Codex Desktop

In a desktop workspace, let Codex understand and modify your project.

Codex Desktop is the graphical workspace for Codex. It is designed for opening local repositories, running tasks in parallel, reviewing changes, inspecting diffs, and iterating on results. This guide uses the official OpenAI Codex repository and GitHub projects to complete installation and OmniDino configuration.

Open OpenAI Codex on GitHub View GitHub Releases Configure with CC Switch

APP Desktop Workflow Open projects, tasks, and modification results from a graphical interface.

CLI Shared with Codex CLI Desktop and CLI use the same .codex configuration in your user directory.

GIT Built for Real Repositories Suitable for code comprehension, refactoring, debugging, and version-control workflows.

API Connect to OmniDino Use the OmniDino Base URL, API key, and models through shared configuration.

Tool Overview

How are Codex Desktop and Codex CLI related?

The desktop app provides graphical interaction, while the CLI provides terminal access. Both can read the same .codex configuration directory.

Configure the shared settings first, then open the desktop app.

When Codex CLI already works correctly through OmniDino, Codex Desktop usually does not need a separate API configuration. After fully quitting and reopening Desktop, it should read the shared configuration from the current user directory.

Shared Directory Codex normally uses ~/.codex in the current user directory. On Windows, this is the .codex folder inside the user home directory.

Shared Configuration Common files include config.toml and authentication data. CC Switch or Codex CLI is recommended for generating them consistently.

Desktop Entry Point The official OpenAI repository explains that codex app can launch the desktop experience. Actual availability depends on the current version and platform.

Open-Source Download Center

Use official GitHub projects only.

The tools below cover Codex, Git repositories, code editing, and OmniDino configuration management.

OpenAI Codex

The official open-source Codex project from OpenAI. After installing Codex CLI, you can use the terminal interface and, where supported, launch the desktop experience.

Windows macOS Linux Apache-2.0

GitHub Project Releases

CC Switch

A cross-platform configuration manager for Codex Base URL, API key, model, and Wire API settings, reducing the need to edit configuration files manually.

Windows macOS Linux Visual Configuration

GitHub Project Setup Guide

GIT

Git

Codex usually works with real projects inside Git repositories. Windows users can install Git for Windows, while macOS and Linux users can use the official Git repository or system packages.

Version Control Repositories Diff Commit History

Git for Windows Official Git Repository

Visual Studio Code

An optional open-source code editor for reviewing files modified by Codex, searching projects, and making manual adjustments.

Editor Git Integration Terminal Cross-Platform

GitHub Project

About “Codex Desktop downloads”: openai/codex is the official OpenAI open-source repository and primarily provides Codex CLI and related components. The official README mentions codex app as the desktop entry point, but the distribution method for a standalone desktop application may change by version. This guide does not provide third-party EXE or DMG packages, cracked builds, or unofficial repackaged installers.

Install Codex

Choose the installation method for your operating system.

Prefer the installation method or GitHub Release files provided by the official OpenAI repository.

Windows Installation

Run the official OpenAI Codex installation command in PowerShell, then reopen the terminal after installation.

Install Git for Windows first.

Use PowerShell instead of trying to run the command in a browser.

Run codex --version after installation.

Windows PowerShell

powershell -ExecutionPolicy ByPass -c "irm https://chatgpt.com/codex/install.ps1 | iex"

codex --version

codex app

macOS Installation

Use the official installation script, Homebrew, or a GitHub Release. After installation, try running codex app.

Apple Silicon and Intel devices use different Release files.

Homebrew makes future upgrades easier.

The first launch may require approval in macOS security settings.

macOS Terminal

curl -fsSL https://chatgpt.com/codex/install.sh | sh

# Or use Homebrew
brew install --cask codex

codex --version
codex app

Linux Installation

Linux supports Codex CLI. Availability of the graphical desktop experience depends on the current Codex version, desktop environment, and official release status.

Complete the CLI installation and OmniDino API test first.

GitHub Releases provide Linux binaries for multiple architectures.

Continue using Codex CLI when codex app is unavailable.

Linux Terminal

curl -fsSL https://chatgpt.com/codex/install.sh | sh

codex --version

# When supported by the current version
codex app

Install from a GitHub Release

This method is suitable when you prefer not to use an installation script or need to select the operating system and CPU architecture manually.

Confirm that the repository is openai/codex.

Select the file that matches your operating system and CPU architecture.

After extraction, you can rename the executable to codex.

Example Release Files

macOS Apple Silicon:
codex-aarch64-apple-darwin.tar.gz

macOS Intel:
codex-x86_64-apple-darwin.tar.gz

Linux x86_64:
codex-x86_64-unknown-linux-musl.tar.gz

Linux arm64:
codex-aarch64-unknown-linux-musl.tar.gz

npm installation: Users who already have Node.js installed can also run npm install -g @openai/codex. Node.js is available from the official open-source repository nodejs/node, but most users should prefer the official Codex installation script or Release files.

Connect to OmniDino

Use the shared .codex configuration.

Configure Codex with CC Switch first, or add the provider settings by following the Codex CLI guide, then open the desktop experience.

OmniDino Settings

Use the exact model name shown in the OmniDino model catalog. Codex models generally use the Responses endpoint.

Provider NameOmniDino

Base URLhttps://api.omnidino.com/v1

Wire APIresponses

API KeyCreate in the OmniDino Dashboard

ModelExact Name from the Model Catalog

Create a dedicated API key for Codex so you can monitor usage, set a quota, and investigate possible key exposure more easily.

config.toml Example

model_provider = "omnidino"
model = "enter-the-exact-codex-model-name"
model_reasoning_effort = "high"
disable_response_storage = true

[model_providers.omnidino]
name = "OmniDino"
base_url = "https://api.omnidino.com/v1"
wire_api = "responses"
requires_openai_auth = true

API key configuration: Different Codex and CC Switch versions may use an authentication file, environment variable, or provider key field. Never place a complete API key in public screenshots, Git repositories, or shared project files.

Complete Workflow

From installation to opening your first project.

Install Git and Codex

Download Git and Codex from their official GitHub projects. Reopen the terminal after installation and verify the installed versions.

Prepare an OmniDino API Key

Write the Configuration with CC Switch or CLI

Configure the OmniDino Base URL, Responses protocol, and exact model name, then save and activate the provider configuration.

Test Codex CLI First

Run codex in the terminal and send a simple task. Continue to the desktop entry point only after the CLI works successfully.

Run codex app

When supported by the current version, run codex app in the terminal to launch the desktop experience. If the command is unavailable, update Codex or continue using the CLI.

Open a Local Project Directory

Select an existing Git repository or create a small test project first. Avoid opening an important project with many sensitive files during your initial test.

Send a Safe Test Task

For example, ask Codex to explain the README, create a test file, or inspect a simple error, then review the proposed changes.

Check OmniDino Usage Records

Confirm that the dashboard shows the expected model request, token usage, and a reasonable balance change.

Use Cases

What can you do with Codex Desktop?

Understand Existing Projects

Explain the directory structure, key modules, dependencies, and project startup process.

Fix and Refactor Code

Locate errors, modify multiple files, refactor components, and review the final diff.

Build Front-End Pages

Modify HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and WordPress page code based on your requirements.

Documentation and Testing

Generate README files, usage instructions, test cases, and code comments.

Run Tasks in Parallel

Assign separate features, fixes, or analysis tasks to multiple work threads.

Review Changes

Inspect file changes and diffs, then confirm that the modifications are reasonable before applying them.

Verify the Connection

How do you know Codex Desktop is connected to OmniDino?

Local Checks

codex --version returns a version number.
Codex CLI can complete a simple request through OmniDino.
codex app launches the desktop entry point on the current version and platform.
Desktop can open a local project and start a task.
The app does not repeatedly request a separate API configuration.

OmniDino Dashboard Checks

A usage record appears for the target Codex model.
The HTTP status and model response are normal.
The API key shows recent activity.
The balance change matches the actual usage.
No 401, 404, not implemented, or conversion error appears.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should you do when the desktop app cannot read the configuration?

It is the official OpenAI open-source Codex project and primarily provides Codex CLI and related components. The official README presents codex app as the desktop entry point, but standalone app distribution and platform support may change by version.

Run codex --version first and confirm that you have the latest version. Then review the openai/codex README and Releases. When the current version or platform does not support the command, continue using Codex CLI instead of downloading an unknown third-party desktop installer.

Fully quit and reopen Desktop, confirm that it is running under the same operating-system user, and inspect the .codex configuration in that user directory. Also confirm that the OmniDino provider is set as the active configuration in CC Switch.

This usually means the desktop entry point is not reading the custom provider configuration, or the current app version supports only specific authentication methods. Verify the shared setup in Codex CLI and CC Switch first, then review the documentation for your current Codex version.

Confirm that the Base URL is https://api.omnidino.com/v1, Wire API is responses, the selected model supports Responses, and the NewAPI channel type matches the upstream protocol.

Codex CLI supports Linux. Availability of the graphical desktop entry point depends on the current openai/codex version, README, Releases, and platform support. Use the CLI when the desktop entry point cannot be launched.

Never place keys in project source code, README files, or public repositories. Use a separate test directory for the first test, review Codex file changes and command-execution requests, and assign a dedicated quota to the Codex API key.

Still unable to connect Codex Desktop?

When contacting support, include your operating system, Codex version, installation method, Base URL, model name, Wire API, and complete error message. Hide your API key.

[email protected]

Complete your Codex workflow.

API Connection Test

Verify that the OmniDino key, Responses endpoint, and target model work correctly.

Codex CLI

Configure .codex, providers, models, and terminal workflows in detail.