Check when Copilot managed policy delivery takes effect

What replaces the normal cache behavior?

The October 13 announcement lists support in Copilot CLI, VS Code, and the GitHub Copilot app. While the setting is active, a cached response cannot replace confirmation of current policy. If the client cannot confirm it, the client fails closed rather than running with stale or unconfirmed policy.

Without this setting, the normal managed-settings cache supports faster startup and resilience during temporary service failures. Enabling it involves a choice between policy freshness and startup availability. Requiring confirmation means your operating plan must account for loss of server connectivity.

When do server, MDM, and file delivery take effect?

The deployment documentation says a server-managed value requires refreshes on subsequent startups after the client receives it once. Server settings alone cannot guarantee enforcement before the first startup of a client that has never received the value.

MDM and file delivery read settings from the device and can enforce the requirement before first sign-in. They apply to local clients and remain active across account switches. Server delivery is tied to the signed-in account and applies to users receiving a Copilot license from that enterprise. First identify which devices need control before sign-in.

What should you distinguish when choosing delivery methods?

Server delivery uses copilot/managed-settings.json in a .github-private repository. MDM sends keys as operating-system-managed values, while file delivery places managed-settings.json at the device's designated location. Devices that do not receive the file are not restricted by that file policy.

The documentation's default precedence is MDM, server, file, then user settings. The sandbox key and the allow, ask, and deny keys under permissions are exceptions: they are combined in the most restrictive direction.

As preparation, consider listing target devices separately from signed-in accounts. Find development environments outside device management. For keys delivered through multiple methods, compare them against that order and its exceptions. Successful delivery and whether the client actually loaded the value need separate checks.

How should you prepare for sandbox minimum version enforcement?

The announcement also adds minimum supported client version enforcement to the sandbox key. When managed settings include it, users pinned to older clients must update before resuming Copilot use. The announcement gives no specific version number, so do not invent a numeric rollout requirement.

Before applying the policy, consider this test sequence.

1. Receive the server value on a supported client, then restart and check policy confirmation.
2. If enforcement before first sign-in is needed, test MDM or file delivery separately.
3. On a test device, check blocking and recovery when policy server confirmation fails.
4. Name an update owner and update path for devices pinned to older versions.

For restrictions that must remain available during connectivity failures, also review the documentation's device-based delivery guidance. Include responsibility for checking connectivity and policy delivery when a forced-refresh device is blocked. Official sources were checked on October 17, 2026.