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Github Copilot App Modernization updates #52086

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Update instructions on Copilot Appmod
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76 changes: 42 additions & 34 deletions docs/core/porting/github-copilot-app-modernization/faq.yml
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Expand Up @@ -4,11 +4,11 @@ metadata:
description: "This article answers frequently asked questions about GitHub Copilot app modernization for .NET."
titleSuffix: ""
ms.topic: faq
ms.date: 12/08/2025
ms.date: 03/05/2026

title: GitHub Copilot app modernization FAQ
summary: |
GitHub Copilot app modernization is an interactive GitHub Copilot agent that adds powerful capabilities to Visual Studio. This article answers frequently asked questions. For more information about the modernization agent, see [What is GitHub Copilot app modernization](overview.md).
GitHub Copilot app modernization is an interactive GitHub Copilot agent that adds capabilities to your development environment. This article answers frequently asked questions. For more information, see [What is GitHub Copilot app modernization](overview.md).

The tool requires one of the following GitHub Copilot subscriptions:

Expand All @@ -18,77 +18,85 @@ summary: |
- Copilot Business
- Copilot Enterprise

GitHub Copilot app modernization is included in [Visual Studio 2026](https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/downloads/) (or Visual Studio 2022 version 17.14.17 and newer).
GitHub Copilot app modernization is available in Visual Studio, Visual Studio Code, GitHub Copilot CLI, and on GitHub.com. For Visual Studio, it's included in [Visual Studio 2026](https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/downloads/) (or Visual Studio 2022 version 17.14.17 and newer).

For more information about installation, [Install GitHub Copilot app modernization](install.md).

sections:
- name: Modernization agent
questions:
- question: What can the agent do?
answer: |
Currently, GitHub Copilot app modernization helps you upgrade your .NET (.NET, .NET Core, and .NET Framework) projects to newer versions of .NET. It also helps migrate services to Azure. It also upgrades dependencies and fixes errors in the code post-migration. The agent performs the following steps in a GitHub Copilot chat session:
GitHub Copilot app modernization helps you upgrade your .NET (.NET, .NET Core, and .NET Framework) projects to newer versions of .NET. It also helps migrate services to Azure, upgrades dependencies, and fixes errors in code after migration. The agent performs the following steps in a Copilot chat session:

- Analyzes your projects and proposes an modernization plan.
- According to the plan, runs a series of tasks to modernize your projects.
- Analyzes your projects and proposes a modernization plan.
- Runs a series of tasks to modernize your projects according to the plan.
- Operates in a working branch under a local Git repository.
- Automatically fixes issues during the code transformation.
- Reports progress and allow access to code changes & logs.
- Learns from the interactive experience with you (within the context of the session) to improve subsequent transformations.
- Fixes issues automatically during the code transformation.
- Reports progress and allows access to code changes and logs.
- Learns from your interactions during the session to improve subsequent transformations.

- question: What limitations are there?
answer: |
- Only Git repositories are supported.
- There's no guarantee that the upgrade or migration suggestions are considered best practices.
- The LLM doesn't persist learning from the upgrade. Meaning, code fixes and corrections you provide during the upgrade process don't persist and can't be remembered for future upgrades.
- It only runs on Windows.
- The agent requires a local Git repository.
- The upgrade or migration suggestions aren't guaranteed to follow best practices.
- Code fixes and corrections you provide to Copilot during the upgrade process don't persist and aren't remembered for future upgrades.

- question: Which model should I use?
answer: |
You should use a good coding model, such as Claude Sonnet 4.5 or GPT 5.2-codex.
Use a good coding model. Model availability is dependent on your Copilot subscription and environment. For a comparison of models, see [GitHub Copilot AI model comparison](https://docs.github.com/copilot/reference/ai-models/model-comparison).

- question: Can I train the model based on my code base?
answer: |
No. Unlike traditional AI tools where you might enter freeform prompts, the agent operates in a more structured way. The AI is embedded within the build-and-fix process, meaning the prompts it uses are predefined and tied to the upgrade plan. So it's not something you can train on your codebase, and it's not something you can manually steer with custom instructions, beyond the changes you can make to the plan Markdown file.
No. Unlike traditional AI tools where you might enter freeform prompts, the agent operates in a structured way. The AI is embedded in the build-and-fix process, so the prompts it uses are predefined and tied to the upgrade plan. You can't train it on your codebase, but it's used as context by the agent.

However, the agent does have some adaptability within a session. If you manually adjust a fix, it learns from that interaction in the short term and applies similar corrections if it encounters the same issue again. Think of it as refining its approach within the scope of that upgrade.
- question: Can I customize or guide the agent?
answer: |
The agent uses customization Copilot provides, such as instruction files and skills. Customization is based on what your Copilot supports.

If you manually adjust a fix, provide additional instructions in chat, or update the Markdown in the plan file, it learns from that interaction in the short term.

- question: Does the agent store my source code?
answer: |
The agent never stores a user's codebase and never uses your code for training the model. Once an upgrade or migration is complete, session data is deleted.
The agent never stores your codebase or uses your code to train the model. Once an upgrade or migration completes, the agent deletes session data.

- question: Can I provide feedback?
answer: |
Yes! Use the [Suggest a feature](/visualstudio/ide/suggest-a-feature) and [Report a Problem](/visualstudio/ide/report-a-problem) features of in Visual Studio to provide feedback.
Yes! There are two ways to provide feedback:

- In Visual Studio, use the [Suggest a feature](/visualstudio/ide/suggest-a-feature) and [Report a Problem](/visualstudio/ide/report-a-problem) features.
- File an issue at the [@modernize-dotnet GitHub repository](https://github.com/dotnet/modernize-dotnet).

- question: What data is collected?
answer: |
The agent only collects telemetry information about project types, intent to upgrade, and upgrade duration. The data is aggregated through Visual Studio itself and doesn't contain any user-identifiable information. For more information about Microsoft's privacy policy, see [Visual Studio Customer Experience Improvement Program](/visualstudio/ide/visual-studio-experience-improvement-program?view=visualstudio&preserve-view=true).
The agent collects telemetry only about project types, intent to upgrade, and upgrade duration. The data is aggregated through your development environment and doesn't contain user-identifiable information. For more information about Microsoft's privacy policy, see [Visual Studio Customer Experience Improvement Program](/visualstudio/ide/visual-studio-experience-improvement-program?view=visualstudio&preserve-view=true).

- question: Can I disable telemetry?
answer: |
Yes, you can disable telemetry. In Visual Studio, select **Help** > **Privacy** > **Privacy Settings** > **"No, I would not like to participate."**
Yes. In Visual Studio, select **Help** > **Privacy** > **Privacy Settings** > **"No, I would not like to participate."** Telemetry settings might vary by development environment. Check your tool's privacy settings for more information.

- name: Upgrade .NET apps
questions:
- question: What can the agent upgrade?
answer: |
GitHub Copilot app modernization helps you upgrade your .NET projects or migrate them to Azure. Besides upgrading the target framework, the agent can work with the following types of projects:
GitHub Copilot app modernization helps you upgrade your .NET projects or migrate them to Azure. Besides upgrading the target framework, the agent works with these project types:

- Azure Functions.
- Console apps and class libraries.
- Azure Functions
- Console apps and class libraries
- Web technologies such as:
- MVC
- Blazor
- Razor Pages
- Web API
- Desktop technologies such as Windows Forms and Windows Presentation Foundation.
- Test projects such as MSTest and NUnit.
- .NET Framework projects.
- Desktop technologies such as Windows Forms and Windows Presentation Foundation
- Test projects such as MSTest and NUnit
- .NET Framework projects

- name: Migrate to Azure
questions:
- question: What can the agent migrate?
answer: |
The agent can assist in migrating and deploying your .NET applications to Azure, including:
The agent helps migrate and deploy your .NET applications to Azure, including:

- Web apps
- API apps
Expand All @@ -110,16 +118,16 @@ sections:

- question: Can I monitor assessment progress?
answer: |
Yes, you can monitor the progress of the assessment through the Visual Studio interface. The agent provides real-time feedback and updates on the status of the migration process.
Yes. Monitor the assessment progress through the Visual Studio interface. The agent provides real-time feedback and status updates on the migration process. Other development environments might offer different monitoring options.

While the assessment is running, you can monitor its progress by viewing the command-line output:
In Visual Studio, monitor assessment progress by viewing the command-line output while the assessment runs:

1. In Visual Studio, go to **View** > **Output** to open the Output window.
2. In the Output window, find the **Show output from:** dropdown.
3. Select **AppModernizationExtension** from the dropdown list.
4. The command-line output from the assessment tool appears here, showing real-time progress.
1. Go to **View** > **Output** to open the **Output** window.
1. In the **Output** window, find the **Show output from** dropdown.
1. Select **AppModernizationExtension** from the dropdown list.
1. The command-line output from the assessment tool appears here, showing real-time progress.

You can also access the **Output** window using the keyboard shortcut <kbd>Ctrl+Alt+O</kbd>.
Or, access the **Output** window with the keyboard shortcut <kbd>Ctrl+Alt+O</kbd>.

additionalContent: |
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