Disable tool access using an explicit empty policy
Disable tool access using an explicit empty policy in Cortex Chat: practical steps, setting explanations, result checks and troubleshooting.
An explicitly saved policy with no tools disables the application’s tools for that context. That differs from having no explicit policy saved. Clearing permitted selections is therefore a meaningful access change, not a way to reset an unrelated connection error.
Before you start
Effective tool access depends on the connected account, workspace authority, the owner’s approval ceiling and the Sidekick’s saved context-specific policy. These settings are deliberately separate. A checkbox can represent an unsaved choice, while the running assistant may still be using its previously saved tools until refresh. Review the description and read/write annotation rather than granting everything in response to one error. Private and group policies can differ even for the same assistant. If the interface reports owner approval needed, follow its exact account/context/application guidance. Restarting cannot manufacture missing approval and can affect the Sidekick in other conversations.
Step-by-step
- Open the intended app’s Tools permissions.
- Clear the permitted selections only if disabling that access is your goal.
- Save the app policy and verify the All tools are disabled by this explicit policy message or zero saved count.
What the settings mean
| Control or state | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Owner ceiling | The maximum tools an administrator may delegate. |
| Saved policy | The actual operations selected for this Sidekick/context. |
| Unsaved selection | Draft choices that have not yet taken effect. |
| Runtime refresh | How the running assistant receives a saved policy change. |
Check the result
The intended application tools are disabled for this assistant/context.
If it does not work
If you intended to restore access rather than remove it, choose and save the specific tools instead. Do not clear unrelated app policies as a troubleshooting shortcut.
Continue with the right context
Return to the Cortex Chat guide index to choose another task. Keep the current account, assistant and conversation in view when following the next guide. To use the product, open Cortex Chat.
- Review a Sidekick’s tool permissions
- Search tools by operation or category
- Distinguish read-only tools from tools that change data
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