cli.md Codex Docs, 2026-03-07 18:10 UTC → 2026-05-13 00:57 UTC

3Codex CLI is OpenAI's coding agent that you can run locally from your terminal. It can read, change, and run code on your machine in the selected directory.3Codex CLI is OpenAI's coding agent that you can run locally from your terminal. It can read, change, and run code on your machine in the selected directory.

4It's [open source](https://github.com/openai/codex) and built in Rust for speed and efficiency.4It's [open source](https://github.com/openai/codex) and built in Rust for speed and efficiency.

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6Codex is included with ChatGPT Plus, Pro, Business, Edu, and Enterprise plans. Learn more about [what’s included](https://developers.openai.com/codex/pricing).6ChatGPT Plus, Pro, Business, Edu, and Enterprise plans include Codex. Learn more about [what's included](https://developers.openai.com/codex/pricing).

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8<YouTubeEmbed

9 title="Codex CLI overview"

10 videoId="iqNzfK4_meQ"

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12/>

13<br />

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8## CLI setup15## CLI setup

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10Choose your package manager17<CliSetupSteps client:load />

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12npmHomebrew19The Codex CLI is available on macOS, Windows, and Linux. On Windows, run Codex

20 natively in PowerShell with the Windows sandbox, or use WSL2 when you need a

21 Linux-native environment. For setup details, see the{" "}

22 <a href="/codex/windows">Windows setup guide</a>.

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141. 124If you're new to Codex, read the [best practices guide](https://developers.openai.com/codex/learn/best-practices).

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16 ### Install26---

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18 Install the Codex CLI with npm.28## Work with the Codex CLI

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20 npm install command30<BentoContainer>

31 <BentoContent href="/codex/cli/features#running-in-interactive-mode">

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22 npm i -g @openai/codexCopy33### Run Codex interactively

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25 ### Run35Run `codex` to start an interactive terminal UI (TUI) session.

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27 Run Codex in a terminal. It can inspect your repository, edit files, and run commands.37 </BentoContent>

38 <BentoContent href="/codex/cli/features#models-reasoning">

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29 Run Codex command40### Control model and reasoning

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31 codexCopy42Use `/model` to switch between GPT-5.4, GPT-5.3-Codex, and other available models, or adjust reasoning levels.

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33 The first time you run Codex, you'll be prompted to sign in. Authenticate with your ChatGPT account or an API key.44 </BentoContent>

45 <BentoContent href="/codex/cli/features#image-inputs">

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35 See the [pricing page](https://developers.openai.com/codex/pricing) if you're not sure which plans include Codex access.47### Image inputs

363. 3

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38 ### Upgrade49Attach screenshots or design specs so Codex reads them alongside your prompt.

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40 New versions of the Codex CLI are released regularly. See the [changelog](https://developers.openai.com/codex/changelog) for release notes. To upgrade with npm, run:51 </BentoContent>

52 <BentoContent href="/codex/cli/features#image-generation">

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42 npm upgrade command54### Image generation

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44 npm i -g @openai/codex@latestCopy56Generate or edit images directly in the CLI, and attach references when you want Codex to iterate on an existing asset.

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46The Codex CLI is available on macOS and Linux. Windows support is58 </BentoContent>

47experimental. For the best Windows experience, use Codex in a WSL workspace

48and follow our [Windows setup guide](https://developers.openai.com/codex/windows).

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60 <BentoContent href="/codex/cli/features#running-local-code-review">

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51## Work with the Codex CLI62### Run local code review

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64Get your code reviewed by a separate Codex agent before you commit or push your changes.

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66 </BentoContent>

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68 <BentoContent href="/codex/subagents">

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70### Use subagents

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72Use subagents to parallelize complex tasks.

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74 </BentoContent>

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76 <BentoContent href="/codex/cli/features#web-search">

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78### Web search

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80Use Codex to search the web and get up-to-date information for your task.

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82 </BentoContent>

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84 <BentoContent href="/codex/cli/features#working-with-codex-cloud">

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86### Codex Cloud tasks

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88Launch a Codex Cloud task, choose environments, and apply the resulting diffs without leaving your terminal.

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90 </BentoContent>

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53[### Run Codex interactively92 <BentoContent href="/codex/noninteractive">

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55Run `codex` to start an interactive terminal UI (TUI) session.](https://developers.openai.com/codex/cli/features#running-in-interactive-mode)[### Control model and reasoning94### Scripting Codex

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57Use `/model` to switch between GPT-5.4, GPT-5.3-Codex, and other available models, or adjust reasoning levels.](https://developers.openai.com/codex/cli/features#models-reasoning)[### Image inputs96Automate repeatable workflows by scripting Codex with the `exec` command.

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59Attach screenshots or design specs so Codex reads them alongside your prompt.](https://developers.openai.com/codex/cli/features#image-inputs)[### Run local code review98 </BentoContent>

99 <BentoContent href="/codex/mcp">

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61Get your code reviewed by a separate Codex agent before you commit or push your changes.](https://developers.openai.com/codex/cli/features#running-local-code-review)[### Use multi-agent101### Model Context Protocol

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63Enable experimental multi-agent collaboration and parallelize complex tasks.](https://developers.openai.com/codex/multi-agent)[### Web search103Give Codex access to additional third-party tools and context with Model Context Protocol (MCP).

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65Use Codex to search the web and get up-to-date information for your task.](https://developers.openai.com/codex/cli/features#web-search)[### Codex Cloud tasks105 </BentoContent>

66 106

67Launch a Codex Cloud task, choose environments, and apply the resulting diffs without leaving your terminal.](https://developers.openai.com/codex/cli/features#working-with-codex-cloud)[### Scripting Codex107 <BentoContent href="/codex/cli/features#approval-modes">

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69Automate repeatable workflows by scripting Codex with the `exec` command.](https://developers.openai.com/codex/sdk#using-codex-cli-programmatically)[### Model Context Protocol109### Approval modes

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71Give Codex access to additional third-party tools and context with Model Context Protocol (MCP).](https://developers.openai.com/codex/mcp)[### Approval modes111Choose the approval mode that matches your comfort level before Codex edits or runs commands.

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73Choose the approval mode that matches your comfort level before Codex edits or runs commands.](https://developers.openai.com/codex/cli/features#approval-modes)113 </BentoContent>

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