Chat not working in Codespaces

[dejanreh]

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AI Chat in codespaces does not seem to work for me any more. It still used to work few days ago but not today. It says it is not compatible any more (38.2) and offers the upgrade (to 39). But when I try to upgrade some error is returned.

Here is the paste of the log:

2026-03-12 02:56:20.591 [error] [Window] End of central directory record signature not found. Either not a zip file, or file is truncated.: Error: End of central directory record signature not found. Either not a zip file, or file is truncated.
at i_ (file:///vscode/bin/linux-x64/ce099c1ed25d9eb3076c11e4a280f3eb52b4fbeb/out/server-main.js:424:2620)
at file:///vscode/bin/linux-x64/ce099c1ed25d9eb3076c11e4a280f3eb52b4fbeb/out/server-main.js:424:3922
at /vscode/bin/linux-x64/ce099c1ed25d9eb3076c11e4a280f3eb52b4fbeb/node_modules/yauzl/index.js:40:7
at /vscode/bin/linux-x64/ce099c1ed25d9eb3076c11e4a280f3eb52b4fbeb/node_modules/yauzl/index.js:190:5
at /vscode/bin/linux-x64/ce099c1ed25d9eb3076c11e4a280f3eb52b4fbeb/node_modules/yauzl/index.js:712:5
at /vscode/bin/linux-x64/ce099c1ed25d9eb3076c11e4a280f3eb52b4fbeb/node_modules/yauzl/fd-slicer.js:33:7
at FSReqCallback.wrapper [as oncomplete] (node:fs:670:5)

What can I do to make the copilot chat for workspaces work again?

I tired creating a new codespaces environment, clicked to initialize the chat and got a response:
An error occurred while setting up chat. Would you like to try again?
End of central directory record signature not found. Either not a zip file, or file is truncated.

I am using web environment, nothing installed on my PC.

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[devJV899]

Hi,

The error in your log is the key part here:

End of central directory record signature not found.
Either not a zip file, or file is truncated.

This usually means that a downloaded package or extension is corrupted or incomplete. In Codespaces this commonly happens when the VS Code server extensions cache becomes inconsistent after an update.

Since Copilot Chat was recently updated, the Codespace may still have an older or partially downloaded version of the extension.

Here are a few things you can try:

---

1. Restart the Codespace

Sometimes the VS Code server just needs to reload:

• Stop the codespace
• Start it again from the repository page

This forces the VS Code server to reinitialize.

---

2. Reinstall the Copilot Chat extension

Inside the Codespace:

1. Open Extensions
2. Search for GitHub Copilot Chat
3. Uninstall it
4. Install it again

This will trigger a fresh download of the extension.

---

3. Rebuild the Codespace container

If the extension cache is corrupted, rebuilding the container usually fixes it.

You can do this from:

Codespaces → Rebuild Container

Documentation:
https://docs.github.com/en/codespaces/developing-in-codespaces/rebuilding-the-container-in-a-codespace

---

4. Update VS Code server components

Your message indicates that the current environment is using 38.2 and is suggesting an upgrade to 39. If the upgrade failed during download, the server components may be partially installed.

Rebuilding the Codespace usually resolves this.

---

Summary

The error is typically caused by a corrupted extension download or incomplete VS Code server update inside the Codespace. Restarting the Codespace or rebuilding the container usually forces a clean install and restores Copilot Chat.

Hope this helps.

[JoshuaGruber]

We are using codespaces for a training for a class. Of ~20 people in the class, we found this error to be happening roughly 80% of the time. Deleting and recreating the codespace had a roughly 20% chance of succeeding, as well.

[Anu27n]

facing same issue

[ThePlenkov]

I have this when enabling dotfiles in Codespaces. Interesting thing - when I press this button

before this task:

[634 ms] Start: Run in container: # Clone & install dotfiles
[642 ms] Cloning into '/workspaces/.codespaces/.persistedshare/dotfiles'...

then i have it working and after dotfiles installed i have this banner

super weird!

[ThePlenkov]

this is what I found in logs too:

2026-03-12 12:09:35.179 [info] Getting Manifest... github.copilot-chat
2026-03-12 12:09:35.200 [info] Installing extension: github.copilot-chat {"enable":true,"isApplicationScoped":true,"isMachineScoped":false,"installEverywhere":true,"installPreReleaseVersion":false,"pinned":false,"profileLocation":{"$mid":1,"fsPath":"/home/codespace/.vscode-remote/extensions/extensions.json","external":"file:///home/codespace/.vscode-remote/extensions/extensions.json","path":"/home/codespace/.vscode-remote/extensions/extensions.json","scheme":"file"},"productVersion":{"version":"1.111.0","date":"2026-03-06T23:06:10Z"}}
2026-03-12 12:09:35.365 [warning] Failed downloading vsix. End of central directory record signature not found. Either not a zip file, or file is truncated.. Retry again... github.copilot-chat
2026-03-12 12:09:35.410 [warning] Failed downloading vsix. End of central directory record signature not found. Either not a zip file, or file is truncated.. Retry again... github.copilot-chat
2026-03-12 12:09:35.459 [error] Error while installing the extension github.copilot-chat End of central directory record signature not found. Either not a zip file, or file is truncated. file:///home/codespace/.vscode-remote/extensions/extensions.json
2026-03-12 12:09:36.459 [error] Error: End of central directory record signature not found. Either not a zip file, or file is truncated.
    at i_ (file:///vscode/bin/linux-x64/ce099c1ed25d9eb3076c11e4a280f3eb52b4fbeb/out/server-main.js:424:2620)
    at file:///vscode/bin/linux-x64/ce099c1ed25d9eb3076c11e4a280f3eb52b4fbeb/out/server-main.js:424:3922
    at /vscode/bin/linux-x64/ce099c1ed25d9eb3076c11e4a280f3eb52b4fbeb/node_modules/yauzl/index.js:40:7
    at /vscode/bin/linux-x64/ce099c1ed25d9eb3076c11e4a280f3eb52b4fbeb/node_modules/yauzl/index.js:190:5
    at /vscode/bin/linux-x64/ce099c1ed25d9eb3076c11e4a280f3eb52b4fbeb/node_modules/yauzl/index.js:712:5
    at /vscode/bin/linux-x64/ce099c1ed25d9eb3076c11e4a280f3eb52b4fbeb/node_modules/yauzl/fd-slicer.js:33:7
    at FSReqCallback.wrapper [as oncomplete] (node:fs:670:5)
2026-03-12 12:11:05.388 [info] New EH opened, aborting shutdown

[dejanreh]

I found later that I am not able to install reinstall or update ANY plugin, including copilot chat, even on completely NEW codespace container. The chat is not able to initialize on a completely new codespace container. Can a connected repository affect this in any way? Regards, Dejan

…

On Thursday, March 12, 2026, Angel Villafuerte ***@***.***> wrote: Hi, The error in your log is the key part here: End of central directory record signature not found. Either not a zip file, or file is truncated. This usually means that a downloaded package or extension is *corrupted or incomplete*. In Codespaces this commonly happens when the *VS Code server extensions cache* becomes inconsistent after an update. Since Copilot Chat was recently updated, the Codespace may still have an older or partially downloaded version of the extension. Here are a few things you can try: ------------------------------ 1. Restart the Codespace Sometimes the VS Code server just needs to reload: - Stop the codespace - Start it again from the repository page This forces the VS Code server to reinitialize. ------------------------------ 2. Reinstall the Copilot Chat extension Inside the Codespace: 1. Open *Extensions* 2. Search for *GitHub Copilot Chat* 3. Uninstall it 4. Install it again This will trigger a fresh download of the extension. ------------------------------ 3. Rebuild the Codespace container If the extension cache is corrupted, rebuilding the container usually fixes it. You can do this from: Codespaces → Rebuild Container Documentation: https://docs.github.com/en/codespaces/developing-in- codespaces/rebuilding-the-container-in-a-codespace ------------------------------ 4. Update VS Code server components Your message indicates that the current environment is using *38.2* and is suggesting an upgrade to *39*. If the upgrade failed during download, the server components may be partially installed. Rebuilding the Codespace usually resolves this. ------------------------------ Summary The error is typically caused by a *corrupted extension download or incomplete VS Code server update inside the Codespace*. Restarting the Codespace or rebuilding the container usually forces a clean install and restores Copilot Chat. Hope this helps. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#189290 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AFT6PIB3RCAAO2KFQCGFNIL4QKAOLAVCNFSM6AAAAACWPDSJIGVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43URDJONRXK43TNFXW4Q3PNVWWK3TUHMYTMMBZGU2DKMA> . You are receiving this because you authored the thread.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[Dark-Blue-Moon]

Same for me. I don't have any connected repos that could even possibly affect it, so I doubt that a connected repo is the issue.

[ThePlenkov]

OK! I found out what impacts my codespaces.. When I switch off dotfiles - everyhting works. When I turn them on - codespaces are broken and indeed none of extensions can be installed..

[Dark-Blue-Moon]

It was disabled for me by default, and the error occurs either way as far as I can tell

[Dark-Blue-Moon]

All plugins cause this error now. Something must have happened between 12:00 UTC and now, because it was working fine for me before that.

[Anu27n]

yeah somethign is wrong bruh , i need codespace for my project now this error please do update me when it becomes normal

[Dark-Blue-Moon]

yeah somethign is wrong bruh , i need codespace for my project now this error please do update me when it becomes normal

I'll try... I can't even do anything in Python without the plugin so, until then, my current project is essentially useless.

[Dark-Blue-Moon]

Okay, so on githubstatus.com it says that there's a partial outage for codespaces ("Degraded Codespace Experience", yeah it sure is), but it's labeled as beginning 30 minutes ago, so the timeline might not precisely fit

[Dark-Blue-Moon]

We should have at least another update at about 15:00 UTC

[dejanreh]

Are there any settings of the environment, maybe even synced, that could affect this? Are we just few exceptions here or is everyone experiencing this now? I suppose it works for majority, what are we doing differently than the rest?

…

On Thursday, March 12, 2026, Dark Blue Moon ***@***.***> wrote: yeah somethign is wrong bruh , i need codespace for my project now this error please do update me when it becomes normal I'll try... I can't even do anything in Python without the plugin so, until then, my current project is essentially useless. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#189290 (reply in thread)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AFT6PIAL7TBDP5ODVCPWYST4QK5FVAVCNFSM6AAAAACWPDSJIGVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43URDJONRXK43TNFXW4Q3PNVWWK3TUHMYTMMBZHAYTCMI> . You are receiving this because you authored the thread.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[Dark-Blue-Moon]

It seems to be an error on the part of GitHub. Apparently, they're working on a fix.