Authorization error. Your credentials may be expired or invalid-please help

[TorkelRunarson]

🏷️ Discussion Type

Question

💬 Feature/Topic Area

Copilot in GitHub

Body

I have just renewed my monthly subscription to GitHub copilot and I am getting an Authorization error message whenever I try to continue an ongoing session: Authorization error. Your credentials may be expired or invalid. (Request ID: 4BD6:4DCDD:6C1D95:755AE6:6ABE5913) can someone help me resolve this please?

[kurupdevs]

Renewing your subscription does not refresh the token cached in your editor, so the IDE keeps trying with the old expired one. In VS Code, open the command palette and run GitHub Copilot: Sign Out, then sign back in and restart VS Code. That pulls a fresh token tied to your renewed subscription. It is also worth checking github.com/settings/copilot to make sure the plan actually shows as active, since a renewal can take a little while to take effect. If the error is still there after that, it would help to know which editor you are using.

[PythonAlpha]

This looks like an authentication/token issue rather than a problem with your renewed subscription. GitHub recommends signing out of Copilot and signing back in to request a fresh authentication token.

If you're using VS Code, try:

1. Click the Accounts icon in the bottom-left.
2. Sign out of your GitHub account.
3. Open the Command Palette ("Ctrl+Shift+P") and run Developer: Reload Window.
4. Sign back in to the same GitHub account that has the Copilot subscription.
5. Try continuing the session again.

Also check your GitHub Copilot settings to make sure the renewed plan is actually active. If the subscription is active but the authorization error continues, update VS Code and the Copilot extension, then check the Copilot output/logs for additional errors.

If none of that works, I'd contact GitHub Support and include the Request ID "4BD6:4DCDD:6C1D95:755AE6:6ABE5913", your editor/version, and the exact steps that reproduce the problem.

[arul637]

That specific "Authorization error" message usually means your GitHub session or the authorization link has timed out or become invalid during the Student Pack activation flow.

Here is how to clear this error and get back on track:

• Clear your session: Log out of GitHub completely, clear your browser's cache and cookies, and log back in . This forces a fresh authentication handshake with the education servers.
• Restart the flow: Go directly to the GitHub Education benefits page and try clicking the activation link again. Avoid using any old bookmark or stale email link.
• Verify account status: Ensure your primary email on GitHub matches the academic email you are trying to use, as a mismatch can break the authorization process .

If you continue to see this error after a fresh login, it may indicate your account is flagged in the backend system. In that case, you will need to open a support ticket and explain that you are getting an authorization error during the redemption process .

[stephenhanks]

Signing out of GitHub Copilot and signing back in is worth trying first, as it usually refreshes the expired authentication token.