How to uninstall GitHub Copilot CLI on a Mac, and the two copies Homebrew keeps
brew uninstall removes Copilot CLI's 128 MB, and ~/.copilot keeps sessions and skills. The commands, what each folder holds, and how to sign out first.
How do I uninstall Copilot CLI on a Mac?
brew uninstall --cask copilot-cliOn our Mac copilot was a link at /opt/homebrew/bin/copilot into /opt/homebrew/Caskroom/copilot-cli/0.0.400, 128 MB in all. If you installed it with npm instead, use npm uninstall -g @github/copilot. which -a copilot shows which you have.
What does Copilot CLI leave in ~/.copilot?
| Item | Size here | What it is |
|---|---|---|
pkg | 45 MB | Downloaded runtime |
skills | 2.1 MB | Skills you added |
session-state | 604 KB | Saved sessions |
config.json, mcp-config.json, history | a few KB | Settings and MCP servers |
48 MB in all on our Mac. Homebrew never touches it. Move ~/.copilot to the Trash to finish.
Do I need to sign out first?
Your GitHub sign in is stored for the CLI, and on a Mac that usually means the login keychain rather than a file you can see. Signing out inside the CLI before uninstalling removes it cleanly; otherwise open Keychain Access and search for copilot.
Find what is left in one look
Free Mac shows ~/.copilot and Homebrew's Caskroom on the Storage map and moves what you pick to the Trash. Other Homebrew leftovers are covered in what brew zap leaves; other assistants in AI coding tools taking up space.
Related: uninstall Windsurf and uninstall OpenClaw.
Common questions
Does brew uninstall remove the .copilot folder?
No. Homebrew removes the program in its Caskroom only. ~/.copilot, with sessions, skills and settings, stays until you delete it.
How big is GitHub Copilot CLI on a Mac?
On our Mac, 128 MB for the program and 48 MB in ~/.copilot.
Does uninstalling the CLI remove Copilot from VS Code?
No. The VS Code extension is separate and is removed from VS Code's Extensions view.