app/features.md Codex Docs, 2026-04-16 18:31 UTC → 2026-05-12 01:59 UTC

3The Codex app is a focused desktop experience for working on Codex threads in parallel,3The Codex app is a focused desktop experience for working on Codex threads in parallel,

4with built-in worktree support, automations, and Git functionality.4with built-in worktree support, automations, and Git functionality.

5 5 

6Most Codex app features are available on both macOS and Windows.

7The sections below note platform-specific exceptions.

8 

9<YouTubeEmbed

10 title="Introducing the Codex app"

11 videoId="HFM3se4lNiw"

12 class="max-w-md"

13/>

14 

6---15---

7 16 

17<section class="feature-grid">

18 

19<div>

20 

8## Multitask across projects21## Multitask across projects

9 22 

10Use one Codex app window to run tasks across projects. Add a project for each23Use one Codex app window to run tasks across projects. Add a project for each

17distinct projects into separate app projects so the [sandbox](https://developers.openai.com/codex/agent-approvals-security)30distinct projects into separate app projects so the [sandbox](https://developers.openai.com/codex/agent-approvals-security)

18only includes the files for that project.31only includes the files for that project.

19 32 

20![Codex app showing multiple projects in the sidebar and threads in the main pane](/images/codex/app/multitask-light.webp)33</div>

34 

35<CodexScreenshot

36 alt="Codex app showing multiple projects in the sidebar and threads in the main pane"

37 lightSrc="/images/codex/app/multitask-light.webp"

38 darkSrc="/images/codex/app/multitask-dark.webp"

39 maxHeight="400px"

40/>

41 

42</section>

43 

44<section class="feature-grid inverse">

45 

46<div>

21 47 

22## Skills support48## Skills support

23 49 

25IDE Extension. You can also view and explore new skills that your team has51IDE Extension. You can also view and explore new skills that your team has

26created across your different projects by clicking Skills in the sidebar.52created across your different projects by clicking Skills in the sidebar.

27 53 

28![Skills picker showing available skills in the Codex app](/images/codex/app/skill-selector-light.webp)54</div>

55 

56<CodexScreenshot

57 alt="Skills picker showing available skills in the Codex app"

58 lightSrc="/images/codex/app/skill-selector-light.webp"

59 darkSrc="/images/codex/app/skill-selector-dark.webp"

60 maxHeight="400px"

61/>

62 

63</section>

64 

65<section class="feature-grid">

66 

67<div>

29 68 

30## Automations69## Automations

31 70 

34codebase changes. For ongoing work that should stay in one thread, use a73codebase changes. For ongoing work that should stay in one thread, use a

35[thread automation](https://developers.openai.com/codex/app/automations#thread-automations).74[thread automation](https://developers.openai.com/codex/app/automations#thread-automations).

36 75 

37![Automation creation form with schedule and prompt fields](/images/codex/app/create-automation-light.webp)76</div>

77 

78<CodexScreenshot

79 alt="Automation creation form with schedule and prompt fields"

80 lightSrc="/images/codex/app/create-automation-light.webp"

81 darkSrc="/images/codex/app/create-automation-dark.webp"

82 maxHeight="400px"

83/>

84 

85</section>

86 

87<section class="feature-grid inverse">

88 

89<div>

38 90 

39## Modes91## Modes

40 92 

48 100 

49For the full glossary and concepts, explore the [concepts section](https://developers.openai.com/codex/prompting).101For the full glossary and concepts, explore the [concepts section](https://developers.openai.com/codex/prompting).

50 102 

51![New thread composer with Local, Worktree, and Cloud mode options](/images/codex/app/modes-light.webp)103</div>

104 

105<CodexScreenshot

106 alt="New thread composer with Local, Worktree, and Cloud mode options"

107 lightSrc="/images/codex/app/modes-light.webp"

108 darkSrc="/images/codex/app/modes-dark.webp"

109 maxHeight="400px"

110/>

111 

112</section>

113 

114<section class="feature-grid">

115 

116<div>

52 117 

53## Built-in Git tools118## Built-in Git tools

54 119 

62 127 

63For more advanced Git tasks, use the [integrated terminal](#integrated-terminal).128For more advanced Git tasks, use the [integrated terminal](#integrated-terminal).

64 129 

65![Git diff and commit panel with a commit message field](/images/codex/app/git-commit-light.webp)130</div>

131 

132<CodexScreenshot

133 alt="Git diff and commit panel with a commit message field"

134 lightSrc="/images/codex/app/git-commit-light.webp"

135 darkSrc="/images/codex/app/git-commit-dark.webp"

136 maxHeight="400px"

137/>

138 

139</section>

140 

141<section class="feature-grid inverse">

142 

143<div>

66 144 

67## Worktree support145## Worktree support

68 146 

77 155 

78[Learn more about using worktrees in the Codex app.](https://developers.openai.com/codex/app/worktrees)156[Learn more about using worktrees in the Codex app.](https://developers.openai.com/codex/app/worktrees)

79 157 

80![Worktree thread view showing branch actions and worktree details](/images/codex/app/worktree-light.webp)158</div>

159 

160<CodexScreenshot

161 alt="Worktree thread view showing branch actions and worktree details"

162 lightSrc="/images/codex/app/worktree-light.webp"

163 darkSrc="/images/codex/app/worktree-dark.webp"

164 maxHeight="400px"

165/>

166 

167</section>

168 

169<section class="feature-grid">

170 

171<div>

81 172 

82## Integrated terminal173## Integrated terminal

83 174 

102Note that <kbd>Cmd</kbd>+<kbd>K</kbd> opens the command palette in the Codex193Note that <kbd>Cmd</kbd>+<kbd>K</kbd> opens the command palette in the Codex

103app. It doesn't clear the terminal. To clear the terminal use <kbd>Ctrl</kbd>+<kbd>L</kbd>.194app. It doesn't clear the terminal. To clear the terminal use <kbd>Ctrl</kbd>+<kbd>L</kbd>.

104 195 

105![Integrated terminal drawer open beneath a Codex thread](/images/codex/app/integrated-terminal-light.webp)196</div>

197 

198<CodexScreenshot

199 alt="Integrated terminal drawer open beneath a Codex thread"

200 lightSrc="/images/codex/app/integrated-terminal-light.webp"

201 darkSrc="/images/codex/app/integrated-terminal-dark.webp"

202 maxHeight="400px"

203/>

204 

205</section>

206 

207<section class="feature-grid inverse">

208 

209<div>

106 210 

107## Native Windows sandbox211## Native Windows sandbox

108 212 

112 216 

113[Learn more about Windows setup and sandboxing](https://developers.openai.com/codex/app/windows).217[Learn more about Windows setup and sandboxing](https://developers.openai.com/codex/app/windows).

114 218 

115![Codex app Windows sandbox setup prompt above the message composer](/images/codex/windows/windows-sandbox-setup.webp)219</div>

220 

221<CodexScreenshot

222 alt="Codex app Windows sandbox setup prompt above the message composer"

223 lightSrc="/images/codex/windows/windows-sandbox-setup.webp"

224 darkSrc="/images/codex/windows/windows-sandbox-setup.webp"

225 maxHeight="400px"

226/>

227 

228</section>

229 

230<section class="feature-grid inverse">

231 

232<div>

116 233 

117## Voice dictation234## Voice dictation

118 235 

119Use your voice to prompt Codex. Hold <kbd>Ctrl</kbd>+<kbd>M</kbd> while the composer is visible and start talking. Your voice will be transcribed. Edit the transcribed prompt or hit send to have Codex start work.236Use your voice to prompt Codex. Hold <kbd>Ctrl</kbd>+<kbd>M</kbd> while the composer is visible and start talking. Your voice will be transcribed. Edit the transcribed prompt or hit send to have Codex start work.

120 237 

121![Voice dictation indicator in the composer with a transcribed prompt](/images/codex/app/voice-dictation-light.webp)238</div>

239 

240<CodexScreenshot

241 alt="Voice dictation indicator in the composer with a transcribed prompt"

242 lightSrc="/images/codex/app/voice-dictation-light.webp"

243 darkSrc="/images/codex/app/voice-dictation-dark.webp"

244 maxHeight="400px"

245/>

246 

247</section>

248 

249<section class="feature-grid">

250 

251<div>

122 252 

123## Floating pop-out window253## Floating pop-out window

124 254 

129You can also toggle the pop-out window to stay on top when you want it to remain259You can also toggle the pop-out window to stay on top when you want it to remain

130visible across your workflow.260visible across your workflow.

131 261 

132![Pop-out window preview in light mode](/images/codex/app/popover-light.webp)262</div>

263 

264<CodexScreenshot

265 alt="Pop-out window preview in light mode"

266 lightSrc="/images/codex/app/popover-light.webp"

267 darkSrc="/images/codex/app/popover-dark.webp"

268 maxHeight="400px"

269/>

270 

271</section>

272 

273<section class="feature-grid">

274 

275<div>

133 276 

134## In-app browser277## In-app browser

135 278 

143Use browser comments to mark specific elements or areas on a page, then ask286Use browser comments to mark specific elements or areas on a page, then ask

144Codex to address that feedback.287Codex to address that feedback.

145 288 

146![Codex app showing a browser comment on a local web app preview](/images/codex/app/in-app-browser-light.webp)289When you want Codex to operate the page directly, use

290[browser use](https://developers.openai.com/codex/app/browser#browser-use) for local development servers and

291file-backed pages. You can manage the Browser plugin, allowed websites, and

292blocked websites from settings.

293 

294</div>

295 

296<CodexScreenshot

297 alt="Codex app showing a browser comment on a local web app preview"

298 lightSrc="/images/codex/app/in-app-browser-light.webp"

299 darkSrc="/images/codex/app/in-app-browser-dark.webp"

300 maxHeight="400px"

301 variant="no-wallpaper"

302/>

303 

304</section>

305 

306<section class="feature-grid inverse">

307 

308<div>

147 309 

148## Computer use310## Computer use

149 311 

158The feature isn't available in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or320The feature isn't available in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or

159Switzerland at launch.321Switzerland at launch.

160 322 

161![Codex app asking for permission to use Calculator with computer use](/images/codex/app/computer-use-approval-light.webp)323</div>

324 

325<CodexScreenshot

326 alt="Codex app asking for permission to use Calculator with computer use"

327 lightSrc="/images/codex/app/computer-use-approval-light.webp"

328 darkSrc="/images/codex/app/computer-use-approval-dark.webp"

329 maxHeight="400px"

330 variant="no-wallpaper"

331/>

332 

333</section>

334 

335<section class="feature-grid">

336 

337<div>

338 

339<a id="richer-outputs-and-artifacts"></a>

340<a id="task-sidebar"></a>

341<a id="artifact-viewer"></a>

162 342 

163## Work with non-code artifacts343## Work with non-code artifacts

164 344 

174surface the agent's plan, sources, generated artifacts, and task summary so you354surface the agent's plan, sources, generated artifacts, and task summary so you

175can steer the work, inspect generated files, and decide what needs another pass.355can steer the work, inspect generated files, and decide what needs another pass.

176 356 

177![Codex app showing a generated presentation in the artifact viewer](/images/codex/app/artifact-viewer-light.webp)357</div>

358 

359<CodexScreenshot

360 alt="Codex app showing a generated presentation in the artifact viewer"

361 lightSrc="/images/codex/app/artifact-viewer-light.webp"

362 darkSrc="/images/codex/app/artifact-viewer-dark.webp"

363 maxHeight="420px"

364 variant="no-wallpaper"

365/>

366 

367</section>

178 368 

179---369---

180 370 

222opening separate projects or using worktrees rather than asking Codex to roam412opening separate projects or using worktrees rather than asking Codex to roam

223outside the project root.413outside the project root.

224 414 

415If [automatic review](https://developers.openai.com/codex/agent-approvals-security#automatic-approval-reviews)

416is available in your workspace, you can choose it from the permissions selector.

417It keeps the same sandbox boundary but routes eligible approval requests through

418the configured review policy instead of waiting for you.

419 

225For a high-level overview, see [sandboxing](https://developers.openai.com/codex/concepts/sandboxing). For420For a high-level overview, see [sandboxing](https://developers.openai.com/codex/concepts/sandboxing). For

226configuration details, see the421configuration details, see the

227[agent approvals & security documentation](https://developers.openai.com/codex/agent-approvals-security).422[agent approvals & security documentation](https://developers.openai.com/codex/agent-approvals-security).

247 442 

248You can ask in natural language or explicitly invoke the image generation skill by including `$imagegen` in your prompt.443You can ask in natural language or explicitly invoke the image generation skill by including `$imagegen` in your prompt.

249 444 

250Built-in image generation uses `gpt-image-1.5`, counts toward your general Codex usage limits, and uses included limits 3-5x faster on average than similar turns without image generation, depending on image quality and size. For details, see [Pricing](https://developers.openai.com/codex/pricing#image-generation-usage-limits). For prompting tips and model details, see the [image generation guide](https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/guides/image-generation).445Built-in image generation uses `gpt-image-2`, counts toward your general Codex usage limits, and uses included limits 3-5x faster on average than similar turns without image generation, depending on image quality and size. For details, see [Pricing](https://developers.openai.com/codex/pricing#image-generation-usage-limits). For prompting tips and model details, see the [image generation guide](https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/guides/image-generation).

251 446 

252For larger batches of image generation, set `OPENAI_API_KEY` in your environment variables and ask Codex to generate images through the API so API pricing applies instead.447For larger batches of image generation, set `OPENAI_API_KEY` in your environment variables and ask Codex to generate images through the API so API pricing applies instead.

253 448 

259You can also ask Codex to view images on your system. By giving Codex tools to take screenshots of454You can also ask Codex to view images on your system. By giving Codex tools to take screenshots of

260the app you are working on, Codex can verify the work it's doing.455the app you are working on, Codex can verify the work it's doing.

261 456 

457<a id="projectless-threads"></a>

458 

262## Chats459## Chats

263 460 

264Chats are threads you can start when the task doesn't need a specific project461Chats are threads you can start when the task doesn't need a specific project