noninteractive.md Codex Docs, 2026-02-19 20:37 UTC → 2026-03-09 00:34 UTC

1# Non-interactive mode1# Non-interactive mode

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3Use `codex exec` to run Codex in scripts and CI

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5Non-interactive mode lets you run Codex from scripts (for example, continuous integration (CI) jobs) without opening the interactive TUI.3Non-interactive mode lets you run Codex from scripts (for example, continuous integration (CI) jobs) without opening the interactive TUI.

6You invoke it with `codex exec`.4You invoke it with `codex exec`.

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114`codex exec` reuses saved CLI authentication by default. In CI, it's common to provide credentials explicitly:112`codex exec` reuses saved CLI authentication by default. In CI, it's common to provide credentials explicitly:

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114### Use API key auth (recommended)

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116- Set `CODEX_API_KEY` as a secret environment variable for the job.116- Set `CODEX_API_KEY` as a secret environment variable for the job.

117- Keep prompts and tool output in mind: they can include sensitive code or data.117- Keep prompts and tool output in mind: they can include sensitive code or data.

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125`CODEX_API_KEY` is only supported in `codex exec`.125`CODEX_API_KEY` is only supported in `codex exec`.

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127Use ChatGPT-managed auth in CI/CD (advanced)

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129Read this if you need to run CI/CD jobs with a Codex user account instead of an

130API key, such as enterprise teams using ChatGPT-managed Codex access on trusted

131runners or users who need ChatGPT/Codex rate limits instead of API key usage.

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133API keys are the right default for automation because they are simpler to

134provision and rotate. Use this path only if you specifically need to run as

135your Codex account.

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137Treat `~/.codex/auth.json` like a password: it contains access tokens. Don't

138commit it, paste it into tickets, or share it in chat.

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140Do not use this workflow for public or open-source repositories. If `codex login`

141is not an option on the runner, seed `auth.json` through secure storage, run

142Codex on the runner so Codex refreshes it in place, and persist the updated file

143between runs.

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

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127## Resume a non-interactive session147## Resume a non-interactive session

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129If you need to continue a previous run (for example, a two-stage pipeline), use the `resume` subcommand:149If you need to continue a previous run (for example, a two-stage pipeline), use the `resume` subcommand: