GitHub Copilot for JetBrains adds Ollama as model provider and persistent chat memory

The latest GitHub Copilot update for JetBrains IDEs bundles three long-awaited capabilities: support for Ollama as a BYOK (bring-your-own-key) model provider, Copilot Memory that preserves context across chat agent sessions, and an enterprise-level managed-settings layer that lets administrators lock configuration at the server tier. The release also delivers automatic Copilot CLI installation from the terminal, reliability fixes for MCP and diff-based editing, and a UI cleanup that restores file references and relocates buttons to more logical positions.

Integration with Ollama enables developers to run local models directly from the IDE without leaving the development environment. The support spans the full JetBrains suite—from the IntelliJ bundle to PyCharm and Rider—allowing teams that rely on internally built models or privacy-constrained deployments to avoid proxies or ad-hoc wrappers. The selected model is available to Copilot in chat, code completion, and agent workflows.

Copilot Memory stores useful information such as project specifics, coding preferences, and architectural decisions, and automatically retrieves it in future chat agent sessions. A dedicated toggle in the Copilot settings portal lets a developer or organization disable the feature when strict isolation between chats is required.

Administrators now receive managed settings covering plugin availability, access to MCP servers, permission-bypass behavior, and OpenTelemetry configuration. These settings are enforced centrally and cannot be overridden locally, simplifying compliance and security enforcement for large organizations. Full documentation is provided in the “Enterprise managed settings” guide from GitHub.

Codex sessions are logged in the agent’s debug output, and Codex workflows now respect updated authorization states and adapt via instructions and skills. Simultaneously, the plugin can install the Copilot CLI automatically from integrated terminals on macOS, Linux and Windows, reducing the initial steps needed to shift to terminal-centric workflows from the IDE.

A host of UX refinements accompany the release: account management now supports replacement and removal, the model selector limits overly long names, file and folder references reappear in Copilot, Claude and Codex chats, the personalization button moves to the top of the chat pane, and the debug log button relocates to the Options menu. Reliability improvements include fixes for MCP execution and approvals, terminal output and automatic approvals, customizations, cloud agents, diff-based editing, ANSI rendering, and more predictable terminal scrolling.

Product strings now use “Copilot” instead of “Copilot CLI” to align terminology. GitHub solicits feedback through the built-in IDE options and the GitHub Copilot for JetBrains IDEs issue tracker.