If you still think Codex is just a tool programmers use to write code, you're missing out.

At its core, Codex is a desktop AI agent. It doesn't just answer questions — it actually rolls up its sleeves and does the work for you: building websites, designing prototypes, processing data, generating slide decks, even driving your browser. Over 5 million people use Codex every week, non-programmers already make up more than 20% of them, and that segment is growing three times as fast as programmers.

This tutorial is aimed at ordinary users with zero programming background, taking you from installation to hands-on use and a full grasp of Codex's core features. Budget about 20 minutes.

Before You Start

• Account needed: a ChatGPT account (Plus/Pro/Team/Enterprise all work); Codex usage is included in your ChatGPT plan
• Network: you need network access to OpenAI services
• Supported systems: Windows, macOS (both Intel and Apple Silicon)
• Download: openai.com/codex/get-started

Step 1: Download, Install, and Sign In

Go to the download page and pick the version for your system. Once the download finishes, open the app — you can sign in directly with your ChatGPT account, or with an OpenAI API key.

Signing in with your ChatGPT account is all it takes to start. Note that some features are unavailable with API-key sign-in, so account sign-in is the recommended route.

Step 2: Getting to Know the Codex Interface

The first time you open Codex, the layout looks a bit different from ChatGPT. The core area has three parts:

• Upper left (action area): new chat, search, plugins, automations, mobile entry point
• Lower left (history area): all your project folders and chat history
• Right (chat area): the chat box, but with model selection, reasoning effort, and speed options added at the bottom

Choosing a Reasoning Level

At the bottom of the chat area you can set the "reasoning" level, which decides how deeply Codex thinks while executing a task:

For everyday use, "Medium" is fine. There's also a "Speed" option that runs things 1.5x faster without making the model dumber, but it consumes more tokens.

Permission Settings

Codex needs to operate on your files, so permissions come into play. The recommended choice is "Approve for me" mode, which balances efficiency and safety. Its hard safety lines: it will never enter system passwords for you, never approve security or privacy pop-ups, and never automate terminal operations.

Step 3: Create Your First Project with Plan Mode

We'll use building a coffee-shop website as the example to walk through the whole flow.

3.1 Create a Project

Start by creating a project folder; every file generated afterward will be saved there.

3.2 Turn On Plan Mode

Key step: after creating the project, don't let it start working right away — switch on "Plan Mode" first. That way it lays out a complete execution plan and waits for your confirmation before touching anything.

3.3 Submit Your Requirements and Confirm

Type in what you want, Codex walks you through the details step by step, and finally produces a complete requirements document. Once you confirm, choose "Execute per plan."

3.4 "Point-and-Change" Comment Mode

After the website is generated, there's a plus button in the top-right corner that enters comment mode. Hover over any page element, click anywhere, and add your change request right there. You can also use the settings panel on the left to quickly change fonts and colors, with instant preview of every edit.

Tip: There's also a screenshot button in the top-left corner — one click captures the current design, handy for sharing with colleagues or clients.

Step 4: Extend Capabilities with Skills and Plugins

Generating pages alone is nothing special. Where Codex gets really powerful is its plugin and skill system, which gives it control over your computer, your browser, and your office software.

4.1 Skills

Skills work like the Skills concept in OpenClaw: you wrap a repeated workflow into a reusable instruction pack. Click the "Skills" tab in the plugin area and you'll find a large library of prebuilt skills.

Creating a custom skill is simple: just tell the chat box "create a skill that generates 21:9 WeChat official account cover images," and it will automatically invoke Skill Creator to build one for you. To use skills, type / in the chat box to pull up the full skill list.

4.2 Plugin Packs: Ready-Made Capability Bundles

OpenAI recently released 6 role-specific plugin packs in one go, bundling 62 common apps and 110 preset skills:

Take product prototyping as an example: after installing the "Product design" pack, just tell Codex what product you want to build. It first confirms your requirements, then hands you three demos in three different design directions to choose from.

Step 5: Three Core Features That Give Codex "Hands and Feet"

These three features are what turn Codex from a chat tool into a true agent.

Computer Use: Driving Your Computer

Once installed, Codex can see your screen and click the mouse, type on the keyboard, and operate software like a human would. Good for testing apps, changing software settings, reproducing UI bugs, and similar jobs. It asks for your consent before every action, and it cannot enter passwords or handle security pop-ups on your behalf.

macOS only for now; unavailable in Europe, the UK, and Switzerland for the moment.

Appshots: One-Keystroke Screenshot Feeding

Press the shortcut (both Command keys at once) and Codex screenshots whichever window is frontmost and reads its content. Error screens, English-language pages, anything you'd want AI help with — one keystroke screenshots it and hands it over.

Chrome Extension: Driving Your Browser

With it installed, Codex can operate the Chrome browser for you — flipping through pages, clicking buttons, filling out forms. Caveat: it operates the browser you're already logged into, so watch every step it takes.

Step 6: Control Codex Remotely from Your Phone

When you're out, you can hand tasks to your home computer from your phone. The phone is just the "remote control" — the actual work is still done by Codex on the computer.

Setup:

1. In the action area of desktop Codex, choose "Mobile" > "Get started"
2. Grant device-control permission
3. Open the latest ChatGPT app on your phone and pair by following the steps

Tip: The computer must stay powered on, online, and signed in to be remotely controlled. Consider dedicating one machine (say, a Mac mini) to stand by 24 hours a day.

Recommended Initial Settings

After installation, two settings are worth adjusting first:

1. Set follow-up behavior to "guide": this lets you append instructions mid-task at any time instead of waiting for the previous task to finish
2. Personalization instructions: the Karpathy guide is recommended (160,000 stars on GitHub), at github.com/multica-ai/andrej-karpathy-skills

FAQ

• How is Codex different from ChatGPT? ChatGPT is the "mouthpiece" (it only talks); Codex is the "hands" (it does the work for you). Codex can directly operate your computer to complete real tasks.
• Does it cost extra? Codex usage is included in your ChatGPT plan (Plus/Pro/Team/Enterprise) — no separate payment.
• Can I use it without knowing how to code? Absolutely. 20% of Codex users are non-programmers, growing three times as fast as programmers. The plugin packs were designed from the start to get non-technical users up and running with zero friction.
• Codex or Claude Code? The two are similar in function. Codex rides on the OpenAI ecosystem with more generous plan quotas; Claude Code has a reputation for code quality but stricter usage limits and a higher ban risk.
• Where are the official docs? developers.openai.com/codex