app/automations.md Codex Docs, 2026-02-24 06:27 UTC → 2026-05-13 00:57 UTC

1# Automations1# Automations

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3<div class="feature-grid">

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3Automate recurring tasks in the background. Codex adds findings to the inbox, or automatically archives the task if there's nothing to report. You can combine automations with [skills](https://developers.openai.com/codex/skills) for more complex tasks.7Automate recurring tasks in the background. Codex adds findings to the inbox, or automatically archives the task if there's nothing to report. You can combine automations with [skills](https://developers.openai.com/codex/skills) for more complex tasks.

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5Automations run locally in the Codex app. The app needs to be running, and the9For project-scoped automations, the app needs to be running, and the selected

6selected project needs to be available on disk.10project needs to be available on disk.

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8In Git repositories, each automation run starts in a new12In Git repositories, you can choose whether an automation runs in your local

9[worktree](https://developers.openai.com/codex/app/worktrees) so it doesn’t interfere with your main13project or on a new [worktree](https://developers.openai.com/codex/app/worktrees). Both options run in the

10checkout. In non-version-controlled projects, automations run directly in the14background. Worktrees keep automation changes separate from unfinished local

15work, while running in your local project can modify files you are still

16working on. In non-version-controlled projects, automations run directly in the

11project directory.17project directory.

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13![Automation creation form with schedule and prompt fields](/images/codex/app/create-automation-light.webp)19You can also leave the model and reasoning effort on their default settings, or

20choose them explicitly if you want more control over how the automation runs.

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22</div>

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24<CodexScreenshot

25 alt="Automation creation form with schedule and prompt fields"

26 lightSrc="/images/codex/app/codex-automations-light.webp"

27 darkSrc="/images/codex/app/codex-automations-dark.webp"

28 maxHeight="400px"

29/>

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31</div>

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15## Managing tasks33## Managing tasks

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17All automations and their runs can be found in the automations pane inside your Codex app sidebar.35Find all automations and their runs in the automations pane inside your Codex app sidebar.

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19The "Triage" section acts as your inbox. Automation runs with findings show up there, and you can filter your inbox to show all automation runs or only unread ones.37The "Triage" section acts as your inbox. Automation runs with findings show up there, and you can filter your inbox to show all automation runs or only unread ones.

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21When an automation runs in a Git repository, Codex uses a dedicated background [worktree](https://developers.openai.com/codex/app/features#worktree-support). In non-version-controlled projects, automations run directly in the project directory. Consider using Git to enable running on background worktrees. You can have the same automation run on multiple projects.39Standalone automations start fresh runs on a schedule and report results in

40Triage. Use them when each run should be independent or when one automation

41should run across one or more projects. If you need a custom cadence, choose a

42custom schedule and enter cron syntax.

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44For Git repositories, each automation can run either in your local project or

45on a dedicated background [worktree](https://developers.openai.com/codex/app/features#worktree-support). Use

46worktrees when you want to isolate automation changes from unfinished local

47work. Use local mode when you want the automation to work directly in your main

48checkout, keeping in mind that it can change files you are actively editing.

49In non-version-controlled projects, automations run directly in the project

50directory. You can have the same automation run on more than one project.

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23Automations use your default sandbox settings. In read-only mode, tool calls fail if they require modifying files, network access, or working with apps on your computer. With full access enabled, background automations carry elevated risk. You can adjust sandbox settings in [Settings](https://developers.openai.com/codex/app/settings) and selectively allowlist commands with [rules](https://developers.openai.com/codex/rules).52Automations use your default sandbox settings. In read-only mode, tool calls fail if they require modifying files, network access, or working with apps on your computer. With full access enabled, background automations carry elevated risk. You can adjust sandbox settings in [Settings](https://developers.openai.com/codex/app/settings) and selectively allowlist commands with [rules](https://developers.openai.com/codex/rules).

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25To keep automations maintainable and shareable across teams, you can use [skills](https://developers.openai.com/codex/skills) to define the action and provide tools and context to Codex. You can explicitly trigger a skill as part of an automation by using `$skill-name` inside your automation.54Automations can use the same plugins and skills available to Codex. To keep

55automations maintainable and shareable across teams, use [skills](https://developers.openai.com/codex/skills)

56to define the action and provide tools and context. You can explicitly trigger a

57skill as part of an automation by using `$skill-name` inside your automation.

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59## Ask Codex to create or update automations

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61You can create and update automations from a regular Codex thread. Describe the

62task, the schedule, and whether the automation should stay attached to the

63current thread or start fresh runs. Codex can draft the automation prompt, choose

64the right automation type, and update it when the scope or cadence changes.

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66For example, ask Codex to remind you in this thread while a deployment finishes,

67or ask it to create a standalone automation that checks a project on a recurring

68schedule.

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70Skills can also create or update automations. For example, a skill for

71babysitting a pull request could set up a recurring automation that checks the

72PR status with the GitHub plugin and fixes new review feedback.

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74## Thread automations

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76Thread automations are heartbeat-style recurring wake-up calls attached to the

77current thread. Use them when you want Codex to keep returning to the same

78conversation on a schedule.

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80Use a thread automation when the scheduled work should preserve the thread's

81context instead of starting from a new prompt each time.

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83Thread automations can use minute-based intervals for active follow-up loops,

84or daily and weekly schedules when you need a check-in at a specific time.

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86Thread automations are useful for:

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88- checking a long-running command until it finishes

89- polling Slack, GitHub, or another connected source when the results should

90 stay in the same thread

91- reminding Codex to continue a review loop at a fixed cadence

92- running a skill-driven workflow that uses plugins, such as checking PR status

93 and addressing new feedback

94- keeping a chat focused on an ongoing research or triage task

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96Use a standalone or project automation when each run should be independent,

97when it should run across more than one project, or when findings should appear

98as separate automation runs in Triage.

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100When you create a thread automation, make the prompt durable. It should

101describe what Codex should do each time the thread wakes up, how to decide

102whether there is anything important to report, and when to stop or ask you for

103input.

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27## Testing automations safely105## Test automations

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29Before you schedule an automation, test the prompt manually in a regular thread107Before you schedule an automation, test the prompt manually in a regular thread

30first. This helps you confirm:108first. This helps you confirm:

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32- The prompt is clear and scoped correctly.110- The prompt is clear and scoped correctly.

33- The selected model and tools behave as expected.111- The selected or default model, reasoning effort, and tools behave as expected.

34- The resulting diff is reviewable.112- The resulting diff is reviewable.

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36When you start scheduling runs, review the first few outputs closely and adjust114When you start scheduling runs, review the first few outputs and adjust the

37the prompt or cadence as needed.115prompt or cadence as needed.

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39## Worktree cleanup for automations117## Worktree cleanup for automations

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41For Git repositories, automations run in worktrees. Frequent schedules can119If you choose worktrees for Git repositories, frequent schedules can create

42create many worktrees over time. Archive automation runs you no longer need,120many worktrees over time. Archive automation runs you no longer need, and avoid

43and avoid pinning runs unless you intend to keep their worktrees.121pinning runs unless you intend to keep their worktrees.

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45## Permissions and security model123## Permissions and security model

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47Automations are designed to run unattended and use your default sandbox125Automations run unattended and use your default sandbox settings.

48settings.

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50- If your sandbox mode is **read-only**, tool calls fail if they require127- If your sandbox mode is **read-only**, tool calls fail if they require

51 modifying files, accessing network, or working with apps on your computer.128 modifying files, accessing network, or working with apps on your computer.

55 on your computer. You can selectively allowlist commands to run outside the132 on your computer. You can selectively allowlist commands to run outside the

56 sandbox using [rules](https://developers.openai.com/codex/rules).133 sandbox using [rules](https://developers.openai.com/codex/rules).

57- If your sandbox mode is **full access**, background automations carry134- If your sandbox mode is **full access**, background automations carry

58 elevated risk, as Codex may modify files, run commands, and access network135 elevated risk, as Codex may change files, run commands, and access network

59 without asking. Consider updating sandbox settings to workspace write, and136 without asking. Consider updating sandbox settings to workspace write, and

60 using [rules](https://developers.openai.com/codex/rules) to selectively define which commands the agent137 using [rules](https://developers.openai.com/codex/rules) to selectively define which commands the agent

61 can run with full access.138 can run with full access.

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63If you are in a managed environment, admins can restrict these behaviors using140If you are in a managed environment, admins can restrict these behaviors using

64admin-enforced requirements. For example, they can disallow `approval_policy = "never"` or constrain allowed sandbox modes. See141admin-enforced requirements. For example, they can disallow `approval_policy =

142"never"` or constrain allowed sandbox modes. See

65[Admin-enforced requirements (`requirements.toml`)](https://developers.openai.com/codex/enterprise/managed-configuration#admin-enforced-requirements-requirementstoml).143[Admin-enforced requirements (`requirements.toml`)](https://developers.openai.com/codex/enterprise/managed-configuration#admin-enforced-requirements-requirementstoml).

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67Automations use `approval_policy = "never"` when your organization policy145Automations use `approval_policy = "never"` when your organization policy

68allows it. If `approval_policy = "never"` is disallowed by admin requirements,146allows it. If admin requirements disallow `approval_policy = "never"`,

69automations fall back to the approval behavior of your selected mode.147automations fall back to the approval behavior of your selected mode.

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71## Examples149## Examples