concepts/sandboxing.md Codex Docs, 2026-05-07 20:02 UTC → 2026-05-13 00:57 UTC

126the composer or chat input. That selector lets you rely on Codex's default126the composer or chat input. That selector lets you rely on Codex's default

127permissions, switch to full access, or use your custom configuration.127permissions, switch to full access, or use your custom configuration.

128 128 

129<div class="not-prose max-w-[22rem] mr-auto mb-6">129<PermissionModeSelectorDemo client:load />

130 <img src="https://developers.openai.com/images/codex/app/permissions-selector-light.webp"

131 alt="Codex app permissions selector showing Default permissions, Full access, and Custom (config.toml)"

132 class="block h-auto w-full mx-0!"

133 />

134</div>

135 130 

136In the CLI, use [`/permissions`](https://developers.openai.com/codex/cli/slash-commands#update-permissions-with-permissions)131In the CLI, use [`/permissions`](https://developers.openai.com/codex/cli/slash-commands#update-permissions-with-permissions)

137to switch modes during a session.132to switch modes during a session.

142configuration. Codex stores those defaults in `config.toml`, its local settings137configuration. Codex stores those defaults in `config.toml`, its local settings

143file. [Config basics](https://developers.openai.com/codex/config-basic) explains how it works, and the138file. [Config basics](https://developers.openai.com/codex/config-basic) explains how it works, and the

144[Configuration reference](https://developers.openai.com/codex/config-reference) documents the exact keys for139[Configuration reference](https://developers.openai.com/codex/config-reference) documents the exact keys for

145`sandbox_mode`, `approval_policy`, and140`sandbox_mode`, `approval_policy`, `approvals_reviewer`, and

146`sandbox_workspace_write.writable_roots`. Use those settings to decide how much141`sandbox_workspace_write.writable_roots`. Use those settings to decide how much

147autonomy Codex gets by default, which directories it can write to, and when it142autonomy Codex gets by default, which directories it can write to, when it

148should pause for approval.143should pause for approval, and who reviews eligible approval requests.

149 144 

150At a high level, the common sandbox modes are:145At a high level, the common sandbox modes are:

151 146 

166 needs to go beyond that boundary.161 needs to go beyond that boundary.

167- `never`: Codex doesn't stop for approval prompts.162- `never`: Codex doesn't stop for approval prompts.

168 163 

164When approvals are interactive, you can also choose who reviews them with

165`approvals_reviewer`:

166 

167- `user`: approval prompts surface to the user. This is the default.

168- `auto_review`: eligible approval prompts go to a reviewer agent (see

169 [Auto-review](https://developers.openai.com/codex/concepts/sandboxing/auto-review)).

170 

169Full access means using `sandbox_mode = "danger-full-access"` together with171Full access means using `sandbox_mode = "danger-full-access"` together with

170`approval_policy = "never"`. By contrast, the lower-risk local automation172`approval_policy = "never"`. By contrast, the lower-risk local automation

171preset is `sandbox_mode = "workspace-write"` together with173preset is `sandbox_mode = "workspace-write"` together with

172`approval_policy = "on-request"`, or the matching CLI flags174`approval_policy = "on-request"`, or the matching CLI flags

173`--sandbox workspace-write --ask-for-approval on-request`.175`--sandbox workspace-write --ask-for-approval on-request`. You can then keep

176`approvals_reviewer = "user"` for manual approvals or set

177`approvals_reviewer = "auto_review"` for automatic approval review.

174 178 

175If you need Codex to work across more than one directory, writable roots let179If you need Codex to work across more than one directory, writable roots let

176you extend the places it can modify without removing the sandbox entirely. If180you extend the places it can modify without removing the sandbox entirely. If

193[Codex app features](https://developers.openai.com/codex/app/features#approvals-and-sandboxing), and for the197[Codex app features](https://developers.openai.com/codex/app/features#approvals-and-sandboxing), and for the

194IDE-specific settings entry points, see [Codex IDE extension settings](https://developers.openai.com/codex/ide/settings).198IDE-specific settings entry points, see [Codex IDE extension settings](https://developers.openai.com/codex/ide/settings).

195 199 

196Automatic review, when available, doesn't change the sandbox boundary. It200Automatic review, when available, does not change the sandbox boundary. It is

197reviews approval requests, such as sandbox escalations or network access, while201one possible `approvals_reviewer` for approval requests at that boundary, such

198actions already allowed inside the sandbox run without extra review. See202as sandbox escalations, blocked network access, or side-effecting tool calls

199[Automatic approval reviews](https://developers.openai.com/codex/agent-approvals-security#automatic-approval-reviews)203that still need approval. Actions already allowed inside the sandbox run

200for the policy behavior.204without extra review. For the reviewer lifecycle, trigger types, denial

205semantics, and configuration details, see

206[Auto-review](https://developers.openai.com/codex/concepts/sandboxing/auto-review).

201 207 

202Platform details live in the platform-specific docs. For native Windows setup,208Platform details live in the platform-specific docs. For native Windows setup,

203behavior, and troubleshooting, see [Windows](https://developers.openai.com/codex/windows). For admin209behavior, and troubleshooting, see [Windows](https://developers.openai.com/codex/windows). For admin