Codex Mobile Overview
About 5 minutes
Codex Mobile is a preview feature that connects the ChatGPT mobile app to a computer running the Codex App. OpenAI’s May 14, 2026 release notes describe support for iOS and Android, including starting or continuing threads, answering questions, redirecting work, approving actions, and reviewing diffs and test results.
What It Can Do
Section titled “What It Can Do”| Action | Example |
|---|---|
| Start or continue a thread | Request a blog post, bug investigation, or test fix |
| Answer Codex questions | Clarify the target page, approach, or allowed scope |
| Redirect work | Add constraints such as “do not change the UI” |
| Approve actions | Review package installs, network access, or writes |
| Review results | Inspect diffs, terminal output, tests, and screenshots |
| Switch hosts | Move between a home Mac and an always-on Windows PC |
Notifications can report completion or a need for input, allowing a decision when Codex reaches a fork.
What Stays on the Host
Section titled “What Stays on the Host”The mobile app sends prompts, approvals, and follow-up instructions. The host supplies:
- Repository and local files
- Shell and development tools
- Credentials and signed-in state
- Plugins, MCP servers, and skills
- Browser access, Computer Use, and screenshots
- Sandbox, permissions, and approval rules
Mobile access does not bypass host security controls. The restrictions configured on the host still apply to the remote session.
Good Tasks
Section titled “Good Tasks”- Read an investigation and choose the next direction
- Delegate a small, clearly scoped implementation
- Review approval requests for known safe commands
- Review Markdown, code, or test diffs
- Inspect CI or local test output
- Start a task before returning to a desk
Poor Tasks
Section titled “Poor Tasks”- Manually editing hundreds of lines on a phone
- Approving important changes without reading the diff
- Rushing a production deployment or destructive operation while moving
- Treating a sleeping laptop as an always-on server
- Trying to use tools or secrets that do not exist on the host
How It Differs from Codex Web
Section titled “How It Differs from Codex Web”Codex web delegates work to a GitHub-connected cloud environment. Codex Mobile remotely controls projects, tools, credentials, and threads on a connected Codex App host.
| Perspective | Codex Mobile | Codex web |
|---|---|---|
| Execution | Connected Mac, Windows, or SSH environment | Codex cloud environment |
| Main interface | ChatGPT mobile app | Web browser |
| Project assets | Host files and tools | GitHub and cloud environment setup |
| Availability | Depends on host power and network | Depends on cloud task state |
Summary
Section titled “Summary”Codex Mobile does not replace a development computer. It preserves access to a capable Codex environment. Small tasks, explicit approval boundaries, and clear completion criteria make remote development safer and easier to review.
Next, Codex Mobile Basics explains hosts, threads, approvals, and notifications.
Official Sources
Section titled “Official Sources”- ChatGPT Release Notes: Codex remote access from the ChatGPT mobile app
- OpenAI Codex: Remote connections
See the references for the external specifications and background sources used on this page.[1][2]
References
Section titled “References”- OpenAI, Codex documentation
- OpenAI, OpenAI API documentation