---
title: Autonomous mode
description: In autonomous mode, the agent operates independently of AM, without needing to contact an AM instance. Agents allow access to resources as defined in not-enforced lists; otherwise, they deny access.
component: java-agents
version: 2025.11
page_id: java-agents:user-guide:autonomous
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/java-agents/2025.11/user-guide/autonomous.html
---

# Autonomous mode

In autonomous mode, the agent operates independently of AM, without needing to contact an AM instance. Agents allow access to resources as defined in not-enforced lists; otherwise, they deny access.

Agents evaluate not-enforced rules using the following features:

* URLs, IP addresses, IP address ranges, and compound rules.

* Rules applied to specific HTTP methods.

* Inverted not-enforced rules, by using properties.

* Inverted not-enforced rules, by using inline logical operators.

* Rules that use regular expressions.

* Rules applied in the presence of named cookies with specified values.

Because the agent does not attempt to contact AM, the following functionality is not available in autonomous mode:

* Notifications

* Remote auditing

* Profile attributes

* Session attributes

* Response attributes

* Continuous security

To enable autonomous mode, in the bootstrap properties file, `AgentBootstrap.properties`, set [Autonomous mode](../properties-reference/org.forgerock.agents.fallback.mode.enabled.html) to `true`, and restart the Java container where the agent is installed.

|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| - | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|   | Because the agent does not contact AM when it starts in autonomous mode, the value of [Location of Agent Configuration Repository](../properties-reference/org.forgerock.agents.config.location.html) must be `LOCAL`. |