# working_directory

The step-level `working_directory` field overrides the workflow-level [working directory](/workflows/working-directory) for a single step.

```yaml
workflows:
  download-and-install:
    working_directory: !repo-root
    steps:
      - command: wget https://example.com/archive.tar.gz
        working_directory: /tmp
        type: shell
      - command: make install
        type: shell
```

Use step-level `working_directory` for commands that need a different current directory from the rest of the workflow.

When a workflow-level container sandbox is active, Atmos resolves the path on the host and maps it into the container workspace before execution.