Claude Code or Codex: Which Agent Needs You?

Updated 9 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

When Claude Code or Codex is working in a repository, it may pause because it needs a decision, permission, clarification, or a check only you can perform. Use the signals in its latest message and the tool’s session controls to identify the request, then answer only what is needed so work can continue safely.

What You’ll Need

An open Claude Code or Codex session connected to the project you want it to work on.
Access to the terminal or app where the session is running, so you can read its latest status and respond.
A basic understanding of the task and any constraints that matter, such as files it should not change or commands it should not run.

Step-by-Step

Check which session is asking. If you have more than one agent running, find the terminal, editor panel, or app conversation that displays the request. Check the repository or working directory shown there. Do not answer from a different session just because its request looks similar.
Read the latest message from top to bottom. Look for an explicit question, a permission prompt, a proposed action, or a clear statement that the agent is blocked. Read enough preceding context to understand what it was trying to do. A line such as “I’m investigating” is usually a progress update, not a request for you to act.
Classify what it needs. Most interruptions fit one of these categories: a decision between alternatives; missing task details; approval to run a command or access a resource; help with an external step, such as signing in or completing a browser action; or a review of its changes. Identifying the category prevents you from supplying unrelated information or granting broader access than necessary.
Look for an actionable cue in the interface. Claude Code and Codex can be used in different interfaces and configurations, so do not rely on one exact label or button. A permission request may offer approve, reject, or similar controls. A conversational question may simply await a reply. Follow the prompt shown in your active session; if there is no clear control, enter a concise response in that session’s input area.
For a decision, choose or clarify the intended outcome. If the agent asks which of two approaches to use, state your preference and any deciding constraint. For example: “Keep the existing API; avoid adding a dependency.” If you do not know, ask it to explain the trade-offs or recommend an option before proceeding. Avoid answering only “yes” when the question does not make clear what you are approving.
For missing details, provide the smallest useful context. Give exact requirements such as expected behavior, relevant file or platform, reproduction steps, or a sample input and output. If you are unsure, say so and ask the agent to make a reversible assumption and report it. Never invent requirements just to clear a pause.
Review permission requests before accepting. Read the command or action, its target, and the reason given. Check whether it writes or deletes files, installs software, accesses a network, or uses credentials. Approve only the specific action you understand and need; otherwise reject it or ask for a safer alternative. Do not paste passwords, access tokens, or private keys into a conversation.
Complete external steps yourself when requested. If the agent cannot access a site, account, device, or confirmation screen, use the relevant app or system directly. Do not share sign-in secrets. Tell the agent when the step is complete and provide only the non-sensitive result it needs to continue.
Ask for a review when the request is unclear. If the agent says it is done but you do not know what to inspect, ask for a short summary of files changed, checks run, and anything still unresolved. Read the actual diff or output before relying on the result, especially when the change is important.
Confirm that the session has resumed. After you respond or approve an action, wait for the same session to continue. Check its next message for the action taken, any new blocker, and the final result. If it remains idle, see Troubleshooting rather than repeating approval in a different session.

Common Mistakes

Confusing a status update with a request. “I’ll inspect the tests” does not normally need a reply. Wait for a question or a tool prompt before intervening.
Approving without reading. A command can have effects beyond the current task. Understand its purpose and scope, and decline if you cannot tell what it will do.
Giving vague or conflicting directions. “Make it better” does not resolve a choice. State the desired behavior and any limits, and keep instructions consistent with what you asked earlier.
Responding in the wrong place. A reply in another terminal or conversation will not unblock the session that raised the request. Match the question to its project and active session.
Assuming every interruption is the same across tools. Controls and wording vary by interface, configuration, and task. Follow the prompt you actually see instead of relying on instructions for another setup.

Tips

Keep answers brief but specific: decision, relevant constraint, and any required context.
Ask the agent to explain a proposed command or its alternatives if the consequences are unclear.
For work that should not change files, say so explicitly and ask for a plan or explanation only.
When approving a step, prefer the narrowest option offered that allows the task to proceed.
At the end, check the summary and changed files yourself; a completed run is not the same as a verified result.

Troubleshooting

The agent appears stuck, but there is no question. Check whether it is still running a command or producing output. If it has stopped, send a short prompt in that session asking what it is waiting for and whether it needs input. Avoid starting a duplicate task until you know the original session’s state.

You cannot find the approval control. Read the full prompt and check the interface in which the session is running. Some requests are answered conversationally; others use a visible permission control. If no control appears, ask the agent to restate the action and wait for the interface’s available response options.

The agent asks again after you replied. Confirm that you responded in the correct session and answered the actual question. It may need a separate decision for a new action. Read the new prompt rather than assuming it is the same request, and do not approve a broader action automatically.

A command failed or permission was denied. Read the error and tell the agent what happened. Ask it to explain a safe alternative or continue without that action. Do not bypass a restriction or share credentials to force the task forward.

You are not sure whether the work is finished. Ask for the current status, files changed, checks performed, and remaining limitations. Then inspect the output or changes in your project. If there is no response, check that the session is still open and that you are viewing the right project.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I tell whether Claude Code or Codex needs my input?
Look for a direct question, a permission prompt, an explicit blocker, or an action awaiting confirmation. A progress update alone usually does not require a response.

Do Claude Code and Codex use the same approval process?
No single interface or workflow applies to every setup. Read the prompt and use the controls shown in the active tool or session.

Should I approve every command the agent proposes?
No. Check what the command does, what it affects, and why it is needed. Approve only actions you understand and want it to perform.

What should I do if I do not know which option to choose?
Ask for the differences, risks, and a recommendation. Give the agent your constraints, or ask it to stop before making a change while you decide.

Can I provide a password or access token so the agent can continue?
Avoid putting secrets in the conversation. Complete sign-in or other sensitive steps yourself through the relevant interface, then share only the non-sensitive information needed.

How do I know whether the agent’s work is correct?
Review its summary and actual changes, and check what tests or commands it ran. Treat its completion message as a report, not a substitute for reviewing important work.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.