Codex App 26.527: Computer Use & Mobile Remote Control Now on Windows

Computer Use Comes to Windows

With Codex app version 26.527, released May 29, 2026, OpenAI brought two of its most impactful agentic features to Windows, a platform where a large share of real-world software development still takes place.

Computer Use on Windows

Computer Use allows Codex to operate Windows desktop applications by seeing the screen, clicking buttons, and typing in the foreground while it works. Developers can enable the feature through Codex settings, then reference apps directly in their prompts using the @computer mention or by naming specific applications (e.g., @Paint, @VisualStudio). Codex can then test apps, debug flows, and review work in the environment where the project actually lives.

One important distinction from the macOS implementation: on Windows, computer use operates in the foreground, meaning the machine is occupied while Codex controls it. This differs from the macOS behavior where tasks can run more transparently alongside other work. Despite this constraint, the capability opens up substantial new workflows, particularly automated UI testing, end-to-end debugging sessions, and reviewing application state without manual intervention.

Mobile Remote Control for Windows

The ChatGPT mobile apps for iOS and Android gained the ability to connect to and control Codex sessions running on Windows devices. Users can start a new Codex thread from their phone, send follow-up instructions, approve actions, review diffs and test results, and check screenshots or terminal output remotely. Previously, this mobile-to-desktop handoff was limited to macOS machines. Version 26.527 extends it to Windows.

This positions Codex as an always-available agent endpoint: a developer can kick off a task on their Windows workstation from a phone during a commute, then return to review the results at any point.

Profile Section and Enhanced Thread Search

Beyond computer use, version 26.527 also updated the Profile section in the Codex app to display user profile details, usage statistics, and token activity. Thread coordination received improvements as well, with separate background threads now available for local projects and worktrees when explicitly requested. The app's search capability was expanded to cover conversation content and Git branch names in addition to thread titles.

Key Takeaways

• Computer Use arrives on Windows, letting Codex operate desktop apps by seeing, clicking, and typing.
• Mobile remote control expands to Windows, enabling iPhone and Android users to start, steer, and monitor Codex sessions on Windows machines.
• Foreground-only operation on Windows is an important constraint: the machine cannot be used simultaneously for other work during an agent run.
• The @computer mention and app-specific references let developers target specific applications in their prompts.
• Thread search now covers Git branch names and conversation content.
• The rollout completes the Windows feature gap, making Windows a full first-class platform for Codex's agentic workflows.