GitHub Copilot CLI Slash Commands Get Full Reference Guide

Jessie A Ellis
Jan 21, 2026 17:36

GitHub releases comprehensive cheat sheet for Copilot CLI slash commands, covering session management, directory access, model selection, and MCP configuration.

GitHub published a detailed reference guide for slash commands in Copilot CLI on January 21, giving developers a complete rundown of the terminal-based AI assistant’s command structure for the first time.

The guide arrives one week after GitHub made OpenCode official and expanded Copilot’s model garden access for terminal-native developers. For the growing number of coders who prefer working in the command line over IDEs, this documentation fills a gap that’s existed since Copilot CLI entered public preview last September.

What Slash Commands Actually Do

Unlike natural language prompts that can produce variable results, slash commands trigger predictable, repeatable actions. Type /clear and you wipe your session context—every time, same result. That consistency matters when you’re debugging at 2 AM and need Copilot to stop referencing code from three tasks ago.

The command set breaks into four categories:

Session management handles the basics: /clear resets context, /session and /usage show metrics like total duration and code changes, and /exit ends your session cleanly.

Directory and file access controls what Copilot can see. /add-dir grants access to specific directories while /list-dirs shows current permissions—useful for teams with compliance requirements who need auditable trails of file access.

Configuration commands let you swap AI models on the fly with /model, which presents options including Claude Sonnet 4.5, GPT-5.1, and Gemini 3 Pro. /theme adjusts terminal display, and /terminal-setup enables multiline inputs for complex prompts.

External services is where things get interesting. /delegate creates AI-generated pull requests without leaving your terminal. /mcp manages Model Context Protocol server configurations for CI/CD integration. /share exports entire sessions as markdown files or GitHub Gists for async handoffs.

The Three Commands Worth Memorizing

GitHub’s own advice: start with /clear, /cwd, and /model. The first prevents context bleed between projects. The second confirms or changes your working directory—critical when navigating large codebases. The third lets you experiment with different AI models when responses aren’t hitting the mark.

The /user command addresses a real pain point for developers juggling personal and enterprise accounts. /user switch rotates between GitHub accounts without the usual dance of logging out and back in.

Who This Matters For

Copilot CLI requires an active paid subscription, so this isn’t a free tier feature. But for subscribers who’ve been piecing together workflows from scattered documentation, having a single reference changes the calculus on terminal-based AI coding.

The timing aligns with GitHub’s January 14 announcement of enhanced agents and improved context management for Copilot CLI—suggesting the company sees terminal-native development as a serious growth vector rather than a niche use case.

Full documentation is available on GitHub’s blog, with the complete command reference table covering 17 slash commands and their use cases.

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