How to Fix Cursor AI Autocomplete Not Working (GitHub Copilot Conflict)

Are you excited to use Cursor AI, but frustrated because the autocomplete features (like Tab-to-accept) are suddenly not working? Or perhaps you are seeing weird, duplicated code suggestions overlapping each other?

You are not alone. This is a very common issue that happens when Cursor's built-in Copilot (Cursor Tab) conflicts with the official GitHub Copilot extension.

Since Cursor is built on top of VS Code, it automatically imports your existing extensions. If both autocomplete engines try to predict your code at the same time, they break each other.

In this quick guide, we’ll show you exactly how to fix this conflict and get your Cursor autocomplete working perfectly in less than 2 minutes.

The Root Cause: Why is Cursor Autocomplete Broken?

Cursor has its own powerful AI autocomplete feature called Cursor Tab (formerly Copilot++).

If you also have the GitHub Copilot extension enabled in Cursor, both systems will fight for control over your Tab key and your editor ghost text. This results in:

• The Tab key failing to accept suggestions.
• Double suggestions appearing on top of each other.
• Cursor AI completely freezing up.

To fix this, you need to choose one and disable the other's autocomplete functionality. Here is how to do it step-by-step.

Method 1: The Recommended Fix (Use Cursor Tab, Disable Copilot Autocomplete)

If you want to experience the full power of Cursor AI (including multi-line edits and smart rewrites), you should use Cursor Tab and disable GitHub Copilot's code completion.

💡 Note: You can still keep GitHub Copilot Chat active in your sidebar if you want to use both AI models!

Step 1: Open Cursor Settings

Press Ctrl + Shift + J (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Shift + J (Mac) to open the Cursor Settings panel.

Step 2: Ensure Cursor Tab is Enabled

1. Navigate to Features > Cursor Tab.
2. Make sure the toggle for Cursor Tab is turned ON.

Step 3: Disable GitHub Copilot's Ghost Text

1. Open your standard VS Code settings inside Cursor by pressing Ctrl + , (Windows) or Cmd + , (Mac).
2. Search for github.copilot.inlineSuggest.enable in the search bar.
3. Uncheck the box (set it to false).

This completely stops GitHub Copilot from interfering with Cursor's native inline suggestions.

Method 2: Alternative Fix (Use GitHub Copilot, Disable Cursor Tab)

If you prefer GitHub Copilot's suggestions over Cursor's native engine but still want to use Cursor for its "Chat" and "Composer" features, you can turn off Cursor Tab.

1. Open Cursor Settings (Cmd + Shift + J or Ctrl + Shift + J).
2. Go to Features > Cursor Tab.
3. Toggle the switch to OFF.

Now, Cursor will strictly use the GitHub Copilot extension for all inline code completions.

Still Not Working? Try This Quick Reset

If you applied the fixes above and the autocomplete is still dead, try these two quick troubleshooting steps:

1. Restart the Language Server: Open the Command Palette (Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + P), type Developer: Reload Window, and hit Enter.
2. Check Your Subscription/Quota: Cursor Tab requires a free trial or a Pro subscription. Go to Cursor Settings > Account to make sure you haven't hit your free monthly limit.

Wrap Up

By separating Cursor Tab and GitHub Copilot, you remove the key conflict that freezes the editor. For the best experience, we highly recommend Method 1, as Cursor Tab is specifically optimized for this editor.

Did this fix your issue? Let us know in the comments below which AI setup you prefer!