Title: Requesting sandbox access
Author: Boro Sitnikovski
Published: August 25, 2026

---

# Requesting sandbox access

## In this article

 * [Before you request](https://make.wordpress.org/meta/handbook/tutorials-guides/wordpress-org-sandboxes/requesting-access/?output_format=md#before-you-request)
 * [Steps](https://make.wordpress.org/meta/handbook/tutorials-guides/wordpress-org-sandboxes/requesting-access/?output_format=md#steps)
 * [Requesting extra tooling](https://make.wordpress.org/meta/handbook/tutorials-guides/wordpress-org-sandboxes/requesting-access/?output_format=md#requesting-extra-tooling)
 * [Getting help](https://make.wordpress.org/meta/handbook/tutorials-guides/wordpress-org-sandboxes/requesting-access/?output_format=md#getting-help)

[↑ Back to top](https://make.wordpress.org/meta/handbook/tutorials-guides/wordpress-org-sandboxes/requesting-access/?output_format=md#wp--skip-link--target)

Sandbox access is granted by the Systems team, not by the MetaMeta Meta is a term
that refers to the inside workings of a group. For us, this is the team that works
on internal WordPress sites like WordCamp Central and Make WordPress. team. It is
a manual approval, so allow a few days.

## 󠀁[Before you request](https://make.wordpress.org/meta/handbook/tutorials-guides/wordpress-org-sandboxes/requesting-access/?output_format=md#before-you-request)󠁿

Have these in place first — a request without them will bounce back:

 * **Two-factor authentication** enabled on your WordPress.orgWordPress.org The 
   community site where WordPress code is created and shared by the users. This 
   is where you can download the source code for WordPress core, plugins and themes
   as well as the central location for community conversations and organization.
   [https://wordpress.org/](https://wordpress.org/) account. This is required for
   all committers. See [Configuring Two-Factor Authentication](https://make.wordpress.org/meta/handbook/tutorials-guides/configuring-two-factor-authentication/).
 * **An SSHSSH Secure SHell – a protocol for securely connecting to a remote system
   in addition to or in place of a password. key pair.** If you do not have one,
   generate it with `ssh-keygen`. You will supply the public key with your request;
   never share the private half.
 * **A reason.** Say which site or repository you will be working on and what you
   intend to do. “I am taking on Meta commit access for the Pattern Directory” is
   a request; “I would like a sandbox” is not.

## 󠀁[Steps](https://make.wordpress.org/meta/handbook/tutorials-guides/wordpress-org-sandboxes/requesting-access/?output_format=md#steps)󠁿

 1. **Get posting access on [make.wordpress.org/systems](https://make.wordpress.org/systems).**
    Ask in [`#meta`](https://wordpress.slack.com/archives/C02QB8GMM) on [Make WordPress Slack](https://make.wordpress.org/chat/).
 2. **File a sandbox request** as a post on make/systems, including your WordPress.
    org username, your SSH public key, and the reason above.
 3. **Wait for approval.** Once approved, SSH access is provisioned and you will be
    given your sandbox hostname and username.
 4. **Set up your connection** — continue to [Connecting to your sandbox](https://make.wordpress.org/meta/handbook/tutorials-guides/wordpress-org-sandboxes/connecting/).

## 󠀁[Requesting extra tooling](https://make.wordpress.org/meta/handbook/tutorials-guides/wordpress-org-sandboxes/requesting-access/?output_format=md#requesting-extra-tooling)󠁿

Sandboxes ship with a deliberately small toolset, and you cannot install system 
packages yourself. If you need something that is not there, file a system request
the same way you requested the sandbox. Some things you can install into your own
home directory without a request — see [Working on a sandbox](https://make.wordpress.org/meta/handbook/tutorials-guides/wordpress-org-sandboxes/working-on-a-sandbox/).

## 󠀁[Getting help](https://make.wordpress.org/meta/handbook/tutorials-guides/wordpress-org-sandboxes/requesting-access/?output_format=md#getting-help)󠁿

Ask in [`#meta`](https://wordpress.slack.com/archives/C02QB8GMM) on Make WordPress
SlackSlack Slack is a Collaborative Group Chat Platform [https://slack.com/](https://slack.com/).
The WordPress community has its own Slack Channel at [https://make.wordpress.org/chat/](https://make.wordpress.org/chat/),
both for questions about what to do with a sandbox and for questions about provisioning,
access, and tooling.

First published

August 25, 2026

[  Previous: Deploying WordPress.org](https://make.wordpress.org/meta/handbook/tutorials-guides/wordpress-org-sandboxes/deploying-wordpress-org/)

[  Next: Working on a sandbox](https://make.wordpress.org/meta/handbook/tutorials-guides/wordpress-org-sandboxes/working-on-a-sandbox/)