windows.md Codex Docs, 2026-04-12 06:38 UTC → 2026-04-13 00:44 UTC

14 14 

15- natively on Windows with the stronger `elevated` sandbox,15- natively on Windows with the stronger `elevated` sandbox,

16- natively on Windows with the fallback `unelevated` sandbox,16- natively on Windows with the fallback `unelevated` sandbox,

17- or inside [Windows Subsystem for Linux](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install) (WSL), which uses the Linux sandbox implementation.17- or inside [Windows Subsystem for Linux 2](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install) (WSL2), which uses the Linux sandbox implementation.

18 18 

19## Windows sandbox19## Windows sandbox

20 20 

85 85 

86The path must be an existing absolute directory. After the command succeeds, later commands that run in the sandbox can read that directory during the current session.86The path must be an existing absolute directory. After the command succeeds, later commands that run in the sandbox can read that directory during the current session.

87 87 

88We recommend using the native Windows sandbox by default. The native Windows sandbox will offer the best perfomance and highest speeds while keeping the same security. Choose WSL when you88We recommend using the native Windows sandbox by default. The native Windows sandbox will offer the best perfomance and highest speeds while keeping the same security. Choose WSL2 when you

89need a Linux-native environment on Windows, when your workflow already lives in89need a Linux-native environment on Windows, when your workflow already lives in

90WSL, or when neither native Windows sandbox mode meets your needs.90WSL2, or when neither native Windows sandbox mode meets your needs.

91 91 

92## Windows Subsystem for Linux92## Windows Subsystem for Linux

93 93 

94If you choose WSL, Codex runs inside the Linux environment instead of using the94If you choose WSL2, Codex runs inside the Linux environment instead of using the

95native Windows sandbox. This is useful if you need Linux-native tooling on95native Windows sandbox. This is useful if you need Linux-native tooling on

96Windows, if your repositories and developer workflow already live in WSL, or96Windows, if your repositories and developer workflow already live in WSL2, or

97if neither native Windows sandbox mode works for your environment.97if neither native Windows sandbox mode works for your environment.

98 98 

99WSL1 was supported through Codex `0.114`. Starting in Codex `0.115`, the Linux

100sandbox moved to `bubblewrap`, so WSL1 is no longer supported.

101 

99### Launch VS Code from inside WSL102### Launch VS Code from inside WSL

100 103 

101For step-by-step instructions, see the [official VS Code WSL tutorial](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/remote/wsl-tutorial).104For step-by-step instructions, see the [official VS Code WSL tutorial](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/remote/wsl-tutorial).