Visual Studio Code 1.135 (Insiders)

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Last updated: August 23, 2026
Welcome to the 1.135 Insiders release of Visual Studio Code.
These release notes cover the Insiders build of VS Code and continue to evolve as new features are added.
You can still track our progress in the Commit log and our list of Closed issues.
Happy Coding!
August 23, 2026
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Simplified header that prioritizes the session title and workspace context. Session and chat actions are grouped in an overflow menu, metadata appears above the chat input, and tabs appear only for multiple chats. #329321: Chats system model - Simplified Agents session header
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The duplicate search box is removed from each session header to reduce clutter. #327581: Chats system model: Search bar with session title is redundant, session header needs simplification
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When a session and its first chat share a name, the UI shows the title once, leaving more room for the conversation. #327579: Chats system model: Session name and chat name are same resulting into redundancy in the UI
August 18, 2026
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Add support for keeping the configured Copilot agent sandbox policy applied across approval modes, and honor enterprise-managed sandbox settings in the permissions UI so security controls stay consistent. #330773: Update sandbox slider for copilot harness
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Add support for using the mouse Back button to return from a stacked agent chat to the sessions list instead of navigating editor history. #331125: Chat: Use mouse Back to return to the agent sessions list
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Add support for routing lightweight voice requests, such as direct answers and app actions, without turning them into coding tasks. Voice interactions can continue while an agent session is already running. #329490: Voice mode: distinguish direct answers and app actions from coding requests
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Add support for muting the microphone and toggling live transcription from the voice UI, so you can pause speech capture or reduce transcript noise without ending the session. #331367: Add mute-mic button and transcription controls for ChatGPT voice mode
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Add support for referring to known projects by display name, project URI, or multi-root workspace context when creating or listing agent sessions. Delegated work starts in the intended workspace without requiring an exact path. #330948: Improve workspace resolution for agent orchestration
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Add support for OS notifications when agent sessions need input, finish, or fail. Select a notification to open the correct window and session, so you can track long-running work across VS Code windows. #317195: Notify when Copilot agent sessions need attention or finish
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Add support for starting dictation from the editor and terminal context menus, making speech input easier to discover where you are already working. #331368: Add dictation entry point to editor and terminal context menus
August 17, 2026
- Add support for using the Copilot Agent Host with a bring-your-own-key (BYOK) model while signed out of GitHub. #331180: Test: No Auth scenarios with Copilot Agent Host Harness
We really appreciate people trying our new features as soon as they are ready, so check back here often and learn what's new.

Facts Only

* Visual Studio Code version 1.135 (Insiders) was released on August 23, 2026.
* A simplified header was implemented to prioritize session titles and workspace context, grouping session/chat actions in an overflow menu.
* Duplicate search boxes were removed from each session header to reduce clutter.
* The UI addresses redundancy when a session name and chat name are identical.
* Support was added for applying configured Copilot agent sandbox policies across approval modes and honoring enterprise-managed sandbox settings.
* Mouse Back button support allows returning from a stacked agent chat to the sessions list.
* Voice requests can be routed without becoming coding tasks, allowing concurrent agent sessions.
* Controls were added to mute the microphone and toggle live transcription in voice mode.
* Agent sessions can be created or listed by referring to known projects using display names, URIs, or multi-root workspace context.
* OS notifications are supported for agent sessions needing input, finishing, or failing.
* Dictation entry points were added to editor and terminal context menus.
* Support was added for using the Copilot Agent Host with a bring-your-own-key (BYOK) model while signed out of GitHub.

Executive Summary

Visual Studio Code version 1.135 (Insiders) was released on August 23, 2026. The release notes detail several updates related to the Copilot Agent system, voice interactions, and user interface refinements. Key changes include simplifying the header design by grouping session and chat actions into an overflow menu and reducing redundant search boxes in session headers. New features introduced involve expanded agent capabilities, such as supporting the use of a mouse Back button to navigate to the sessions list, routing lightweight voice requests (like direct answers or app actions) without initiating coding tasks, and adding controls for muting microphones during voice mode. Furthermore, the updates include managing Copilot agent sandbox policies consistently across approval modes, allowing reference to projects via display name or URI when creating sessions, and adding OS notifications for tracking long-running agent sessions.

Full Take

The release focuses heavily on enhancing the operational flow and security governance surrounding the integrated AI agent features within VS Code, signaling a shift toward more robust, context-aware, and multimodal interaction patterns. The focus on simplifying the UI elements—removing redundant search bars and streamlining headers—suggests an underlying recognition that complexity hinders workflow efficiency; this is an effort to make advanced agent orchestration feel native rather than bolted on. The introduction of features like bidirectional voice control, context-aware project referencing for agents, and OS-level session notifications moves the AI integration from a purely textual coding assistant into a persistent, system-aware agent environment. This progression implies that future iterations will focus less on feature parity and more on seamless state management across disparate input modalities (text, voice, system events). The concern raised by managing sandbox policies consistently across modes suggests an increasing need for explicit, cross-contextual security boundaries in AI tooling. The pattern emerging is a move toward treating the agent session as a primary, persistent entity requiring ambient awareness and fluid control, which shifts the burden of complexity from the user to the system architecture itself. What are the implications when operational state—like voice transcription or sandbox permissions—is integrated directly into the core application shell? How does this new multimodal context management change the assumptions about developer control versus autonomous agent action?

Sentinel — Human

Confidence

This text appears to be authentic release notes from a software project, characterized by technical specificity and a direct focus on implemented features.

Signals Detected

Slight variation in sentence structure and direct feature reporting; uses appropriate technical terminology.

Clear, functional release notes format with chronological updates; focuses purely on feature description.

Follows a standard software update log structure (version number, date, list of changes); specific issue numbers suggest internal tracking.

Claims are specific feature updates from an identifiable product (VS Code) and reference specific internal ticket numbers; text feels like genuine developer communication.

Human Indicators

The tone is informal yet technical, characteristic of a software developer release announcement directed at a specific community.

The content details incremental feature changes tied to version releases and internal tracking numbers (#329321, #330773), suggesting an authentic development cycle.