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Based on OpenAI’s official docs, checked

How to install the OpenAI Codex CLI

The Codex CLI is OpenAI’s coding agent for the terminal. It installs with a standalone script on macOS, Linux and Windows, or through npm or Homebrew. This guide lists each install and update command, how to sign in and how to run a first task, based on OpenAI’s Codex CLI docs checked October 22, 2026.

  1. 1. Install on macOS or Linux

    Use OpenAI’s standalone installer. Running the same command again updates Codex.

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

  2. 2. Install on Windows

    Open a new PowerShell window and run the Windows installer. The same command also updates it.

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

  3. 3. Or use npm or Homebrew

    npm install -g @openai/codex installs and updates via npm. On Homebrew, install with brew install --cask codex and update with brew upgrade --cask codex.

    npm install -g @openai/codex

  4. 4. Run Codex and sign in

    Open a project directory and run codex. The first time, choose Sign in with ChatGPT or another available sign-in method.

    codex

  5. 5. Start your first task

    Describe what you want, for example asking Codex to explain the project. OpenAI suggests creating Git checkpoints before and after a task so you can revert changes.

    Tell me about this project

What to set up next

Permissions: /permissions chooses when Codex can edit files or run commands without asking. See our guide to Codex sandbox modes and approval policies.

MCP: codex mcp adds local or remote MCP servers.

Automation: codex exec runs Codex non-interactively in scripts and CI.

Shell completions: codex completion generates completions for your shell.

Useful commands after installing

codex resume reopens a recent chat from the current repository.

codex --image passes a screenshot or diagram with the first prompt.

codex --search switches a run to live web search.

codex cloud browses and submits Codex cloud tasks from the terminal.

Tips

Next steps

Verified MCP servers for Codex

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Generate an MCP config for Codex

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OpenAI Codex hub

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Claude Code vs OpenAI Codex: documented features compared

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OpenAI Codex vs Cursor: documented features compared

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How to add an MCP server to Codex

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How to add an MCP server to Cursor

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How to add an MCP server to GitHub Copilot in VS Code

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How to add an MCP server to Google Antigravity

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How to migrate from Gemini CLI to Antigravity CLI

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Portable agent skills: one SKILL.md for every coding agent

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Safe “always allow” rules for Claude Code and Codex CLI

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GitHub Copilot CLI yolo mode: --allow-all and safer tool rules

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Codex sandbox modes and approval policies explained

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How to install Claude Code on macOS, Linux and Windows

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Claude Code auto mode: what runs, what gets blocked, how to turn it off

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Agent Skills moves to the Agentic AI Foundation: what changes

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MCP security: the risks in MCP servers and how to lock them down

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Claude Code in VS Code: install, shortcuts and CLI differences

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What is AGENTS.md? The open instruction file for coding agents

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Claude Code on Windows: native, WSL and common errors

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Codex skills: create, install and use SKILL.md skills in Codex

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GitHub Copilot CLI: install, sign in and start using it

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Cursor Agent SDK: build, test and deploy agents as code

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GPT-6.1 Terra in Codex and the API: setup, pricing and limits

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MCP OAuth: connect a remote MCP server in Claude Code, Codex and Cursor

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Codex config.toml: location, precedence and the settings to change

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Codex on Windows: native sandbox setup, WSL and fixes

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Antigravity CLI (agy): install, sign in, modes and commands

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Google Antigravity on Windows: install, WSL, sandbox and fixes

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GitHub Copilot coding agent (now cloud agent): how to use it

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GitHub Copilot agent mode: how to use it in your IDE

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Codex sandbox modes and approval policies explained

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How to add an MCP server to Codex

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Codex pricing

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Codex config.toml: location, options and examples

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Codex on Windows: sandbox setup, WSL and fixes

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Frequently asked questions

On macOS or Linux run curl -fsSL https://chatgpt.com/codex/install.sh | sh. On Windows run the PowerShell installer from OpenAI’s docs. npm install -g @openai/codex and brew install --cask codex also work.

Sources