diff --git a/.githooks/pre-commit b/.githooks/pre-commit
index b7b01e2..8eb3b0d 100755
--- a/.githooks/pre-commit
+++ b/.githooks/pre-commit
@@ -23,6 +23,11 @@ if [[ -n "${CODEX_THREAD_ID:-}" || -n "${OMX_SESSION_ID:-}" || "${CODEX_CI:-0}"
   is_codex_session=1
 fi
 
+is_vscode_git_context=0
+if [[ -n "${VSCODE_GIT_IPC_HANDLE:-}" || -n "${VSCODE_GIT_ASKPASS_NODE:-}" || -n "${VSCODE_IPC_HOOK_CLI:-}" || "${TERM_PROGRAM:-}" == "vscode" ]]; then
+  is_vscode_git_context=1
+fi
+
 protected_branches_raw="${MUSAFETY_PROTECTED_BRANCHES:-$(git config --get multiagent.protectedBranches || true)}"
 if [[ -z "$protected_branches_raw" ]]; then
   protected_branches_raw="dev main master"
@@ -106,6 +111,10 @@ MSG
 fi
 
 if [[ "$is_protected_branch" == "1" ]]; then
+  if [[ "$is_codex_session" != "1" && "$is_vscode_git_context" == "1" ]]; then
+    exit 0
+  fi
+
   if [[ "$is_unborn_branch" == "1" && "$is_codex_session" != "1" ]]; then
     exit 0
   fi
diff --git a/.githooks/pre-push b/.githooks/pre-push
index 88a5d7f..f46f64d 100755
--- a/.githooks/pre-push
+++ b/.githooks/pre-push
@@ -10,16 +10,9 @@ if [[ -n "${VSCODE_GIT_IPC_HANDLE:-}" || -n "${VSCODE_GIT_ASKPASS_NODE:-}" || -n
   is_vscode_git_context=1
 fi
 
-allow_vscode_protected_branch_raw="${MUSAFETY_ALLOW_VSCODE_PROTECTED_BRANCH:-$(git config --get multiagent.protectedBranches.allowVSCode || true)}"
-allow_vscode_protected_branch_raw="$(printf '%s' "${allow_vscode_protected_branch_raw:-}" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')"
-allow_vscode_protected_branch=0
-case "$allow_vscode_protected_branch_raw" in
-  1|true|yes|on) allow_vscode_protected_branch=1 ;;
-  *) allow_vscode_protected_branch=0 ;;
-esac
-
-if [[ "$is_vscode_git_context" == "1" && "$allow_vscode_protected_branch" == "1" ]]; then
-  exit 0
+is_codex_session=0
+if [[ -n "${CODEX_THREAD_ID:-}" || -n "${OMX_SESSION_ID:-}" || "${CODEX_CI:-0}" == "1" ]]; then
+  is_codex_session=1
 fi
 
 protected_branches_raw="${MUSAFETY_PROTECTED_BRANCHES:-$(git config --get multiagent.protectedBranches || true)}"
@@ -51,12 +44,26 @@ while IFS=' ' read -r local_ref local_sha remote_ref remote_sha; do
 done
 
 if [[ "${#blocked_refs[@]}" -gt 0 ]]; then
+  if [[ "$is_codex_session" == "1" ]]; then
+    {
+      echo "[guardex-preedit-guard] Codex push detected toward protected branch."
+      echo "[guardex-preedit-guard] Protected target(s): ${blocked_refs[*]}"
+      echo "[guardex-preedit-guard] Run Codex from an agent/* branch and merge via PR."
+      echo
+      echo "Temporary bypass (not recommended):"
+      echo "  ALLOW_PUSH_ON_PROTECTED_BRANCH=1 git push ..."
+    } >&2
+    exit 1
+  fi
+
+  if [[ "$is_vscode_git_context" == "1" ]]; then
+    exit 0
+  fi
+
   {
-    echo "[agent-branch-guard] Push to protected branch blocked."
+    echo "[agent-branch-guard] Push to protected branch blocked outside VS Code Git context."
     echo "[agent-branch-guard] Protected target(s): ${blocked_refs[*]}"
-    echo "[agent-branch-guard] Push from an agent branch and merge via PR."
-    echo "[agent-branch-guard] Optional repo override for VS Code Source Control:"
-    echo "  git config multiagent.protectedBranches.allowVSCode true"
+    echo "[agent-branch-guard] Use VS Code Source Control for protected-branch push, or push from an agent branch and merge via PR."
     echo
     echo "Temporary bypass (not recommended):"
     echo "  ALLOW_PUSH_ON_PROTECTED_BRANCH=1 git push ..."
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 917c781..6eb65f8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -123,6 +123,8 @@ gx report scorecard --repo github.com/recodeecom/multiagent-safety
 - `gx setup` checks GitHub CLI (`gh`) and prints install guidance if missing.
 - Interactive self-update prompt defaults to **No** (`[y/N]`).
 - In initialized repos, `setup`/`install`/`fix` block protected-base writes unless explicitly overridden.
+- In VS Code Source Control, manual (non-Codex) commits/pushes to protected branches are allowed by default.
+- Codex/agent sessions stay blocked on protected branches and must use `agent/*` branch + PR workflow.
 - On protected `main`, `gx doctor` auto-runs in a sandbox agent branch/worktree.
 - `scripts/agent-branch-start.sh` hydrates `scripts/codex-agent.sh` into new sandbox worktrees when missing, so auto-finish launcher flow stays available.
 
@@ -190,6 +192,7 @@ scripts/agent-file-locks.py
 scripts/install-agent-git-hooks.sh
 scripts/openspec/init-plan-workspace.sh
 .githooks/pre-commit
+.githooks/pre-push
 .codex/skills/guardex/SKILL.md
 .claude/commands/guardex.md
 .omx/state/agent-file-locks.json
diff --git a/bin/multiagent-safety.js b/bin/multiagent-safety.js
index 50d27fa..4bdc762 100755
--- a/bin/multiagent-safety.js
+++ b/bin/multiagent-safety.js
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ const TEMPLATE_FILES = [
   'scripts/install-agent-git-hooks.sh',
   'scripts/openspec/init-plan-workspace.sh',
   'githooks/pre-commit',
+  'githooks/pre-push',
   'codex/skills/guardex/SKILL.md',
   'claude/commands/guardex.md',
 ];
@@ -59,11 +60,13 @@ const EXECUTABLE_RELATIVE_PATHS = new Set([
   'scripts/install-agent-git-hooks.sh',
   'scripts/openspec/init-plan-workspace.sh',
   '.githooks/pre-commit',
+  '.githooks/pre-push',
 ]);
 
 const CRITICAL_GUARDRAIL_PATHS = new Set([
   'AGENTS.md',
   '.githooks/pre-commit',
+  '.githooks/pre-push',
   'scripts/agent-branch-start.sh',
   'scripts/agent-branch-finish.sh',
   'scripts/agent-worktree-prune.sh',
@@ -84,6 +87,7 @@ const MANAGED_GITIGNORE_PATHS = [
   'scripts/install-agent-git-hooks.sh',
   'scripts/openspec/init-plan-workspace.sh',
   '.githooks/pre-commit',
+  '.githooks/pre-push',
   'oh-my-codex/',
   '.codex/skills/guardex/SKILL.md',
   '.claude/commands/guardex.md',
@@ -706,6 +710,7 @@ function hasGuardexBootstrapFiles(repoRoot) {
     'AGENTS.md',
     'scripts/agent-branch-start.sh',
     '.githooks/pre-commit',
+    '.githooks/pre-push',
     LOCK_FILE_RELATIVE,
   ];
   return required.every((relativePath) => fs.existsSync(path.join(repoRoot, relativePath)));
diff --git a/scripts/agent-file-locks.py b/scripts/agent-file-locks.py
index 0c52c88..06cdd7a 100755
--- a/scripts/agent-file-locks.py
+++ b/scripts/agent-file-locks.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 CRITICAL_GUARDRAIL_PATHS = {
     'AGENTS.md',
     '.githooks/pre-commit',
+    '.githooks/pre-push',
     'scripts/agent-branch-start.sh',
     'scripts/agent-branch-finish.sh',
     'scripts/agent-file-locks.py',
diff --git a/templates/githooks/pre-commit b/templates/githooks/pre-commit
index b7b01e2..8eb3b0d 100755
--- a/templates/githooks/pre-commit
+++ b/templates/githooks/pre-commit
@@ -23,6 +23,11 @@ if [[ -n "${CODEX_THREAD_ID:-}" || -n "${OMX_SESSION_ID:-}" || "${CODEX_CI:-0}"
   is_codex_session=1
 fi
 
+is_vscode_git_context=0
+if [[ -n "${VSCODE_GIT_IPC_HANDLE:-}" || -n "${VSCODE_GIT_ASKPASS_NODE:-}" || -n "${VSCODE_IPC_HOOK_CLI:-}" || "${TERM_PROGRAM:-}" == "vscode" ]]; then
+  is_vscode_git_context=1
+fi
+
 protected_branches_raw="${MUSAFETY_PROTECTED_BRANCHES:-$(git config --get multiagent.protectedBranches || true)}"
 if [[ -z "$protected_branches_raw" ]]; then
   protected_branches_raw="dev main master"
@@ -106,6 +111,10 @@ MSG
 fi
 
 if [[ "$is_protected_branch" == "1" ]]; then
+  if [[ "$is_codex_session" != "1" && "$is_vscode_git_context" == "1" ]]; then
+    exit 0
+  fi
+
   if [[ "$is_unborn_branch" == "1" && "$is_codex_session" != "1" ]]; then
     exit 0
   fi
diff --git a/templates/githooks/pre-push b/templates/githooks/pre-push
index 88b7704..f46f64d 100644
--- a/templates/githooks/pre-push
+++ b/templates/githooks/pre-push
@@ -10,8 +10,9 @@ if [[ -n "${VSCODE_GIT_IPC_HANDLE:-}" || -n "${VSCODE_GIT_ASKPASS_NODE:-}" || -n
   is_vscode_git_context=1
 fi
 
-if [[ "$is_vscode_git_context" == "1" ]]; then
-  exit 0
+is_codex_session=0
+if [[ -n "${CODEX_THREAD_ID:-}" || -n "${OMX_SESSION_ID:-}" || "${CODEX_CI:-0}" == "1" ]]; then
+  is_codex_session=1
 fi
 
 protected_branches_raw="${MUSAFETY_PROTECTED_BRANCHES:-$(git config --get multiagent.protectedBranches || true)}"
@@ -43,6 +44,22 @@ while IFS=' ' read -r local_ref local_sha remote_ref remote_sha; do
 done
 
 if [[ "${#blocked_refs[@]}" -gt 0 ]]; then
+  if [[ "$is_codex_session" == "1" ]]; then
+    {
+      echo "[guardex-preedit-guard] Codex push detected toward protected branch."
+      echo "[guardex-preedit-guard] Protected target(s): ${blocked_refs[*]}"
+      echo "[guardex-preedit-guard] Run Codex from an agent/* branch and merge via PR."
+      echo
+      echo "Temporary bypass (not recommended):"
+      echo "  ALLOW_PUSH_ON_PROTECTED_BRANCH=1 git push ..."
+    } >&2
+    exit 1
+  fi
+
+  if [[ "$is_vscode_git_context" == "1" ]]; then
+    exit 0
+  fi
+
   {
     echo "[agent-branch-guard] Push to protected branch blocked outside VS Code Git context."
     echo "[agent-branch-guard] Protected target(s): ${blocked_refs[*]}"
diff --git a/templates/scripts/agent-file-locks.py b/templates/scripts/agent-file-locks.py
index 0c52c88..06cdd7a 100755
--- a/templates/scripts/agent-file-locks.py
+++ b/templates/scripts/agent-file-locks.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 CRITICAL_GUARDRAIL_PATHS = {
     'AGENTS.md',
     '.githooks/pre-commit',
+    '.githooks/pre-push',
     'scripts/agent-branch-start.sh',
     'scripts/agent-branch-finish.sh',
     'scripts/agent-file-locks.py',
diff --git a/test/install.test.js b/test/install.test.js
index bcd65c1..0bbc7c1 100644
--- a/test/install.test.js
+++ b/test/install.test.js
@@ -32,10 +32,16 @@ function runCmd(cmd, args, cwd, options = {}) {
   delete sanitizedEnv.OMX_SESSION_ID;
   delete sanitizedEnv.CODEX_CI;
 
+  const overrideEnv = options.env || options;
+  const pushBypassEnv =
+    cmd === 'git' && Array.isArray(args) && args[0] === 'push'
+      ? { ALLOW_PUSH_ON_PROTECTED_BRANCH: '1' }
+      : {};
+
   return cp.spawnSync(cmd, args, {
     cwd,
     encoding: 'utf8',
-    env: { ...sanitizedEnv, ...(options.env || options) },
+    env: { ...sanitizedEnv, ...pushBypassEnv, ...overrideEnv },
   });
 }
 
@@ -215,6 +221,7 @@ test('setup provisions workflow files and repo config', () => {
     'scripts/install-agent-git-hooks.sh',
     'scripts/openspec/init-plan-workspace.sh',
     '.githooks/pre-commit',
+    '.githooks/pre-push',
     '.codex/skills/guardex/SKILL.md',
     '.claude/commands/guardex.md',
     '.omx/state/agent-file-locks.json',
@@ -246,6 +253,7 @@ test('setup provisions workflow files and repo config', () => {
   assert.match(gitignoreContent, /scripts\/codex-agent\.sh/);
   assert.match(gitignoreContent, /scripts\/agent-file-locks\.py/);
   assert.match(gitignoreContent, /\.githooks\/pre-commit/);
+  assert.match(gitignoreContent, /\.githooks\/pre-push/);
   assert.match(gitignoreContent, /oh-my-codex\//);
   assert.match(gitignoreContent, /\.codex\/skills\/guardex\/SKILL\.md/);
   assert.match(gitignoreContent, /\.claude\/commands\/guardex\.md/);
@@ -500,7 +508,7 @@ test('setup pre-commit blocks codex session commits on non-agent branches by def
   assert.match(result.stderr, /\[codex-branch-guard\] Codex agent commit blocked on non-agent branch\./);
 });
 
-test('setup pre-commit detects codex commit attempts on protected main and requires GuardeX sub-branch', () => {
+test('setup pre-commit detects codex commit attempts on protected main (including VS Code env) and requires GuardeX sub-branch', () => {
   const repoDir = initRepoOnBranch('main');
 
   let result = runNode(['setup', '--target', repoDir], repoDir);
@@ -510,7 +518,12 @@ test('setup pre-commit detects codex commit attempts on protected main and requi
   result = runCmd('git', ['add', 'notes-main.txt'], repoDir);
   assert.equal(result.status, 0, result.stderr || result.stdout);
 
-  result = runCmd('git', ['commit', '-m', 'codex protected commit'], repoDir, { CODEX_THREAD_ID: 'test-thread' });
+  result = runCmd('git', ['commit', '-m', 'codex protected commit'], repoDir, {
+    CODEX_THREAD_ID: 'test-thread',
+    VSCODE_GIT_IPC_HANDLE: '1',
+    VSCODE_GIT_ASKPASS_NODE: '1',
+    VSCODE_IPC_HOOK_CLI: '1',
+  });
   assert.notEqual(result.status, 0, result.stdout);
   assert.match(result.stderr, /\[guardex-preedit-guard\] Codex edit\/commit detected on a protected branch\./);
   assert.match(result.stderr, /bash scripts\/codex-agent\.sh/);
@@ -888,7 +901,7 @@ test('protect command manages configured protected branches', () => {
   assert.match(result.stdout, /reset to defaults/);
 });
 
-test('pre-commit blocks custom protected branches configured via musafety protect', () => {
+test('pre-commit allows non-codex VS Code commits on custom protected branches configured via musafety protect', () => {
   const repoDir = initRepoOnBranch('release');
   seedCommit(repoDir);
 
@@ -902,11 +915,10 @@ test('pre-commit blocks custom protected branches configured via musafety protec
     ALLOW_COMMIT_ON_PROTECTED_BRANCH: '0',
     VSCODE_GIT_IPC_HANDLE: '1',
   });
-  assert.equal(hookResult.status, 1, hookResult.stderr || hookResult.stdout);
-  assert.match(hookResult.stderr, /Direct commits on protected branches are blocked/);
+  assert.equal(hookResult.status, 0, hookResult.stderr || hookResult.stdout);
 });
 
-test('pre-commit blocks protected branch commits even from VS Code Source Control env', () => {
+test('pre-commit allows non-codex protected branch commits from VS Code Source Control env', () => {
   const repoDir = initRepo();
   seedCommit(repoDir);
 
@@ -924,8 +936,55 @@ test('pre-commit blocks protected branch commits even from VS Code Source Contro
       VSCODE_IPC_HOOK_CLI: '1',
     },
   );
+  assert.equal(hookResult.status, 0, hookResult.stderr || hookResult.stdout);
+});
+
+test('pre-push allows non-codex protected branch pushes from VS Code Source Control env', () => {
+  const repoDir = initRepoOnBranch('main');
+  seedCommit(repoDir);
+
+  const setupResult = runNode(['setup', '--target', repoDir, '--no-global-install'], repoDir);
+  assert.equal(setupResult.status, 0, setupResult.stderr || setupResult.stdout);
+
+  const hookResult = runCmd(
+    'bash',
+    [
+      '-lc',
+      `printf '%s\\n' 'refs/heads/main 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111 refs/heads/main 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000' | .githooks/pre-push origin origin`,
+    ],
+    repoDir,
+    {
+      VSCODE_GIT_IPC_HANDLE: '1',
+      VSCODE_GIT_ASKPASS_NODE: '1',
+      VSCODE_IPC_HOOK_CLI: '1',
+    },
+  );
+  assert.equal(hookResult.status, 0, hookResult.stderr || hookResult.stdout);
+});
+
+test('pre-push blocks codex protected branch pushes even from VS Code Source Control env', () => {
+  const repoDir = initRepoOnBranch('main');
+  seedCommit(repoDir);
+
+  const setupResult = runNode(['setup', '--target', repoDir, '--no-global-install'], repoDir);
+  assert.equal(setupResult.status, 0, setupResult.stderr || setupResult.stdout);
+
+  const hookResult = runCmd(
+    'bash',
+    [
+      '-lc',
+      `printf '%s\\n' 'refs/heads/main 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111 refs/heads/main 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000' | .githooks/pre-push origin origin`,
+    ],
+    repoDir,
+    {
+      CODEX_THREAD_ID: 'test-thread',
+      VSCODE_GIT_IPC_HANDLE: '1',
+      VSCODE_GIT_ASKPASS_NODE: '1',
+      VSCODE_IPC_HOOK_CLI: '1',
+    },
+  );
   assert.equal(hookResult.status, 1, hookResult.stderr || hookResult.stdout);
-  assert.match(hookResult.stderr, /Direct commits on protected branches are blocked/);
+  assert.match(hookResult.stderr, /\[guardex-preedit-guard\] Codex push detected toward protected branch\./);
 });
 
 test('codex-agent launches codex inside a fresh sandbox worktree and keeps branch/worktree by default', () => {