auth.md Codex Docs, 2026-02-19 20:37 UTC → 2026-03-07 06:14 UTC

1# Authentication1# Authentication

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3Sign-in methods for Codex

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5## OpenAI authentication3## OpenAI authentication

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7Codex supports two ways to sign in when using OpenAI models:5Codex supports two ways to sign in when using OpenAI models:

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12Codex cloud requires signing in with ChatGPT. The Codex CLI and IDE extension support both sign-in methods.10Codex cloud requires signing in with ChatGPT. The Codex CLI and IDE extension support both sign-in methods.

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12Your sign-in method also determines which admin controls and data-handling policies apply.

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14- With sign in with ChatGPT, Codex usage follows your ChatGPT workspace permissions, RBAC, and ChatGPT Enterprise retention and residency settings

15- With an API key, usage follows your API organization's retention and data-sharing settings instead

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17For the CLI, Sign in with ChatGPT is the default authentication path when no valid session is available.

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14### Sign in with ChatGPT19### Sign in with ChatGPT

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16When you sign in with ChatGPT from the Codex app, CLI, or IDE Extension, Codex opens a browser window for you to complete the login flow. After you sign in, the browser returns an access token to the CLI or IDE extension.21When you sign in with ChatGPT from the Codex app, CLI, or IDE Extension, Codex opens a browser window for you to complete the login flow. After you sign in, the browser returns an access token to the CLI or IDE extension.

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22OpenAI bills API key usage through your OpenAI Platform account at standard API rates. See the [API pricing page](https://openai.com/api/pricing/).27OpenAI bills API key usage through your OpenAI Platform account at standard API rates. See the [API pricing page](https://openai.com/api/pricing/).

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29Recommendation is to use API key authentication for programmatic Codex CLI workflows (for example CI/CD jobs). Do not expose Codex execution in untrusted or publicly triggerable environments.

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24## Secure your Codex cloud account31## Secure your Codex cloud account

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26Codex cloud interacts directly with your codebase, so it needs stronger security than many other ChatGPT features. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA).33Codex cloud interacts directly with your codebase, so it needs stronger security than many other ChatGPT features. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA).

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46Codex caches login details locally in a plaintext file at `~/.codex/auth.json` or in your OS-specific credential store.53Codex caches login details locally in a plaintext file at `~/.codex/auth.json` or in your OS-specific credential store.

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55For sign in with ChatGPT sessions, Codex refreshes tokens automatically during use before they expire, so active sessions usually continue without requiring another browser login.

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48## Credential storage57## Credential storage

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50Use `cli_auth_credentials_store` to control where the Codex CLI stores cached credentials:59Use `cli_auth_credentials_store` to control where the Codex CLI stores cached credentials:

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77If the active credentials don't match the configured restrictions, Codex logs the user out and exits.86If the active credentials don't match the configured restrictions, Codex logs the user out and exits.

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79These settings are commonly applied via managed configuration rather than per-user setup. See [Managed configuration](https://developers.openai.com/codex/security#managed-configuration).88These settings are commonly applied via managed configuration rather than per-user setup. See [Managed configuration](https://developers.openai.com/codex/enterprise/managed-configuration).

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81## Login on headless devices90## Login on headless devices

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132docker cp ~/.codex/auth.json MY_CONTAINER:"$CONTAINER_HOME/.codex/auth.json"141docker cp ~/.codex/auth.json MY_CONTAINER:"$CONTAINER_HOME/.codex/auth.json"

133```142```

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144For a more advanced version of this same pattern on trusted CI/CD runners, see

145[Maintain Codex account auth in CI/CD (advanced)](https://developers.openai.com/codex/auth/ci-cd-auth).

146That guide explains how to let Codex refresh `auth.json` during normal runs and

147then keep the updated file for the next job. API keys are still the recommended

148default for automation.

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135### Fallback: Forward the localhost callback over SSH150### Fallback: Forward the localhost callback over SSH

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137If you can forward ports between your local machine and the remote host, you can use the standard browser-based flow by tunneling Codex's local callback server (default `localhost:1455`).152If you can forward ports between your local machine and the remote host, you can use the standard browser-based flow by tunneling Codex's local callback server (default `localhost:1455`).