# Choosing an autonomy default

Autonomy controls how much an agent does before asking you. You set a machine-wide default during onboarding, and you can override it per session from the composer.

## The three defaults

- Ask first — the safest mode. The agent pauses for your approval before every file edit and shell command.
- Auto-approve edits — edits to files apply on their own, but the agent still asks before running anything risky.
- Autopilot — the agent works end-to-end and only stops when it needs a real decision from you.

## Overriding per session

The default applies to new sessions. Inside any session, the autonomy pill on the left of the composer lets you switch modes — Ask permissions, Accept edits, Auto, or Bypass — for that conversation only. See Autonomy modes.

> Start cautiousNew to agents? Start on Ask first until you trust a workflow, then raise autonomy where it saves you time.