Unexpected GitHub Copilot Access Expiry for Open Source Contributor (After Long-Term Auto Renewal)

[Heet-Bhalodiya]

Hi GitHub Copilot Team,

I’ve been using GitHub Copilot with free access for open source contributors for about 1.5 years. During this time, I consistently received monthly renewal emails, so I assumed my eligibility was being automatically validated.

However, a couple of days ago, I received a notification stating that my access will expire in just 3 days. This was unexpected and a bit confusing given the long period of uninterrupted renewals.

I’d appreciate some clarification on the following:

• Has something changed in the eligibility criteria for open source contributors?
• Is access now dependent on recent contribution activity or specific projects?
• Is this happening broadly to others, or is it account-specific?
• Is there a way to check which contribution/project made me eligible earlier?
• Is there any re-evaluation or appeal process available?

Also, I noticed that the yearly Copilot plan is no longer visible—has it been discontinued?

I completely understand that programs and criteria can change, but a bit more transparency (and longer notice) would really help contributors plan accordingly.

Thanks in advance for any clarification!

[Shivam-8200]

This can happen because GitHub Copilot free access for open source contributors is usually re-evaluated periodically based on recent public contribution activity and eligibility signals.

Even if renewals were happening automatically before, changes in contribution patterns or updates to the program criteria can sometimes trigger an expiry notice. GitHub does not always provide a detailed breakdown of which repository or activity made someone eligible earlier.

You could try increasing recent public contributions or reviewing the latest Copilot documentation on open source eligibility. If the expiry seems unexpected, contacting GitHub Support may help clarify whether this is account-specific or part of a broader change.

[Heet-Bhalodiya]

Hey @Shivam-8200 I agree and that makes sense - thanks for pointing it out. Still, it would be really helpful to hear an official clarification from GitHub on this, so contributors can better understand the current eligibility criteria and what’s expected going forward.