template or a custom prompt. GitHub labels this feature as a preview.
Agent merge can handle review feedback, failed checks, merge conflicts, and workflow reruns in an active session. It is also in preview, and must be enabled in that session.
Sources: GitHub Copilot in VS Code, September 2026 releases - GitHub Changelog
Create pull requests and use project environments
From a Copilot, Claude, or Codex agent session in the Agents window, users can open a pull-request form, edit its title and description, choose draft and merge options, and create the pull request.
The Agents window can also start a session using a project's configured tools and dependencies in a Dev Container. GitHub says this works from a local or remote folder, including on SSH, Tunnel, and WSL hosts.
Sources: GitHub Copilot in VS Code, September 2026 releases - GitHub Changelog
Keep sessions organized
Other listed changes include navigating between related chats and sessions, suggestions to mark sessions done after pull requests merge, optional automatic cleanup, and an application badge for new results, input requests, and pull-request checks. The badge and cleanup features are in preview.
These changes are described for VS Code releases, not as a general availability statement for other Copilot products. GitHub points readers to the individual 1.136 through 1.140 release notes for full details.
Sources: GitHub Copilot in VS Code, September 2026 releases - GitHub Changelog
AI assisted reporting, checked against the linked official sources. Source pages checked 2026-10-01. Editorial process and corrections.