CLI – Codex | OpenAI Developers

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Codex 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. It’s open source and built in Rust for speed and efficiency.

ChatGPT Plus, Pro, Business, Edu, and Enterprise plans include Codex. Learn more about what’s included.

CLI setup

Choose your install option

macOS/LinuxWindowsnpmHomebrew

  1. 1

Install

Install the Codex CLI with the standalone installer for macOS and Linux.

macOS/Linux install command

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

For unattended installs, set CODEX_NON_INTERACTIVE=1 on the shell that runs the downloaded installer. See Environment variables for details.

macOS/Linux unattended install command

curl -fsSL https://chatgpt.com/codex/install.sh | CODEX_NON_INTERACTIVE=1 shCopy

  1. 2

Run

Run Codex in a terminal. It can inspect your repository, edit files, and run commands.

Run Codex command

codexCopy

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

See the pricing page if you're not sure which plans include Codex access.

  1. 3

Upgrade

New versions of the Codex CLI are released regularly. See the changelog for release notes. To upgrade a standalone install, rerun the installer:

macOS/Linux upgrade command

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

The Codex CLI is available on macOS, Windows, and Linux. On Windows, run Codex natively in PowerShell with the Windows sandbox, or use WSL2 when you need a Linux-native environment. For setup details, see the Windows setup guide.

If you’re new to Codex, read the best practices guide.

Work with the Codex CLI

Run Codex interactivelyRun codex to start an interactive terminal UI (TUI) session.### Control model and reasoningUse /model to switch between GPT-5.4, GPT-5.3-Codex, and other available models, or adjust reasoning levels.### Image inputsAttach screenshots or design specs so Codex reads them alongside your prompt.### Image generationGenerate or edit images directly in the CLI, and attach references when you want Codex to iterate on an existing asset.### Run local code reviewGet your code reviewed by a separate Codex agent before you commit or push your changes.### Use subagentsUse subagents to parallelize complex tasks.### Web searchUse Codex to search the web and get up-to-date information for your task.### Codex Cloud tasksLaunch a Codex Cloud task, choose environments, and apply the resulting diffs without leaving your terminal.### Scripting CodexAutomate repeatable workflows by scripting Codex with the exec command.### Model Context ProtocolGive Codex access to additional third-party tools and context with Model Context Protocol (MCP).### Approval modesChoose the approval mode that matches your comfort level before Codex edits or runs commands.