Codex Desktop & the ChatGPT Desktop App Guide
As of 2026-10-20, Codex on the desktop is the Codex mode inside the ChatGPT desktop app, and OpenAI recommends GPT-6.1 Sol for complex coding and agentic work. OpenAI introduced the Codex desktop app for macOS on February 2, 2026 and for Windows on March 4; since July 9, 2026, Codex has been part of the ChatGPT desktop app, keeping existing projects, settings and workflows.
Evolution: CLI to the ChatGPT desktop app
From the open-source Codex CLI to the Codex desktop app launched in 2026, and then into the ChatGPT desktop app.
2025-04-16
Codex CLI
Command-line coding assistant
2026-02-02
Codex app
macOS/Windows desktop app, parallel agents
2026-07-09
ChatGPT desktop app
Codex joins the ChatGPT desktop app (macOS and Windows)
Codex Desktop App Features
The Codex desktop app launched for macOS on 2026-02-02 and for Windows on 2026-03-04, running agent threads in parallel across projects and reviewing results in one interface; since 2026-10-09 the app offers composer predictions in beta, per the official changelog only to users aged 18+ on personal ChatGPT Pro plans in supported regions, in local and SSH threads with GPT-6 Astra or GPT-6.1 Sol: they suggest your next message from the current conversation and can be accepted with Tab as an editable draft.
Parallel Agent Management
Visual interface to manage multiple Codex Agent instances simultaneously, each handling different tasks with a clear task queue overview.
Real-time Visual Monitoring
Watch agent execution status, file changes, and command output in real time without switching terminals — dramatically improves debugging efficiency.
Model and reasoning control
Pick an available model and adjust reasoning effort with the model and reasoning control beneath the composer; as of 2026-10-20, OpenAI recommends GPT-6.1 Sol for complex coding and agentic work.
The ChatGPT desktop app: Chat, Work and Codex
Since July 9, 2026, Codex has been part of the ChatGPT desktop app on macOS and Windows; existing Codex app users update as usual, keep their projects, settings and workflows, and can make Codex the default view.
Chat
Quick questions and everyday chats
Codex
Software development with codebase context and developer tools
Work
Research, analysis and deliverables such as documents, presentations and spreadsheets
Parallel projects
Work on several projects and long-running tasks in one desktop workspace without losing context when you switch; the 2026-10-01 update also lets you move selected chats to a project at once.
Files and outputs
Open documents, spreadsheets, images and other files in the same workspace to create and inspect real outputs.
Browser, plugins and Computer Use
Use the browser, desktop apps and plugins; in supported regions, Computer Use can operate graphical interfaces on macOS and Windows.
Scheduled tasks
Create a standalone scheduled task or schedule a task inside an existing chat.
Models retired from Codex
All three were once selectable in Codex; as of 2026-10-20, all of them have been retired from Codex with ChatGPT sign-in.
GPT-5.3-Codex-Spark
RetiredOpenAI's docs state that GPT-5.3-Codex-Spark retired on 2026-09-14 and is no longer offered in the ChatGPT desktop app, Codex CLI or IDE extension (as of 2026-10-20).
GPT-5.4
Retired from CodexOpenAI's docs state that gpt-5.4 retired from Codex with ChatGPT sign-in on 2026-08-31, with gpt-6-sol as the named replacement; the OpenAI API and Codex used with your own API key are not affected (as of 2026-10-20).
GPT-5.5
Retired from CodexOpenAI's docs state that GPT-5.5 retired from ChatGPT, ChatGPT Work and Codex on all plans on 2026-10-14; the OpenAI API is not affected (as of 2026-10-20).
Using via QCode.cc
QCode.cc: one key for Claude, GPT and major Chinese models; see /models for the models you can call.
Codex CLI Configuration
# ~/.codex/config.toml (per the QCode docs; the provider name is up to you)
model_provider = "qcode"
model = "gpt-6.1-sol"
model_reasoning_effort = "high"
[model_providers.qcode]
name = "qcode"
base_url = "https://api.qcode.cc/openai"
wire_api = "responses"
requires_openai_auth = true
# ~/.codex/auth.json
{
"OPENAI_API_KEY": "cr_xxxxxxxxxx"
}
# shell
codex --version
codex "explain this project"Put your key (it starts with cr_) in OPENAI_API_KEY in ~/.codex/auth.json. To pass the key through an environment variable instead, replace requires_openai_auth = true in [model_providers.qcode] with env_key = "QCODE_API_KEY" and export QCODE_API_KEY. Use one or the other: the official docs state that Codex ignores env_key when requires_openai_auth = true.
Supported Features
Codex on the desktop as of 2026-10-20: setup and access notes
Where Codex lives on the desktop (as of 2026-10-20)
As of 2026-10-20, OpenAI's official docs describe the desktop experience as the ChatGPT desktop app. It is available for macOS, Windows and Linux; open it, switch between Chat, Work and Codex, and selecting Codex gets you the Codex mode for software development with codebase context and developer tools. The README of the official Codex CLI repository says you can run codex app for the desktop app experience, and the official command reference adds that on macOS and Windows codex app launches an installed ChatGPT desktop app, or starts the installer when the app is missing.
According to the official docs, the ChatGPT desktop app, Codex CLI and the IDE extension use the same config.toml file. The desktop app and the CLI can include different Codex versions, though, so features may reach one surface before the other; run codex --version in a terminal to see your CLI version.
Download, install and sign in
The official quickstart goes like this: install the ChatGPT desktop app, sign in with your ChatGPT account, choose where to work (a new chat, a project or a folder), then select Codex from the dropdown, click New chat and describe the task. ChatGPT can read and modify files in the folder you choose.
- macOS and Windows: download from chatgpt.com/download; on Windows you can also run winget install --id 9PLM9XGG6VKS -s msstore.
- Linux: OpenAI says the Linux app is in preview and supports Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and 26.04 LTS, Debian 13, Fedora 43 and 44, and Arch Linux, with packages for x64 and ARM64.
- Windows sandbox: the Windows app can use the native Windows sandbox in PowerShell or be configured to run in WSL2; to apply sandbox protections, select Ask for approval beneath the composer before sending messages.
- Signing in with an API key: on the signed-out screen choose Sign in another way and enter the key; OpenAI notes that features relying on ChatGPT workspace access or cloud services are limited, and Codex cloud requires signing in with ChatGPT.
Desktop app, CLI or IDE extension?
Going by the official docs, the desktop app suits coordinating several projects, creating and reviewing files, using the browser and Computer Use, and scheduling tasks. Codex CLI suits reading and editing code in the terminal, running local tools and wiring codex exec into scripts and CI. The IDE extension works beside your editor and shares the same configuration layers and cached login with the CLI. In the CLI you can also use /app to continue the current session in the desktop app.
- Computer Use: in supported regions, Computer Use in the ChatGPT desktop app works on macOS and Windows with ChatGPT Work and Codex once you install the Computer Use plugin; on macOS you also grant Screen Recording and Accessibility permissions.
- Models: OpenAI recommends GPT-6.1 Sol for complex coding and agentic work; in the desktop app you switch model and reasoning effort with the control beneath the composer.
- Retired models: GPT-5.3-Codex-Spark retired on 2026-09-14 and GPT-5.5 retired from Codex with ChatGPT sign-in on 2026-10-14, so update model names in older configurations.
- Stuck chats: OpenAI's troubleshooting advice is to check whether Codex is waiting for an approval, run a basic command such as git status in the terminal, and if needed start a new chat with a smaller, more focused prompt; the 2026-10-08 update also fixed queued messages getting stuck on Sending.
How to use Codex with QCode
The Codex guide in the QCode docs covers the CLI (in the docs' words, the version used through QCode.cc is the CLI version). Sign up for QCode and create an API key starting with cr_ in the dashboard; in your user-level ~/.codex/config.toml add a custom model provider (any name you like) with base_url https://api.qcode.cc/openai, wire_api responses and requires_openai_auth = true, and put the key in OPENAI_API_KEY in ~/.codex/auth.json; then pick a GPT model such as gpt-6-sol, gpt-6.1-sol or gpt-5.6-terra.
This setup serves GPT models only; for Claude models, set up Claude Code with the same key. Billed per token; per-model rates are listed on /models. You can pay with Alipay, WeChat Pay, credit cards (Visa / Mastercard), Apple Pay, Google Pay or crypto; setup takes minutes and is fully self-service.
More questions about Codex on the desktop
Which operating systems does the Codex desktop app support?
As of 2026-10-20, Codex on the desktop lives in the ChatGPT desktop app, which OpenAI supports on macOS, Windows and Linux. The Linux app is in preview and supports Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and 26.04 LTS, Debian 13, Fedora 43 and 44, and Arch Linux.
Is there still a separate Codex desktop app?
As of 2026-10-20, OpenAI's docs describe it as Codex inside the ChatGPT desktop app: switch between Chat, Work and Codex. The Codex CLI README says that running codex app gives you the desktop app experience, and the official command reference adds that it launches an installed ChatGPT desktop app, or starts the installer when the app is missing. The official changelog says Codex became part of the ChatGPT desktop app on macOS and Windows on July 9, 2026, and existing Codex app users keep their projects, settings and workflows when they update.
Can I sign in to the Codex desktop app with an API key?
Yes. OpenAI's docs say the ChatGPT desktop app, Codex CLI and IDE extension all support signing in with ChatGPT or with an API key. With an API key, usage is charged at OpenAI's official price (standard OpenAI API rates), features that rely on ChatGPT workspace access or cloud services are limited, and Codex cloud requires ChatGPT sign-in.
How does the Codex desktop app differ from Codex CLI?
The desktop app is built for running several projects in parallel, working with files, and using the browser and Computer Use; the CLI is built for the terminal coding loop and for wiring codex exec into scripts and CI, and /app moves the current session over to the desktop app when you want to. Both use the same config.toml, but they can ship different Codex versions, so new features may reach one before the other.
Can the Codex desktop app operate my computer (Computer Use)?
In supported regions, yes. OpenAI's docs say Computer Use in the ChatGPT desktop app works on macOS and Windows with ChatGPT Work and Codex: install Computer Use from the plugins, and on macOS grant Screen Recording and Accessibility permissions.
How do I use Codex with a QCode key?
Configure Codex CLI as the QCode docs describe: add a custom provider to ~/.codex/config.toml with base_url https://api.qcode.cc/openai and wire_api responses, and choose a GPT model such as gpt-6-sol or gpt-6.1-sol. The Codex guide in the QCode docs is written for the CLI; usage is billed per token, with per-model rates on /models.
How do I pay for QCode and get started?
Sign up, top up your balance, pick a plan, then create an API key in the dashboard. In CNY you can pay with Alipay or WeChat Pay; in USD with Visa / Mastercard credit cards, Apple Pay or Google Pay; crypto is accepted across many coins and networks, and everything is self-service. Billed per token; per-model rates are listed on /models.
Access Both Claude & Codex via QCode.cc
One key for Claude, GPT and major Chinese models, with the callable models listed on /models; set up in minutes, fully self-service.
April 16, 2026 update: in-app browser, Computer Use and PR review in the Codex app
OpenAI's official changelog says the Codex app update of 2026-04-16 (26.415) added an early in-app browser that opens local or public pages that don't require sign-in and lets you comment on the rendered page; Computer Use, which lets Codex operate macOS apps by seeing, clicking and typing (not available in the EEA, the UK or Switzerland at launch); chats that start without choosing a project folder, plus thread automations that wake the same thread on a schedule; GitHub pull requests in the sidebar with review comments in the diff; an artifact viewer for PDFs, spreadsheets, documents and presentations; and SSH remote connections rolling out in alpha, multiple terminals and new plugins. In OpenAI's words, Codex is becoming a broader workspace for getting work done with AI.
Read the Codex Computer Use guide