Run GPT-5.6 in Codex CLI
The live question is not “did 5.6 ship” — it is how to switch tiers in Codex and what to do when Sol is missing from /model. ChatGPT-signed-in Codex loses GPT-5.4 starting 2026-08-31 (rechecked 2026-08-30, still “starting August 31”); API-key profiles pick gpt-5.6-sol / terra / luna with /model; QCode profiles pick gpt-5.6-sol / terra, as QCode does not currently support Luna — please use another GPT model.
Why doesn't /model show gpt-5.6?
Two model lists get mixed up: ChatGPT-signed-in Codex is not the same list as an API-key / QCode profile. Older CLI builds also omit the three gpt-5.6-* tiers from /model. Confirm how you authenticate, then update the CLI — do not treat a missing row as a retirement first.
Before you start
- Node.js 18+ and npm (to install / update Codex CLI)
- A QCode.cc API key (issued when you activate any plan, from $8.57/mo; one key covers Claude / GPT / Gemini)
- About 5 minutes
Step 1: Update Codex CLI to the latest version
The GPT-5.6 tiers ship built in from releases around July 2026. One global update command does it; confirm with codex --version afterwards.
# update to the latest Codex CLI
npm install -g @openai/codex@latest
# confirm the version
codex --version
Step 2: Add a QCode profile to config.toml
Add the QCode provider and profile to ~/.codex/config.toml so requests go to the QCode endpoint with your API key. Full details are in the Codex quick-start in the QCode docs.
# ~/.codex/config.toml — add the QCode profile
# full config reference:
# https://docs.qcode.cc/docs/getting-started/codex-quick-start
model = "gpt-5.6-terra" # default tier; sol / luna also available
# ... keep your QCode provider / auth settings unchanged
Step 3: Pick a tier with /model (or set it in config)
Launch codex and type /model to switch between gpt-5.6-sol / gpt-5.6-terra, or set model in config.toml as your default. QCode does not currently support gpt-5.6-luna or gpt-6-luna (both removed from /models), so please use another GPT model. Rule of thumb: Terra as default, Sol for the hard parts.
$ codex --profile qcode
> /model
gpt-5.6-sol
● gpt-5.6-terra ← selected
gpt-5.6-luna
gpt-5.5
Step 4: Verify it runs and bills correctly
Run a small task to confirm responses, then check your QCode dashboard usage — you should see calls under the gpt-5.6 tier you picked. All tiers share the same quota as GPT-5.5; nothing extra to buy.
$ codex "add a unit test for utils/retry.ts"
# response streams from gpt-5.6-terra
# then: qcode.cc dashboard → usage
# calls appear under the gpt-5.6 tier you selected
FAQ
I can't update the CLI (version-pinned). Can I still use GPT-5.6?
Yes. Older versions can register models manually via the model-catalog mechanism — the process is identical to our earlier GPT-5.5 enablement guide, just with gpt-5.6-sol / terra as the model ids in the JSON (QCode does not currently support Luna). Updating the CLI remains the preferred path though: one command replaces all manual steps.
Which tier should I pick?
Terra for daily work (beats GPT-5.5 at about half of Sol's price); Sol for hard jobs like cross-repo refactors; Luna for completions, batch and light CI tasks (QCode does not currently support Luna — use another GPT model such as gpt-5.6-terra). See our Sol vs Terra vs Luna guide for the full comparison. Sol vs Terra vs Luna →
How do billing and quota work?
gpt-5.6-sol and gpt-5.6-terra share one QCode key and one quota with GPT-5.5, Claude and Gemini, billed by usage. As of 2026-08-30, Sol and Terra match OpenAI's API list: Sol $5/$30, Terra $2/$12 per million tokens; QCode does not currently support gpt-5.6-luna or gpt-6-luna (both removed from /models), so please use another GPT model, such as gpt-6.1-sol, gpt-6-sol or gpt-5.6-terra. Live rates are on /models.
Any difference between calling via QCode and OpenAI directly?
The models and API behavior are the same standard interface. The difference is the onramp: QCode adds China-optimized low-latency endpoints, local payment, and one key across Claude / GPT / Gemini — no self-hosted proxy or overseas payment method needed.
Try GPT-5.6 in Codex now
Create a QCode account, activate a plan from $8.57/mo to get your API key, and run gpt-5.6-sol / gpt-5.6-terra in Codex CLI within five minutes (QCode does not currently support Luna).
Create a QCode account
Plans from ¥60 / $8.57. One key across Claude, GPT, and Gemini models.