1# Remote connections1# Remote connections
2 2
3SSH remote connections are currently in alpha. To enable them today, set3import {
4 `remote_connections = true` in the `[features]` table in4 Desktop,
5 `~/.codex/config.toml`. Availability, setup flows, and supported environments5 Storage,
6 may change as the feature improves.6 Terminal,
7} from "@components/react/oai/platform/ui/Icon.react";
7 8
8Remote connections let Codex work with projects that live on another9Remote connections let you use Codex when you are away from the machine that
9SSH-accessible machine. Use them when the codebase, credentials, services, or10runs it, or when your project lives on another machine. Connect the ChatGPT
10build environment you need are available on that host instead of your local11mobile app to a Codex App host, pick up work from another device, or configure
11machine.12Codex to work on an SSH host.
13
14Remote access uses the connected host's projects, threads, files, credentials,
15permissions, plugins, Computer Use, browser setup, and local tools.
16
17## What you can do remotely
18
19- Start new threads in projects on the host, or continue existing ones.
20- Send follow-up instructions, answer questions, and steer active work.
21- Approve commands and other actions.
22- Review outputs, diffs, test results, terminal output, and screenshots.
23- Get notified when Codex completes a task or needs your attention.
24- Switch between connected hosts and threads.
25
26The next sections cover using the ChatGPT mobile app to control a Codex App
27host. To connect Codex to a project on an SSH host, see
28[connect to an SSH host](#connect-to-an-ssh-host).
29
30<div class="not-prose my-6 max-w-4xl rounded-xl bg-[url('/images/codex/codex-wallpaper-1.webp')] bg-cover bg-center p-4 md:p-8">
31 <CodexScreenshot
32 alt="Codex mobile setup screen alongside the ChatGPT mobile Codex project list"
33 lightSrc="/images/codex/app/mobile-setup-light.webp"
34 darkSrc="/images/codex/app/mobile-setup-dark.webp"
35 variant="no-wallpaper"
36 maxHeight="none"
37 maxWidth="420px"
38 />
39</div>
40
41## Before you set up mobile access
42
43Make sure you have:
44
45- Codex access in the ChatGPT account and workspace you want to use.
46- The latest ChatGPT mobile app on an iOS or Android device. If you do not see
47 Codex in the app, update ChatGPT first.
48- A Mac host that is awake, online, running the Codex App, and signed in to the
49 same account and workspace. Mobile setup and device control currently require
50 the Codex App for macOS on the host; the setup flow isn't available from the
51 Codex CLI or IDE Extension.
52- Any required multi-factor authentication, SSO, or passkey configuration for
53 that account or workspace.
54
55If you use Codex through a ChatGPT workspace, your admin may need to enable
56Remote Control access before you can connect from your phone.
57
58## Set up mobile access
59
60Start in the Codex App on the host you want to connect. The setup flow enables
61remote access for that host, then shows a QR code you can scan from your phone.
62
63<WorkflowSteps variant="headings">
64
651. Start Codex mobile setup.
66
67 Open Codex on the host and select **Set up Codex mobile** in the
68 sidebar.
69
702. Scan the QR code.
71
72 Use your phone to scan the QR code shown by Codex. The code opens ChatGPT so
73 you can finish connecting the mobile app to the host.
74
753. Finish setup in ChatGPT.
76
77 ChatGPT opens the Codex mobile setup flow. Confirm the same ChatGPT account
78 and workspace, then complete any required multi-factor authentication, SSO,
79 or passkey steps. After setup succeeds, the host appears in Codex on your
80 phone.
81
824. Review host settings.
83
84 In Codex on the host, use **Settings > Connections** to manage connected
85 devices. You can also choose whether to keep the computer awake, enable
86 Computer Use, or install the Chrome extension.
87
88</WorkflowSteps>
89
90<div class="not-prose my-6 max-w-4xl">
91 <CodexScreenshot
92 alt="Connections settings showing devices that can control this Mac and remote access settings"
93 lightSrc="/images/codex/app/mobile-control-this-mac-framed-light.webp"
94 darkSrc="/images/codex/app/mobile-control-this-mac-framed-dark.webp"
95 maxHeight="480px"
96 class="p-3 sm:p-4"
97 imageClass="rounded-xl"
98 />
99</div>
100
101## Choose what to connect
102
103Start with the Mac laptop or desktop where you already use Codex. Add an
104always-on Mac or SSH host when you need continuous access or a different
105environment.
106
107### <span class="not-prose inline-flex items-center gap-3 align-middle"><span class="inline-flex h-7 w-7 shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-md bg-surface-secondary text-secondary"><Desktop width={17} height={17} /></span><span>Your Mac laptop or desktop</span></span>
108
109Connect the Mac where you already run Codex day to day. This gives remote access
110to the same projects, threads, credentials, plugins, and local setup you already
111use.
112
113If that Mac sleeps, loses network access, or closes Codex, remote access stops
114until it is available again. If you use this computer as your host device, keep
115it plugged in and turn on **Keep this Mac awake** in the host's connection
116settings.
117
118### <span class="not-prose inline-flex items-center gap-3 align-middle"><span class="inline-flex h-7 w-7 shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-md bg-surface-secondary text-secondary"><Storage width={17} height={17} /></span><span>A dedicated always-on Mac</span></span>
119
120Use a dedicated always-on Mac when you want Codex to stay reachable for
121longer-running work.
122
123Install the projects, credentials, plugins, MCP servers, and tools Codex should
124use on that machine.
125
126### <span class="not-prose inline-flex items-center gap-3 align-middle"><span class="inline-flex h-7 w-7 shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-md bg-surface-secondary text-secondary"><Terminal width={17} height={17} /></span><span>A remote development environment</span></span>
127
128Use an SSH host or managed devbox when the project already lives in a remote
129environment. Connect the Codex App host to that environment first; your phone
130still connects to the Codex App host, and Codex works in the remote environment
131with its dependencies, security policies, and compute resources.
132
133For SSH setup details, see [connect to an SSH host](#connect-to-an-ssh-host).
134
135## What comes from the connected host
136
137Your phone sends prompts, approvals, and follow-up messages to Codex. The
138connected host provides the environment Codex uses.
139
140That means:
141
142- Repository files and local documents come from the connected host.
143- Shell commands run on that host or remote environment.
144- Any plugin installed on that host is available when you use Codex remotely.
145- MCP servers, skills, browser access, and Computer Use come from that host's
146 configuration.
147- Signed-in websites and desktop apps are available only when the host can
148 access them.
149- Sandboxing, security controls, and action approvals still apply to the
150 connected session.
151
152Codex uses a secure relay layer to keep trusted machines reachable across your
153authorized ChatGPT devices without exposing them directly to the public
154internet.
155
156## Pick up work from another device
157
158You can also connect one Codex App host to another. For example, if your laptop
159is unavailable, you can start a thread from your phone on an always-on host,
160then later open Codex on your laptop and continue that thread from there.
161
162In Codex on the laptop, use **Settings > Connections > Control other devices**
163to add the other host. A device can allow remote access and control another
164device at the same time.
165
166<div class="not-prose my-6 max-w-4xl">
167 <CodexScreenshot
168 alt="Connections settings showing another device available under Control other devices"
169 lightSrc="/images/codex/app/mobile-control-other-devices-framed-light.webp"
170 darkSrc="/images/codex/app/mobile-control-other-devices-framed-dark.webp"
171 maxHeight="360px"
172 class="p-3 sm:p-4"
173 imageClass="rounded-xl"
174 />
175</div>
176
177## Connect to an SSH host
178
179In the Codex App, add remote projects from an SSH host and run threads against
180the remote filesystem and shell. Remote project threads run commands, read
181files, and write changes on the remote host.
12 182
13Keep the remote host configured with the same security expectations you use for183Keep the remote host configured with the same security expectations you use for
14normal SSH access: trusted keys, least-privilege accounts, and no184normal SSH access: trusted keys, least-privilege accounts, and no
15unauthenticated public listeners.185unauthenticated public listeners.
16 186
17## Codex app
18
19In the Codex app, add remote projects from an SSH host and run threads against
20the remote filesystem and shell.
21
22<WorkflowSteps variant="headings">187<WorkflowSteps variant="headings">
23 188
241. Add the host to your SSH config so Codex can auto-discover it.1891. Add the host to your SSH config so Codex can auto-discover it.
33 Codex reads concrete host aliases from `~/.ssh/config`, resolves them with198 Codex reads concrete host aliases from `~/.ssh/config`, resolves them with
34 OpenSSH, and ignores pattern-only hosts.199 OpenSSH, and ignores pattern-only hosts.
35 200
362. Confirm you can SSH to the host from the machine running the Codex app.2012. Confirm you can SSH to the host from the machine running the Codex App.
37 202
38 ```bash203 ```bash
39 ssh devbox204 ssh devbox
45 user's login shell. Make sure the `codex` command is available on the210 user's login shell. Make sure the `codex` command is available on the
46 remote host's `PATH` in that shell.211 remote host's `PATH` in that shell.
47 212
484. In the Codex app, open **Settings > Connections**, add or enable the SSH host,2134. In the Codex App, open **Settings > Connections**, add or enable the SSH
49 then choose a remote project folder.214 host, then choose a remote project folder.
50 215
51</WorkflowSteps>216</WorkflowSteps>
52 217
58remote_connections = true223remote_connections = true
59```224```
60 225
61Remote project threads run commands, read files, and write changes on the
62remote host.
63
64<CodexScreenshot226<CodexScreenshot
65 alt="Codex app settings showing SSH remote connections"227 alt="Codex app settings showing SSH remote connections"
66 lightSrc="/images/codex/app/remote-connections-light.webp"228 lightSrc="/images/codex/app/remote-connections-light.webp"
67 darkSrc="/images/codex/app/remote-connections-dark.webp"229 darkSrc="/images/codex/app/remote-connections-dark.webp"
68 maxHeight="420px"230 maxHeight="420px"
69 variant="no-wallpaper"231 class="p-3 sm:p-4"
232 imageClass="rounded-xl"
70/>233/>
71 234
72## Authentication and network exposure235## Authentication and network exposure
78mesh networking tool such as Tailscale instead of exposing the app server241mesh networking tool such as Tailscale instead of exposing the app server
79directly to the internet.242directly to the internet.
80 243
244## Troubleshooting
245
246### You do not see the host on your phone
247
248Confirm that the Codex App is running on the host, **Allow other devices to
249connect** is enabled, and the same ChatGPT account and workspace are selected on
250both devices.
251
252### The approval request does not appear
253
254Open the ChatGPT mobile app and go to Codex. Confirm that the phone and host use
255the same ChatGPT account and workspace, then scan the QR code again or restart
256setup from the host. If you use a ChatGPT workspace, ask your admin to confirm
257that Remote Control access is enabled.
258
259### The remote session disconnects
260
261Check whether the host went to sleep, lost network access, or closed Codex.
262Keep the host awake and connected while Codex works.
263
264### Authentication blocks setup
265
266Complete the account or workspace authentication prompt shown during setup. If
267your organization requires SSO, multi-factor authentication, or a passkey,
268finish that flow before trying again. If setup still fails, ask your workspace
269admin to confirm that Remote Control access is enabled.
270
81## See also271## See also
82 272
83- [Codex app settings](https://developers.openai.com/codex/app/settings)273- [Codex App](https://developers.openai.com/codex/app)
274- [Codex App features](https://developers.openai.com/codex/app/features)
275- [Codex App settings](https://developers.openai.com/codex/app/settings)
276- [Computer Use](https://developers.openai.com/codex/app/computer-use)
277- [Chrome extension](https://developers.openai.com/codex/app/chrome-extension)
84- [Command line options](https://developers.openai.com/codex/cli/reference)278- [Command line options](https://developers.openai.com/codex/cli/reference)
85- [Authentication](https://developers.openai.com/codex/auth)279- [Authentication](https://developers.openai.com/codex/auth)
