Default Chat Mode Preference for New Chats
Open 💬 0 comments Opened Jun 16, 2026 by aravin-labs
What variant of Codex are you using?
App and IDE Extension
What feature would you like to see?
Feature Request: Default Chat Mode Preference for New Chats
Summary
Add an option to configure the default mode used whenever a new Codex chat is created. Users should be able to choose whether new chats start in standard mode, Plan mode, or Pursue Goal mode by default.
Problem
Today, users who consistently prefer Plan mode or Pursue Goal mode need to manually enable the desired mode each time they start a new chat. This adds repetitive setup friction, especially for users who rely on a consistent workflow across projects or sessions.
Proposed Enhancement
Introduce a setting that allows users to choose the default mode for new chats.
The setting should be configurable at two levels:
- Global default
- Applies to all new chats unless overridden.
- Project-level default
- Applies only to chats created within a specific project.
- Takes precedence over the global default when configured.
Suggested Options
Default mode for new chats:
- Standard mode
- Plan mode
- Pursue Goal mode
Expected Behavior
- When the user clicks “New Chat,” Codex should automatically start the chat in the configured default mode.
- If a project-level default is set, it should override the global default.
- If no project-level default is set, Codex should fall back to the global default.
- If no global preference is set, Codex should use the current default behavior.
Benefits
- Reduces repetitive manual setup.
- Supports users with consistent planning or goal-oriented workflows.
- Makes Codex more customizable for different project styles.
- Improves continuity for users who primarily work in Plan mode or Pursue Goal mode.
Acceptance Criteria
- Users can configure a global default chat mode.
- Users can configure a project-level default chat mode.
- Project-level settings override global settings.
- New chats automatically start in the selected mode.
- Existing chats are not unexpectedly changed by updating the default setting.
Additional information
_No response_