Copilot Error Auth Read ECONNRESET: 5 Ways to Fix it

The GitHub Copilot error Auth Read ECONNRESET appears when the TCP connection is terminated abruptly, primarily due to network-related problems.

Common underlying causes for Read ECONNRESET include a proxy setup, blocking of processes by Windows Firewall or the antivirus, or the presence of conflicting applications.

Before you proceed to the solutions, restart the PC, reboot the modem/router, or switch to another network, preferably a wired connection. For most of you, this should do the trick!

How can I fix the Copilot error Auth Read ECONNRESET?

1. Turn off proxy

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings, go to Network & Internet from the navigation pane, and click on Proxy.
2. Disable the toggle next to Automatically detect settings.
3. Restart the PC to apply the changes.

If administrators have deployed a network-wide proxy, you will have to check with them and get the ones responsible for the Copilot error Auth Read ECONNRESET disabled.

2. Add an exception for GitHub Copilot APIs in Windows Firewall

1. Press Windows + S to open Search, type Windows Defender Firewall in the text field, and click on the relevant result.
2. Select Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall from the left pane.
3. Click the Change Settings button.
4. Click on Allow another app.
5. Click the Browse button.
6. Go to the location where the Copilot API files (or the one for the program) are stored, select them, and click on Open.
7. Click on Add.
8. Next, make sure both the Private and Public checkboxes are ticked next to the GitHub Copilot entry, and then click Apply to save the changes.
9. Finally, reboot the PC and check for improvements.

When Windows Defender Firewall blocks the program, it’s likely to trigger the Copilot error Auth Read ECONNRESET. So, you will have to whitelist it within the firewall settings!

3. Allow Copilot through the antivirus

1. Press Windows + S to open Search, type Windows Security in the text field, and click on the relevant result.
2. Click on Virus & threat protection.
3. Click on Manage settings under Virus & threat protection settings.
4. Scroll down and click on Add or remove exclusions.
5. Click Yes in the UAC prompt.
6. Click the Add an exclusion button, and select Folder from the dropdown menu.
7. Go to the affected program’s directory, choose it, and click on Select Folder.
8. Restart the computer to apply the changes.

In 2 out of 5 cases, the installed antivirus was blocking connection attempts by Copilot, thus triggering the Extension Activation Failed: Read ECONNRESET error. If you are not using Windows Security, check the antivirus developer’s official website for the exact steps to add an exclusion.

4. Uninstall conflicting applications

1. Press Windows + R to open Run, type appwiz.cpl in the text field, and hit Enter.
2. Select any conflicting application from the list, and click on Uninstall.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process, and then reboot the computer.

As I said earlier, antivirus solutions like Kaspersky were found to be the underlying cause behind the Copilot error Auth Read ECONNRESET. Even adding an exclusion for Visual Studio in Kaspersky crashes the latter, necessitating the need to uninstall the antivirus.

Besides, if a quick removal doesn’t work, the app most likely left behind files, cache, or Registry entries that are still conflicting with Windows. In this case, I recommend using a top-rated software uninstaller to wipe all traces of the program!

5. Reinstall Visual Studio Code

If your Visual Studio’s GitHub Copilot Extension is throwing the Auth Read ECONNRESET error, reinstalling Visual Studio Code will do the trick, as confirmed by many facing the same issue. It also helps when GitHub Copilot is not working in Visual Studio.

Just make sure to completely clear all leftover files before you proceed with the reinstallation. And always download Visual Studio Code from the official website!

One of these solutions should have helped with the GitHub Copilot Auth Read ECONNRESET API error, and things should not be up and running.

Before you leave, you might be interested in our Copilot error getaddrinfo article. Our latest article covers Something went wrong Copilot error, so you might want to check it out for more solutions.

For any queries or to share more fixes with our readers, drop a comment below.