Kimi for Copilot Chat
Use Kimi and Moonshot models from the normal Copilot Chat model picker.
This extension is a BYOK provider. It does not add a second chat sidebar or a local proxy. Pick a Kimi model in Copilot Chat and keep using Copilot's agent mode, tools, instructions, and MCP setup.
Repository: https://github.com/lucatotem/Kimi-Extension
What It Adds
- Kimi models in the Copilot Chat model picker
- API key storage through VS Code SecretStorage
- Optional one-time import from
KIMI_API_KEY or MOONSHOT_API_KEY
- A switchable API mode for Kimi Platform, Kimi Code Plan, or custom proxies
- Native Copilot thinking blocks for Kimi
reasoning_content
- Tool calls and tool results for agent mode
- Image and video content for Kimi models that support multimodal input
- Optional model discovery through Kimi's
/v1/models endpoint
- Model ID overrides for compatible proxies
Models
The bundled picker entries are based on the current Kimi model list:
| Model |
Use for |
| Kimi Code |
Kimi Code subscription/coding-plan users. Uses kimi-for-coding. |
| Kimi K3 |
Flagship model for software engineering, knowledge work, deep reasoning, and vision. Supports 1M context and configurable reasoning effort. |
| Kimi K2.7 Code |
Coding and agent tasks. Thinking is always on. |
| Kimi K2.7 Code High-Speed |
Same coding model and 256K context, served at higher output speed. |
| Kimi K2.6 |
General coding, agent tasks, text, image, and video. Thinking can be turned off. |
| Kimi K2.5 |
Previous K2 model with thinking and multimodal input. |
| Moonshot V1 8K / 32K / 128K |
Text generation at different context lengths. |
| Moonshot V1 Vision 8K / 32K / 128K |
Image understanding with text output. |
Kimi K2.5 and the Moonshot V1 series remain available to existing accounts, but Kimi has stopped enabling them for newly registered users and plans a platform-wide sunset on August 31, 2026.
When an API key is configured, the extension can also merge models returned by GET /v1/models.
API Modes
Use Kimi: Switch API Mode or the kimi-copilot.apiMode setting to choose the backend:
| Mode |
Endpoint |
Key command |
Notes |
| Kimi Platform (Pay as you go) |
https://api.moonshot.ai/v1 |
Kimi: Set API Key |
Default mode for existing pay-as-you-go API keys. |
| Kimi Code Plan |
https://api.kimi.com/coding/v1 |
Kimi: Set Kimi Code API Key |
Uses the kimi-for-coding model ID required by the Kimi Code endpoint. |
| Custom Base URL |
kimi-copilot.baseUrl |
Kimi: Set API Key |
For OpenAI-compatible proxies or manually configured endpoints. |
Switching modes does not delete stored keys. The regular pay-as-you-go key is stored separately from the Kimi Code key, so users can move between modes without re-entering the other key.
To use a Kimi Code subscription plan:
- Run
Kimi: Switch API Mode.
- Choose
Kimi Code Plan.
- Run
Kimi: Set Kimi Code API Key.
- Run
Kimi: Refresh Models or reload VS Code.
- Pick
Kimi Code from the Copilot Chat model picker.
For diagnostics, run Kimi: Test Connection and then Kimi: Show Logs. The test reports whether the endpoint returned an HTTP status, or whether the request failed before reaching HTTP.
Thinking
Kimi thinking models stream reasoning_content before the final answer. The extension reports those chunks as Copilot thinking parts, so they render separately from the response.
The Copilot model picker shows a Thinking control where Kimi supports it:
| Value |
Kimi request |
| None |
thinking: { "type": "disabled" } on K2.6/K2.5 |
| Low |
reasoning_effort: "low" on K3 |
| High |
Uses reasoning_effort: "high" on K3; otherwise sends thinking: { "type": "enabled" } |
| Max |
Uses reasoning_effort: "max" on K3; otherwise enables thinking and uses keep: "all" where supported |
Kimi K3 always thinks and accepts low, high, or max reasoning effort. Kimi K2.7 Code and its High-Speed variant also cannot disable thinking.
Commands
| Command |
What it does |
Kimi: Switch API Mode |
Choose Kimi Platform, Kimi Code Plan, or Custom Base URL |
Kimi: Set API Key |
Store your Kimi Platform or custom endpoint API key |
Kimi: Set Kimi Code API Key |
Store your Kimi Code subscription API key |
Kimi: Open API Keys |
Open the Kimi API key page |
Kimi: Clear API Key |
Remove the stored Kimi Platform/custom key |
Kimi: Clear Kimi Code API Key |
Remove only the stored Kimi Code key |
Kimi: Open Settings |
Open extension settings |
Kimi: Show Logs |
Open the Kimi output channel |
Kimi: Test Connection |
Test /models and write the HTTP result or fetch failure cause to logs |
Kimi: Open Request Dumps Folder |
Open verbose request dumps |
Kimi: Refresh Models |
Clear the model cache and run discovery again |
Settings
| Setting |
Default |
Notes |
kimi-copilot.apiMode |
platform |
Selects Kimi Platform, Kimi Code Plan, or Custom Base URL. |
kimi-copilot.baseUrl |
https://api.moonshot.ai/v1 |
Used when apiMode is custom. Older installs with a custom baseUrl and no apiMode setting keep using that URL. |
kimi-copilot.maxTokens |
0 |
0 leaves the output limit to the API default. |
kimi-copilot.enableModelDiscovery |
true |
Adds models returned by /v1/models when a key is set. Kimi Code mode uses the bundled Kimi Code preset instead. |
kimi-copilot.modelIdOverrides |
official IDs |
Maps picker entries to API model IDs. |
kimi-copilot.debugMode |
minimal |
verbose writes full request dumps. Use it only while diagnosing issues. |
API Key Storage
Use Kimi: Set API Key once for Kimi Platform or custom endpoints. Use Kimi: Set Kimi Code API Key for the Kimi Code plan. Both keys are stored with VS Code SecretStorage, which uses the operating system keychain where VS Code supports it.
You can also start VS Code with one of these environment variables set:
KIMI_API_KEY=sk-...
MOONSHOT_API_KEY=sk-...
KIMI_CODE_API_KEY=sk-...
When the extension sees one of those variables and no matching key is already stored, it imports the value into SecretStorage. KIMI_API_KEY and MOONSHOT_API_KEY import into the regular key slot; KIMI_CODE_API_KEY imports into the Kimi Code key slot. After that, you do not need to recreate or re-enter the key each time you use the extension.
Development
npm install
npm run compile
Press F5 in VS Code to launch an Extension Development Host.
Notes
Kimi rejects empty user messages. This extension drops empty text-only messages and preserves assistant tool calls with empty content, which is the shape expected by OpenAI-compatible tool-calling APIs.
Development note: this extension was built by ivanray with AI assistance. The goal is to match the Copilot Chat BYOK provider experience while keeping the Kimi-specific request handling clear and reviewable.
License
MIT
