diff --git a/codex-rs/config/src/loader/macos.rs b/codex-rs/config/src/loader/macos.rs
index 974cb27604..53c8a6d20a 100644
--- a/codex-rs/config/src/loader/macos.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/config/src/loader/macos.rs
@@ -34,6 +34,13 @@ pub(super) fn managed_preferences_requirements_source() -> RequirementSource {
     }
 }
 
+pub(super) fn has_managed_preferences() -> io::Result<bool> {
+    Ok(
+        load_managed_preference(MANAGED_PREFERENCES_CONFIG_KEY)?.is_some()
+            || load_managed_preference(MANAGED_PREFERENCES_REQUIREMENTS_KEY)?.is_some(),
+    )
+}
+
 pub(crate) async fn load_managed_admin_config_layer(
     override_base64: Option<&str>,
     strict_config: bool,
diff --git a/codex-rs/config/src/loader/mod.rs b/codex-rs/config/src/loader/mod.rs
index 244f7df02f..87412119e9 100644
--- a/codex-rs/config/src/loader/mod.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/config/src/loader/mod.rs
@@ -730,6 +730,25 @@ fn system_requirements_toml_file_with_overrides(
     }
 }
 
+/// Check local managed configuration sources without loading or parsing configuration.
+///
+/// Filesystem or managed-preference errors are returned so callers can conservatively avoid
+/// assuming that administrator-controlled configuration is absent.
+pub fn has_local_managed_configuration(codex_home: &Path) -> io::Result<bool> {
+    if layer_io::managed_config_default_path(codex_home).try_exists()?
+        || system_requirements_toml_file()?.as_path().try_exists()?
+    {
+        return Ok(true);
+    }
+
+    #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
+    if macos::has_managed_preferences()? {
+        return Ok(true);
+    }
+
+    Ok(false)
+}
+
 #[cfg(unix)]
 pub fn system_config_toml_file() -> io::Result<AbsolutePathBuf> {
     AbsolutePathBuf::from_absolute_path(Path::new(SYSTEM_CONFIG_TOML_FILE_UNIX))
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/lib.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/lib.rs
index 15677259d2..6b110fa64b 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/lib.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/lib.rs
@@ -176,6 +176,7 @@ mod startup_draft;
 mod startup_error;
 mod startup_hooks_review;
 mod startup_orchestration;
+mod startup_preflight;
 mod status;
 mod status_indicator_widget;
 mod streaming;
@@ -1194,6 +1195,12 @@ async fn run_ratatui_app(
         initial_config
     };
     startup_draft.apply_config(&config);
+    if !(cli.resume_picker || cli.fork_picker)
+        && let Err(err) = startup_draft.show(&mut tui)
+    {
+        shutdown_startup_session(app_server.take(), &mut terminal_restore_guard).await;
+        return Err(err.into());
+    }
 
     let missing_session_exit =
         |id_str: &str,
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/snapshots/codex_tui__startup_draft__tests__startup_draft_onboarding_transition.snap b/codex-rs/tui/src/snapshots/codex_tui__startup_draft__tests__startup_draft_onboarding_transition.snap
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6284b0715e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/snapshots/codex_tui__startup_draft__tests__startup_draft_onboarding_transition.snap
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+---
+source: tui/src/startup_draft_tests.rs
+expression: frames
+---
+before onboarding: hidden (0x0 viewport)
+---
+after onboarding:
+╭───────────────────────────────────────╮
+│ >_ OpenAI Codex (v<VERSION>)              │
+│                                       │
+│ model:     loading   /model to change │
+│ directory: loading                    │
+╰───────────────────────────────────────╯
+
+
+› Ask Codex to do anything
+
+  ? for shortcuts
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/startup_draft.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/startup_draft.rs
index 399634e98a..c094adcca5 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/startup_draft.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/startup_draft.rs
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ const STARTUP_PASTE_NEWLINE_TIMEOUT: Duration = Duration::from_millis(120);
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Eq, PartialEq)]
 pub(crate) enum StartupDraftInitialScreen {
     Composer,
+    Onboarding,
     SessionPicker,
 }
 
@@ -115,9 +116,7 @@ impl StartupDraft {
                 pending_paste_newline: None,
             },
         };
-        if initial_screen == StartupDraftInitialScreen::Composer {
-            draft.pump.show(&mut draft.tui)?;
-        }
+        draft.pump.show_initial_screen(&mut draft.tui)?;
         Ok(draft)
     }
 
@@ -230,7 +229,15 @@ impl StartupDraftPump {
         self.bottom_pane.composer_draft_snapshot()
     }
 
-    /// Reveal the editable composer once a requested session picker has finished.
+    /// Draw the initial composer only when no protected startup screen must appear first.
+    fn show_initial_screen(&mut self, tui: &mut Tui) -> io::Result<()> {
+        if self.initial_screen == StartupDraftInitialScreen::Composer {
+            self.show(tui)?;
+        }
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    /// Reveal the editable composer once an expected protected screen has finished.
     pub(crate) fn show(&mut self, tui: &mut Tui) -> io::Result<()> {
         self.initial_screen = StartupDraftInitialScreen::Composer;
         self.draw(tui, tui.terminal.last_known_screen_size)
@@ -274,7 +281,7 @@ impl StartupDraftPump {
         }
         match event {
             TuiEvent::Key(key) => {
-                if self.initial_screen == StartupDraftInitialScreen::SessionPicker
+                if self.initial_screen != StartupDraftInitialScreen::Composer
                     && !key_hint::ctrl(KeyCode::Char('c')).is_press(key)
                     && !key_hint::ctrl(KeyCode::Char('d')).is_press(key)
                 {
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/startup_draft_tests.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/startup_draft_tests.rs
index 828ef8572d..9350db9de9 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/startup_draft_tests.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/startup_draft_tests.rs
@@ -499,6 +499,90 @@ async fn startup_draft_applies_editor_keymap_without_enabling_vim() {
     assert_eq!(pump.bottom_pane.composer_cursor(), 0);
 }
 
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn startup_draft_waits_for_onboarding_before_accepting_input() {
+    let mut composer_pump = startup_test_pump(std::iter::empty());
+    let mut composer_tui =
+        crate::tui::test_support::make_test_tui().expect("create composer test terminal");
+    composer_pump
+        .show_initial_screen(&mut composer_tui)
+        .expect("draw the composer when no protected screen is expected");
+    assert!(!composer_tui.terminal.viewport_area.is_empty());
+    drop(composer_tui);
+
+    let mut pump = startup_test_pump(
+        [
+            TuiEvent::Key(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Char('x'), KeyModifiers::NONE)),
+            TuiEvent::Paste("not a draft".to_string()),
+            TuiEvent::Draw,
+        ]
+        .into_iter(),
+    );
+    pump.initial_screen = StartupDraftInitialScreen::Onboarding;
+    let mut tui = crate::tui::test_support::make_test_tui().expect("create test terminal");
+    pump.show_initial_screen(&mut tui)
+        .expect("keep the composer hidden until onboarding finishes");
+
+    pump.flush_pending_events(&mut tui)
+        .await
+        .expect("ignore input before onboarding owns the screen");
+    assert!(pump.bottom_pane.composer_is_empty());
+    assert!(tui.terminal.viewport_area.is_empty());
+    let hidden_area = tui.terminal.viewport_area;
+    let mut frames = format!(
+        "before onboarding: hidden ({}x{} viewport)",
+        hidden_area.width, hidden_area.height
+    );
+
+    pump.show(&mut tui)
+        .expect("show the composer after onboarding finishes");
+    assert!(!tui.terminal.viewport_area.is_empty());
+    let area = tui.terminal.viewport_area;
+    let renderable = startup_draft_renderable(&pump.header, &pump.bottom_pane);
+    let mut buffer = Buffer::empty(area);
+    renderable.render(area, &mut buffer);
+    let visible_frame = (area.top()..area.bottom())
+        .map(|row| {
+            (area.left()..area.right())
+                .map(|column| buffer[(column, row)].symbol())
+                .collect::<String>()
+                .trim_end()
+                .to_string()
+        })
+        .collect::<Vec<_>>()
+        .join("\n")
+        .replace(crate::version::CODEX_CLI_VERSION, "<VERSION>");
+    drop(renderable);
+    frames.push_str(&format!("\n---\nafter onboarding:\n{visible_frame}"));
+    insta::assert_snapshot!("startup_draft_onboarding_transition", frames);
+
+    pump.handle_event(
+        &mut tui,
+        TuiEvent::Key(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Char('y'), KeyModifiers::NONE)),
+    )
+    .expect("edit the composer after onboarding finishes");
+    pump.bottom_pane.flush_composer_paste_burst();
+    assert_eq!(pump.bottom_pane.composer_text(), "y");
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn startup_draft_allows_cancellation_before_onboarding_appears() {
+    for character in ['c', 'd'] {
+        let mut pump = startup_test_pump(std::iter::once(TuiEvent::Key(KeyEvent::new(
+            KeyCode::Char(character),
+            KeyModifiers::CONTROL,
+        ))));
+        pump.initial_screen = StartupDraftInitialScreen::Onboarding;
+        let mut tui = crate::tui::test_support::make_test_tui().expect("create test terminal");
+
+        let error = pump
+            .flush_pending_events(&mut tui)
+            .await
+            .expect_err("cancel startup before onboarding appears");
+        assert!(super::StartupCancelled::matches(&error));
+    }
+}
+
 #[tokio::test]
 async fn startup_draft_waits_for_session_picker_before_accepting_input() {
     let mut pump = startup_test_pump(
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/startup_orchestration.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/startup_orchestration.rs
index 616851afd1..800d9da8f6 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/startup_orchestration.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/startup_orchestration.rs
@@ -135,13 +135,6 @@ pub(super) async fn run_main_inner(
         .await;
     }
 
-    let initial_screen = if cli.resume_picker || cli.fork_picker {
-        startup_draft::StartupDraftInitialScreen::SessionPicker
-    } else {
-        startup_draft::StartupDraftInitialScreen::Composer
-    };
-    let mut startup_draft = startup_draft::StartupDraft::new(initial_screen)?;
-
     let reuse_implicit_local_daemon = !workload_identity_selected
         && can_reuse_implicit_local_daemon(
             &cli_kv_overrides,
@@ -149,6 +142,25 @@ pub(super) async fn run_main_inner(
             strict_config,
             cli.bypass_hook_trust,
         );
+    let initial_screen = if cli.resume_picker || cli.fork_picker {
+        startup_draft::StartupDraftInitialScreen::SessionPicker
+    } else if !cli.oss
+        && explicit_remote_endpoint.is_none()
+        && reuse_implicit_local_daemon
+        && launch_loader_overrides.packaged_defaults_path.is_none()
+        && startup_preflight::should_delay_startup_composer_for_first_login(
+            &codex_home,
+            codex_config::loader::system_config_toml_file(),
+            || codex_config::loader::has_local_managed_configuration(&codex_home),
+            |name| std::env::var(name).ok(),
+        )
+    {
+        startup_draft::StartupDraftInitialScreen::Onboarding
+    } else {
+        startup_draft::StartupDraftInitialScreen::Composer
+    };
+    let mut startup_draft = startup_draft::StartupDraft::new(initial_screen)?;
+
     let default_daemon = if explicit_remote_endpoint.is_none() && reuse_implicit_local_daemon {
         startup_draft
             .run_until(maybe_probe_default_daemon_socket(&codex_home))
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/startup_preflight.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/startup_preflight.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..be6f7508b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/startup_preflight.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+//! Conservative first-install checks that run before the provisional composer appears.
+//!
+//! Any existing user, system, daemon, or authentication state keeps the composer visible.
+
+use std::io;
+use std::path::Path;
+
+use codex_utils_absolute_path::AbsolutePathBuf;
+
+/// Hide the composer only on a first installation without user or machine-wide configuration.
+pub(super) fn should_delay_startup_composer_for_first_login(
+    codex_home: &Path,
+    system_config_path: io::Result<AbsolutePathBuf>,
+    managed_configuration: impl FnOnce() -> io::Result<bool>,
+    environment_variable: impl Fn(&str) -> Option<String>,
+) -> bool {
+    if environment_variable("CODEX_HOME").is_some_and(|value| !value.is_empty())
+        || environment_variable(codex_login::CODEX_ACCESS_TOKEN_ENV_VAR)
+            .is_some_and(|credential| !credential.trim().is_empty())
+    {
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    let Ok(system_config_path) = system_config_path else {
+        return false;
+    };
+    if !matches!(system_config_path.as_path().try_exists(), Ok(false)) {
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    let pristine_home = match codex_home.try_exists() {
+        Ok(false) => true,
+        Err(_) => false,
+        Ok(true) => {
+            let Ok(mut entries) = std::fs::read_dir(codex_home) else {
+                return false;
+            };
+            let Some(Ok(temporary_root)) = entries.next() else {
+                return false;
+            };
+            if temporary_root.file_name() != "tmp"
+                || !temporary_root
+                    .file_type()
+                    .is_ok_and(|file_type| file_type.is_dir())
+                || entries.next().is_some()
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            let Ok(mut entries) = std::fs::read_dir(temporary_root.path()) else {
+                return false;
+            };
+            let Some(Ok(arg0_root)) = entries.next() else {
+                return false;
+            };
+            arg0_root.file_name() == "arg0"
+                && arg0_root
+                    .file_type()
+                    .is_ok_and(|file_type| file_type.is_dir())
+                && entries.next().is_none()
+        }
+    };
+
+    pristine_home && matches!(managed_configuration(), Ok(false))
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+#[path = "startup_preflight_tests.rs"]
+mod tests;
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/startup_preflight_tests.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/startup_preflight_tests.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..100d10f67a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/startup_preflight_tests.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,201 @@
+use codex_utils_absolute_path::AbsolutePathBuf;
+use tempfile::TempDir;
+
+use super::should_delay_startup_composer_for_first_login;
+
+#[test]
+fn startup_delays_composer_only_for_pristine_default_homes() -> std::io::Result<()> {
+    let temporary_directory = TempDir::new()?;
+    let codex_home = temporary_directory.path().join("codex-home");
+    let system_config_path =
+        AbsolutePathBuf::from_absolute_path(temporary_directory.path().join("system.toml"))?;
+
+    assert!(should_delay_startup_composer_for_first_login(
+        &codex_home,
+        Ok(system_config_path.clone()),
+        || Ok(false),
+        |_| None,
+    ));
+    assert!(should_delay_startup_composer_for_first_login(
+        &codex_home,
+        Ok(system_config_path.clone()),
+        || Ok(false),
+        |name| (name == codex_login::CODEX_ACCESS_TOKEN_ENV_VAR).then(|| "  ".to_string()),
+    ));
+
+    std::fs::create_dir_all(codex_home.join("tmp").join("arg0"))?;
+    assert!(should_delay_startup_composer_for_first_login(
+        &codex_home,
+        Ok(system_config_path.clone()),
+        || Ok(false),
+        |_| None,
+    ));
+    let helper_directory = codex_home
+        .join("tmp")
+        .join("arg0")
+        .join("codex-arg0-session");
+    std::fs::create_dir(&helper_directory)?;
+    std::fs::write(helper_directory.join("apply_patch"), "")?;
+    assert!(should_delay_startup_composer_for_first_login(
+        &codex_home,
+        Ok(system_config_path.clone()),
+        || Ok(false),
+        |_| None,
+    ));
+
+    assert!(!should_delay_startup_composer_for_first_login(
+        &codex_home,
+        Ok(system_config_path.clone()),
+        || Ok(false),
+        |name| (name == "CODEX_HOME").then(|| "/custom/home".to_string()),
+    ));
+    assert!(!should_delay_startup_composer_for_first_login(
+        &codex_home,
+        Ok(system_config_path.clone()),
+        || Ok(false),
+        |name| {
+            (name == codex_login::CODEX_ACCESS_TOKEN_ENV_VAR).then(|| "access-token".to_string())
+        },
+    ));
+    for disabled_credential in [
+        codex_login::OPENAI_API_KEY_ENV_VAR,
+        codex_login::CODEX_API_KEY_ENV_VAR,
+    ] {
+        assert!(should_delay_startup_composer_for_first_login(
+            &codex_home,
+            Ok(system_config_path.clone()),
+            || Ok(false),
+            |name| (name == disabled_credential).then(|| "disabled-key".to_string()),
+        ));
+    }
+
+    for existing_state in ["auth.json", "config.toml", "history.jsonl", "sessions"] {
+        let state_path = codex_home.join(existing_state);
+        std::fs::write(&state_path, "")?;
+        assert!(!should_delay_startup_composer_for_first_login(
+            &codex_home,
+            Ok(system_config_path.clone()),
+            || Ok(false),
+            |_| None,
+        ));
+        std::fs::remove_file(state_path)?;
+    }
+
+    let daemon_directory = codex_home.join("app-server-control");
+    std::fs::create_dir(&daemon_directory)?;
+    std::fs::write(daemon_directory.join("app-server-control.sock"), "")?;
+    assert!(!should_delay_startup_composer_for_first_login(
+        &codex_home,
+        Ok(system_config_path.clone()),
+        || panic!("existing homes should not probe managed configuration"),
+        |_| None,
+    ));
+    std::fs::remove_file(daemon_directory.join("app-server-control.sock"))?;
+    std::fs::remove_dir(daemon_directory)?;
+
+    let additional_temporary_state = codex_home.join("tmp").join("other");
+    std::fs::write(&additional_temporary_state, "")?;
+    assert!(!should_delay_startup_composer_for_first_login(
+        &codex_home,
+        Ok(system_config_path.clone()),
+        || Ok(false),
+        |_| None,
+    ));
+
+    let invalid_home = temporary_directory.path().join("invalid-home");
+    std::fs::write(&invalid_home, "not a directory")?;
+    assert!(!should_delay_startup_composer_for_first_login(
+        &invalid_home,
+        Ok(system_config_path),
+        || Ok(false),
+        |_| None,
+    ));
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn startup_keeps_composer_when_home_state_cannot_be_confirmed() -> std::io::Result<()> {
+    let temporary_directory = TempDir::new()?;
+    let codex_home = temporary_directory.path().join("codex-home");
+    let system_config_path =
+        AbsolutePathBuf::from_absolute_path(temporary_directory.path().join("system.toml"))?;
+
+    std::fs::create_dir(&codex_home)?;
+    assert!(!should_delay_startup_composer_for_first_login(
+        &codex_home,
+        Ok(system_config_path.clone()),
+        || Ok(false),
+        |_| None,
+    ));
+
+    std::fs::write(codex_home.join("tmp"), "not a directory")?;
+    assert!(!should_delay_startup_composer_for_first_login(
+        &codex_home,
+        Ok(system_config_path),
+        || Ok(false),
+        |_| None,
+    ));
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn startup_keeps_composer_when_system_configuration_is_possible() -> std::io::Result<()> {
+    let temporary_directory = TempDir::new()?;
+    let codex_home = temporary_directory.path().join("codex-home");
+    let system_config_path =
+        AbsolutePathBuf::from_absolute_path(temporary_directory.path().join("system.toml"))?;
+
+    assert!(!should_delay_startup_composer_for_first_login(
+        &codex_home,
+        Err(std::io::Error::other(
+            "system configuration path is unavailable"
+        )),
+        || Ok(false),
+        |_| None,
+    ));
+
+    #[cfg(unix)]
+    {
+        let blocking_parent = temporary_directory.path().join("blocking-parent");
+        std::fs::write(&blocking_parent, "not a directory")?;
+        assert!(!should_delay_startup_composer_for_first_login(
+            &codex_home,
+            AbsolutePathBuf::from_absolute_path(blocking_parent.join("system.toml")),
+            || Ok(false),
+            |_| None,
+        ));
+    }
+
+    std::fs::write(system_config_path.as_path(), "model_provider = 'local'")?;
+    assert!(!should_delay_startup_composer_for_first_login(
+        &codex_home,
+        Ok(system_config_path),
+        || Ok(false),
+        |_| None,
+    ));
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn startup_keeps_composer_when_managed_configuration_is_possible() -> std::io::Result<()> {
+    let temporary_directory = TempDir::new()?;
+    let codex_home = temporary_directory.path().join("codex-home");
+    let system_config_path =
+        AbsolutePathBuf::from_absolute_path(temporary_directory.path().join("system.toml"))?;
+
+    assert!(!should_delay_startup_composer_for_first_login(
+        &codex_home,
+        Ok(system_config_path.clone()),
+        || Ok(true),
+        |_| None,
+    ));
+    assert!(!should_delay_startup_composer_for_first_login(
+        &codex_home,
+        Ok(system_config_path),
+        || Err(std::io::Error::other(
+            "managed configuration is inaccessible"
+        )),
+        |_| None,
+    ));
+    Ok(())
+}