ide/features.md Codex Docs, 2026-02-19 20:37 UTC → 2026-05-13 00:57 UTC

1# Codex IDE extension features1# Codex IDE extension features

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3What you can do with the Codex IDE extension

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5The Codex IDE extension gives you access to Codex directly in VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf, and other VS Code-compatible editors. It uses the same agent as the Codex CLI and shares the same configuration.3The Codex IDE extension gives you access to Codex directly in VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf, and other VS Code-compatible editors. It uses the same agent as the Codex CLI and shares the same configuration.

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7## Prompting Codex5## Prompting Codex

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19You can switch models with the switcher under the chat input.17You can switch models with the switcher under the chat input.

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21![Codex model switcher](/images/codex/ide/switch_model.png)19<div class="not-prose max-w-[20rem] mr-auto">

20 <img src="https://developers.openai.com/images/codex/ide/switch_model.png"

21 alt="Codex model switcher"

22 class="block h-auto w-full mx-0!"

23 />

24</div>

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23## Adjust reasoning effort26## Adjust reasoning effort

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25You can adjust reasoning effort to control how long Codex thinks before responding. Higher effort can help on complex tasks, but responses take longer. Higher effort also uses more tokens and can consume your rate limits faster (especially with GPT-5-Codex).28You can adjust reasoning effort to control how long Codex thinks before responding. Higher effort can help on complex tasks, but responses take longer. Higher effort also uses more tokens and can consume your rate limits faster, especially with higher-capability models.

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27Use the same model switcher shown above, and choose `low`, `medium`, or `high` for each model. Start with `medium`, and only switch to `high` when you need more depth.30Use the same model switcher shown above, and choose `low`, `medium`, or `high` for each model. Start with `medium`, and only switch to `high` when you need more depth.

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33When you just want to chat, or you want to plan before making changes, switch to `Chat` with the switcher under the chat input.36When you just want to chat, or you want to plan before making changes, switch to `Chat` with the switcher under the chat input.

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35![Codex approval modes](/images/codex/ide/approval_mode.png)38<div class="not-prose max-w-[18rem] mr-auto">

39 <img src="https://developers.openai.com/images/codex/ide/approval_mode.png"

40 alt="Codex approval modes"

41 class="block h-auto w-full mx-0!"

42 />

43</div>

44<br />

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37If you need Codex to read files, make edits, and run commands with network access without approval, use `Agent (Full Access)`. Exercise caution before doing so.46If you need Codex to read files, make edits, and run commands with network access without approval, use `Agent (Full Access)`. Exercise caution before doing so.

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46You can have Codex run from `main` (useful for starting new ideas), or run from your local changes (useful for finishing a task).55You can have Codex run from `main` (useful for starting new ideas), or run from your local changes (useful for finishing a task).

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48![Start a cloud task from the IDE](/images/codex/ide/start_cloud_task.png)57<div class="not-prose max-w-xl mr-auto mb-6">

58 <img src="https://developers.openai.com/images/codex/ide/start_cloud_task.png"

59 alt="Start a cloud task from the IDE"

60 class="block h-auto w-full mx-0!"

61 />

62</div>

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50When you start a cloud task from a local conversation, Codex remembers the conversation context so it can pick up where you left off.64When you start a cloud task from a local conversation, Codex remembers the conversation context so it can pick up where you left off.

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54The Codex extension makes previewing cloud changes straightforward. You can ask for follow-ups to run in the cloud, but often you'll want to apply the changes locally to test and finish. When you continue the conversation locally, Codex also retains context to save you time.68The Codex extension makes previewing cloud changes straightforward. You can ask for follow-ups to run in the cloud, but often you'll want to apply the changes locally to test and finish. When you continue the conversation locally, Codex also retains context to save you time.

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56![Load a cloud task into the IDE](/images/codex/ide/load_cloud_task.png)70<div class="not-prose max-w-xl mr-auto mb-6">

71 <img src="https://developers.openai.com/images/codex/ide/load_cloud_task.png"

72 alt="Load a cloud task into the IDE"

73 class="block h-auto w-full mx-0!"

74 />

75</div>

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58You can also view the cloud tasks in the [Codex cloud interface](https://chatgpt.com/codex).77You can also view the cloud tasks in the [Codex cloud interface](https://chatgpt.com/codex).

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60## Web search79## Web search

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62Codex ships with a first-party web search tool. For local tasks in the Codex IDE Extension, Codex enables web search by default and serves results from a web search cache. The cache is an OpenAI-maintained index of web results, so cached mode returns pre-indexed results instead of fetching live pages. This reduces exposure to prompt injection from arbitrary live content, but you should still treat web results as untrusted. If you configure your sandbox for [full access](https://developers.openai.com/codex/security), web search defaults to live results. See [Config basics](https://developers.openai.com/codex/config-basic) to disable web search or switch to live results that fetch the most recent data.81Codex ships with a first-party web search tool. For local tasks in the Codex IDE Extension, Codex enables web search by default and serves results from a web search cache. The cache is an OpenAI-maintained index of web results, so cached mode returns pre-indexed results instead of fetching live pages. This reduces exposure to prompt injection from arbitrary live content, but you should still treat web results as untrusted. If you configure your sandbox for [full access](https://developers.openai.com/codex/agent-approvals-security), web search defaults to live results. See [Config basics](https://developers.openai.com/codex/config-basic) to disable web search or switch to live results that fetch the most recent data.

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64You'll see `web_search` items in the transcript or `codex exec --json` output whenever Codex looks something up.83You'll see `web_search` items in the transcript or `codex exec --json` output whenever Codex looks something up.

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70Hold down `Shift` while dropping an image. VS Code otherwise prevents extensions from accepting a drop.89Hold down `Shift` while dropping an image. VS Code otherwise prevents extensions from accepting a drop.

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72## See also91## Image generation

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74- [Codex IDE extension settings](https://developers.openai.com/codex/ide/settings)93Ask Codex to generate or edit images without leaving your editor. This is useful for UI assets, layouts, illustrations, sprite sheets, and quick placeholders while you work. Add a reference image to the prompt when you want Codex to transform or extend an existing asset.

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95You can ask in natural language or explicitly invoke the image generation skill by including `$imagegen` in your prompt.

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76[Previous97Built-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).

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78Overview](https://developers.openai.com/codex/ide)[Next99For 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.

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80Settings](https://developers.openai.com/codex/ide/settings)101## See also

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103- [Codex IDE extension settings](https://developers.openai.com/codex/ide/settings)