Plugin skill not activated until session restart after /plugin install

[pdebruin]

Summary

After installing a plugin with /plugin install, the skill appears in /skills list as enabled but does not activate on matching prompts until the Copilot CLI session is restarted.

Repro

1. Start a Copilot CLI session
2. Run /plugin install microsoftdocs/mcp
3. Plugin installs successfully: Plugin "microsoft-docs-marketplace" installed successfully.
4. Run /skills list — skill appears and shows as enabled (e.g., microsoft-docs)
5. Ask a prompt that should trigger the skill (e.g., "Search Microsoft docs for Azure Functions")
6. Actual: Skill does not activate. Agent falls back to web search or other tools.
7. Exit and restart Copilot CLI session
8. Ask the same prompt
9. Expected (and actual after restart): Skill activates correctly

Expected behavior

After /plugin install succeeds and /skills list shows the skill as enabled, the skill should be available for activation immediately — without requiring a session restart.

Environment

• Copilot CLI: 1.0.42
• OS: Ubuntu (WSL2)
• Node.js: 22.22.1

Notes

This is confusing for first-time users: the install reports success, the skill shows as enabled, but it silently does not work until restart. There is no message indicating a restart is needed.

[github-actions]

🟡 Contributor Reputation Check: MEDIUM risk

Check	Risk
Profile	MEDIUM
Credential audit	NONE

Maintainers: please review this contributor before merging.
See the workflow run for full details.
Automated check powered by AGT.