> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/openai/codex/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Global Options

> Global command-line options available across all Codex CLI commands

## Overview

Global options can be used with any Codex CLI command. They are processed before subcommands and affect the behavior of the entire CLI session.

## Configuration Override

<ParamField path="-c, --config" type="string" repeatable>
  Override configuration values using key=value pairs. Can be specified multiple times.

  **Examples:**

  ```bash theme={null}
  codex -c model=gpt-4.1 -c sandbox_mode=workspace-write
  codex exec -c features.js_repl=true "test the app"
  ```

  Common configuration keys:

  * `model` - Override the AI model
  * `sandbox_mode` - Control sandbox restrictions
  * `approval_policy` - Set approval mode
  * `features.<name>` - Toggle feature flags
</ParamField>

## Profile Selection

<ParamField path="-p, --profile" type="string">
  Select a configuration profile from config.toml

  **Example:**

  ```bash theme={null}
  codex --profile production
  codex exec --profile experimental "refactor utils"
  ```

  Profiles allow you to maintain different sets of configuration for different use cases (development, production, experimental, etc.).
</ParamField>

## Working Directory

<ParamField path="-C, --cwd" type="path">
  Change the working directory before executing the command

  **Example:**

  ```bash theme={null}
  codex -C /path/to/project "fix tests"
  codex --cwd ~/projects/app exec "run linter"
  ```
</ParamField>

## Model Selection

<ParamField path="-m, --model" type="string">
  Specify the AI model to use for the session

  **Example:**

  ```bash theme={null}
  codex -m gpt-4.1
  codex --model o4-mini "explain this code"
  ```

  Common models:

  * `o4-mini` - Fast, efficient reasoning model (default)
  * `gpt-4.1` - Advanced reasoning and coding
  * `o3` - Advanced reasoning model with extended thinking
</ParamField>

## Open Source Models

<ParamField path="--oss" type="boolean">
  Use open-source models instead of proprietary models

  **Example:**

  ```bash theme={null}
  codex --oss "help me debug"
  ```
</ParamField>

## Sandbox Control

<ParamField path="--sandbox" type="enum">
  Control the sandbox mode for command execution

  **Options:**

  * `workspace-write` - Allow writes within the workspace directory
  * `full-access` - Allow full filesystem access (use with caution)

  **Example:**

  ```bash theme={null}
  codex --sandbox workspace-write
  codex exec --sandbox full-access "system diagnostic"
  ```
</ParamField>

## Approval Policy

<ParamField path="--ask-for-approval" type="enum">
  Set when the agent should ask for approval before executing commands

  **Options:**

  * `on-request` - Ask for approval when the agent requests it
  * `always` - Always ask before executing any command
  * `never` - Never ask (use with caution)

  **Example:**

  ```bash theme={null}
  codex --ask-for-approval always
  codex exec --ask-for-approval never "run tests"
  ```
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--full-auto" type="boolean">
  Enable fully automatic mode (equivalent to `--ask-for-approval never`)

  **Example:**

  ```bash theme={null}
  codex --full-auto "create a todo app"
  ```

  <Warning>
    In full-auto mode, commands execute automatically. Use in sandboxed environments or Git-tracked directories.
  </Warning>
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--dangerously-bypass-approvals-and-sandbox" type="boolean">
  Bypass both approval prompts and sandbox restrictions

  <Warning>
    **DANGEROUS:** This option removes all safety guardrails. Only use in completely isolated test environments.
  </Warning>
</ParamField>

## Web Search

<ParamField path="--search" type="boolean">
  Enable web search capabilities for the agent

  **Example:**

  ```bash theme={null}
  codex --search "find the latest React best practices"
  ```
</ParamField>

## Image Input

<ParamField path="-i, --images" type="string">
  Provide image files as input (comma-separated paths)

  **Example:**

  ```bash theme={null}
  codex -i screenshot.png "implement this UI"
  codex --images "design.png,mockup.png" "create components"
  ```
</ParamField>

## Directory Context

<ParamField path="--add-dir" type="string" repeatable>
  Add directories to the agent's context (can be specified multiple times)

  **Example:**

  ```bash theme={null}
  codex --add-dir src --add-dir tests
  codex --add-dir lib "explain the architecture"
  ```
</ParamField>

## Version Information

<ParamField path="--version" type="boolean">
  Display the Codex CLI version

  **Example:**

  ```bash theme={null}
  codex --version
  ```
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="--help" type="boolean">
  Display help information

  **Example:**

  ```bash theme={null}
  codex --help
  codex exec --help
  ```
</ParamField>

## Combining Options

Global options can be combined to create powerful workflows:

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash High-Performance Dev Mode theme={null}
  codex -m gpt-4.1 --profile dev -C ~/project --search
  ```

  ```bash Safe Experimentation theme={null}
  codex --sandbox workspace-write --ask-for-approval always
  ```

  ```bash Full Auto with Features theme={null}
  codex --full-auto --enable js_repl -c model=o4-mini
  ```

  ```bash Multi-Directory Context theme={null}
  codex --add-dir src --add-dir tests --add-dir docs \
    "document the API"
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## Order of Precedence

When the same option is specified in multiple places, Codex uses this priority:

1. Command-line flags (highest priority)
2. `-c` config overrides
3. Environment variables
4. Profile settings (from `--profile`)
5. `config.toml` base configuration
6. Built-in defaults (lowest priority)

## Related

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Feature Flags" icon="flag" href="/cli/feature-flags">
    Enable experimental features
  </Card>

  <Card title="Configuration" icon="gear" href="/configuration/overview">
    Learn about config.toml
  </Card>
</CardGroup>