app/windows.md Codex Docs, 2026-03-04 06:20 UTC → 2026-03-04 18:18 UTC

1# Codex app1# Windows

2 2 

3The Codex app is a focused desktop experience for working on Codex threads in parallel, with built-in worktree support, automations, and Git functionality.3The [Codex app for Windows](https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9plm9xgg6vks?hl=en-US&gl=US) gives you one interface for

4working across projects, running parallel agent threads, and reviewing results.

5It runs natively on Windows using PowerShell and the

6[Windows sandbox](https://developers.openai.com/codex/windows#windows-sandbox), or you can configure it to

7run in [Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)](#windows-subsystem-for-linux-wsl).

4 8 

5ChatGPT Plus, Pro, Business, Edu, and Enterprise plans include Codex. Learn more about [what’s included](https://developers.openai.com/codex/pricing).9![Codex app for Windows showing a project sidebar, active thread, and review pane](/images/codex/windows/codex-windows-light.webp)

6 10 

7![Codex app window with a project sidebar, active thread, and review pane](/images/codex/app/app-screenshot-light.webp)11## Download and update the Codex app

8 12 

9## Getting started13Download the Codex app from the

14[Microsoft Store](https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9plm9xgg6vks?hl=en-US&gl=US).

10 15 

11The Codex app is available on macOS (Apple Silicon).16Then follow the [quickstart](https://developers.openai.com/codex/quickstart?setup=app) to get started.

12 17 

131. Download and install the Codex app18To update the app, open the Microsoft Store, go to **Downloads**, and click

19**Check for updates**. The Store installs the latest version afterward.

14 20 

15 The Codex app is currently only available for macOS.21For enterprises, administrators can deploy the app with Microsoft Store app

22distribution through enterprise management tools.

16 23 

17 [Download for macOS](https://persistent.oaistatic.com/codex-app-prod/Codex.dmg)24## Customize for your dev setup

18 25 

19 [Get notified for Windows and Linux](https://openai.com/form/codex-app/)26### Preferred editor

202. Open Codex and sign in

21 27 

22 Once you downloaded and installed the Codex app, open it and sign in with your ChatGPT account or an OpenAI API key.28Choose a default app for **Open**, such as Visual Studio, VS Code, or another

29editor. You can override that choice per project. If you already picked a

30different app from the **Open** menu for a project, that project-specific

31choice takes precedence.

23 32 

24 If you sign in with an OpenAI API key, some functionality such as [cloud threads](https://developers.openai.com/codex/prompting#threads) might not be available.33![Codex app settings showing the default Open In app on Windows](/images/codex/windows/open-in-windows-light.webp)

253. Select a project

26 34 

27 Choose a project folder that you want Codex to work in.35### Integrated terminal

28 36 

29If you used the Codex app, CLI, or IDE Extension before you’ll see past projects that you worked on.37You can also choose the default integrated terminal. Depending on what you have

38installed, options include:

30 39 

314. Send your first message40- PowerShell

41- Command Prompt

42- Git Bash

43- WSL

32 44 

33 After choosing the project, make sure **Local** is selected to have Codex work on your machine and send your first message to Codex.45This change applies only to new terminal sessions. If you already have an

46integrated terminal open, restart the app or start a new thread before

47expecting the new default terminal to appear.

34 48 

35 You can ask Codex anything about the project or your computer in general. Here are some examples:49![Codex app settings showing the integrated terminal selection on Windows](/images/codex/windows/integrated-shell-light.webp)

36 50 

37- Tell me about this project51## Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)

38- Build a classic Snake game in this repo.

39- Find and fix bugs in my codebase with minimal, high-confidence changes.

40 52 

41 If you need more inspiration, check out the [explore section](https://developers.openai.com/codex/explore).53By default, the Codex app uses the Windows-native agent. That means the agent

54runs commands in PowerShell. The app can still work with projects that live in

55Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) by using the `wsl` CLI when needed.

42 56 

57If you want to add a project from the WSL filesystem, click **Add new project**

58or press <kbd>Ctrl</kbd>+<kbd>O</kbd>, then type `\\wsl$\` into the File

59Explorer window. From there, choose your Linux distribution and the folder you

60want to open.

43 61 

44## Work with the Codex app62If you plan to keep using the Windows-native agent, prefer storing projects on

63your Windows filesystem and accessing them from WSL through

64`/mnt/<drive>/...`. This setup is more reliable than opening projects

65directly from the WSL filesystem.

45 66 

46[### Multitask across projects67If you want the agent itself to run in WSL, open **[Settings](codex://settings)**,

68switch the agent from Windows native to WSL, and **restart the app**. The

69change doesn't take effect until you restart. Your projects should remain in

70place after restart.

47 71 

48Run multiple tasks in parallel and switch quickly between them.](https://developers.openai.com/codex/app/features#multitask-across-projects)[### Built-in Git tools72![Codex app settings showing the agent selector with Windows native and WSL options](/images/codex/windows/wsl-select-light.webp)

49 73 

50Review diffs, comment inline, stage or revert chunks, and commit without leaving the app.](https://developers.openai.com/codex/app/features#built-in-git-tools)[### Worktrees for parallel tasks74You configure the integrated terminal independently from the agent. See

75[Customize for your dev setup](#customize-for-your-dev-setup) for the

76terminal options. You can keep the agent in WSL and still use PowerShell in the

77terminal, or use WSL for both, depending on your workflow.

51 78 

52Isolate changes of multiple Codex threads using built-in Git worktree support.](https://developers.openai.com/codex/app/worktrees)[### Skills support79## Useful developer tools

53 80 

54Give your Codex agent additional capabilities and reuse skills across App, CLI, and IDE Extension.](https://developers.openai.com/codex/app/features#skills-support)[### Automations81Codex works best when a few common developer tools are already installed:

55 82 

56Pair skills with automations to automate recurring tasks in the background. Codex adds findings to the inbox, or automatically archives runs if there’s nothing to report.](https://developers.openai.com/codex/app/automations)[### Built-in terminal83- **Git**: Powers the review panel in the Codex app and lets you inspect or

84 revert changes.

85- **Node.js**: A common tool that the agent uses to perform tasks more

86 efficiently.

87- **Python**: A common tool that the agent uses to perform tasks more

88 efficiently.

89- **.NET SDK**: Useful when you want to build native Windows apps.

90- **GitHub CLI**: Powers GitHub-specific functionality in the Codex app.

57 91 

58Open a terminal per thread to test your changes, run dev servers, scripts, and custom commands.](https://developers.openai.com/codex/app/features#integrated-terminal)[### Local environments92Install them with the default Windows package manager `winget` by pasting this

93into the [integrated terminal](https://developers.openai.com/codex/app/features#integrated-terminal) or

94asking Codex to install them:

59 95 

60Define worktree setup scripts and common project actions for easy access.](https://developers.openai.com/codex/app/local-environments)[### Sync with the IDE extension96```powershell

97winget install --id Git.Git

98winget install --id OpenJS.NodeJS.LTS

99winget install --id Python.Python.3.14

100winget install --id Microsoft.DotNet.SDK.10

101winget install --id GitHub.cli

102```

61 103 

62Share Auto Context and active threads across app and IDE sessions.](https://developers.openai.com/codex/app/features#sync-with-the-ide-extension)[### MCP support104After installing GitHub CLI, run `gh auth login` to enable GitHub features in

105the app.

63 106 

64Connect your Codex agent to additional services using MCP.](https://developers.openai.com/codex/app/features#mcp-support)107If you need a different Python or .NET version, change the package IDs to the

108version you want.

65 109 

110## Troubleshooting and FAQ

66 111 

67Need help? Visit the [troubleshooting guide](https://developers.openai.com/codex/app/troubleshooting).112### Run commands with elevated permissions

113 

114If you need Codex to run commands with elevated permissions, start the Codex app

115itself as an administrator. After installation, open the Start menu, find

116Codex, and choose Run as administrator. The Codex agent inherits that

117permission level.

118 

119### PowerShell execution policy blocks commands

120 

121If you have never used tools such as Node.js or `npm` in PowerShell before, the

122Codex agent or integrated terminal may hit execution policy errors.

123 

124This can also happen if Codex creates PowerShell scripts for you. In that case,

125you may need a less restrictive execution policy before PowerShell will run

126them.

127 

128An error may look something like this:

129 

130```text

131npm.ps1 cannot be loaded because running scripts is disabled on this system.

132```

133 

134A common fix is to set the execution policy to `RemoteSigned`:

135 

136```powershell

137Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

138```

139 

140For details and other options, check Microsoft's

141[execution policy guide](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.core/about/about_execution_policies)

142before changing the policy.

143 

144### Local environment scripts on Windows

145 

146If your [local environment](https://developers.openai.com/codex/app/local-environments) uses cross-platform

147commands such as `npm` scripts, you can keep one shared setup script or

148set of actions for every platform.

149 

150If you need Windows-specific behavior, create Windows-specific setup scripts or

151Windows-specific actions.

152 

153Actions run in the environment used by your integrated terminal. See

154[Customize for your dev setup](#customize-for-your-dev-setup).

155 

156Local setup scripts run in the agent environment: WSL if the agent uses WSL,

157and PowerShell otherwise.

158 

159### Git features are unavailable

160 

161If you don't have Git installed natively on Windows, the app can't use some

162features. Install it with `winget install Git.Git` from PowerShell or `cmd.exe`.