Ask Mode

Now, let's look at the different modes Copilot can run in. There's a mode dropdown at the bottom of the chat window, and by default, there are three options: Ask, Plan, and Agent. We're going to work through all three.

Let's start with Ask mode. This is the simplest mode — it's basically just chatting back and forth with Copilot, like you would with ChatGPT or Claude on the web. In this mode, Copilot isn't going to edit any files or run any commands. It's purely conversation.

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One of the best things to do in Ask mode is to explore the codebase and ask targeted questions to help get yourself up and running.

✏️ Run this prompt

Tell me about the app and how to get it running on my machine

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This is exactly what Ask mode is for — talking to Copilot about the code in the app, gaining insight, and understanding what’s going on. Oftentimes, Copilot can replace the need for reading docs or setup instructions. It can actively read the files in the codebase, and it can answer almost any question you might have, straight from the source.

Importantly, every message you send includes the full conversation history, so Copilot remembers everything you've discussed. As you explore the codebase and ask clarifying questions, Copilot remembers what you’ve talked about and can bridge topics naturally.

Now ask about the Home page specifically:

✏️ Run this prompt

Where is the code for the Home page welcome message?

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Copilot should be able to point you to the exact line of code for whatever you want to change or inspect. Ask mode is optimized for conversation and won’t be able to make changes to code by itself.

✏️ Optional:

Manually change the welcome message on the site to something different and save the file.

Next: Tools