Codex App 26.609 — Rate-Limit Reset Banking and Developer Mode for Browser Debugging

Rate-Limit Reset Banking

One of the most requested changes from the Codex developer community has arrived: OpenAI has introduced rate-limit reset banking for users on the Go, Plus, Pro, and Business plans. Instead of losing unused resets at the end of each daily window, subscribers can now accumulate them and deploy a banked reset precisely when they need it most, during a long coding session or a deadline crunch.

At launch, all eligible accounts received one free banked reset automatically. Banked resets remain valid for 30 days after they are granted, giving developers a meaningful window to use them.

Referral Program (Limited-Time)

Alongside the banking feature, OpenAI launched a two-week referral promotion. When an existing user invites a new user and that person sends their first Codex message, both parties earn an additional banked reset. Each eligible user can refer up to three people during the promotional window, opening the door to up to four total banked resets (one at launch plus three from referrals). Business plan members have access to a parallel referral mechanism that awards shared workspace credits rather than individual resets.

Developer Mode for Browser Debugging

Codex now ships with a dedicated Developer Mode for its built-in browser use feature (both the Chrome integration and the in-app browser). When enabled, Developer Mode grants Codex controlled Chrome DevTools Protocol (CDP) access, unlocking a class of debugging workflows that were previously out of reach:

• Performance profiling: Codex can instrument JavaScript execution times and identify rendering bottlenecks directly within the agent workflow.
• Network inspection: Full visibility into HTTP requests, response payloads, and timing data, enabling Codex to diagnose slow API calls or misconfigured endpoints.
• Console and runtime errors: Codex reads live console output and JavaScript exceptions, allowing it to detect and reason about errors in real time rather than relying on screenshots alone.
• DOM and page state: Access to the applied CSS, DOM structure, and current page state gives Codex a richer understanding of the live application.

The CDP and DOM snapshot optimizations that underpin Developer Mode also deliver a significant performance boost: browser use interactions are up to 2x faster compared to the previous screenshot-only approach, because many round-trips that previously required a full page render are now handled via lightweight protocol calls.

Computer Use Expansion for Enterprise

Computer Use, Codex's ability to control the desktop and interact with applications autonomously, is now available to Enterprise customers outside the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland. Enterprise administrators gain new per-app access controls on Windows, allowing them to define exactly which applications Codex can interact with, providing a meaningful compliance and security guardrail for organizations rolling out the feature at scale.

Project Initialization with /init

The /init command, previously available only in the Codex CLI, is now accessible directly from the Codex desktop app composer. Invoking /init triggers the same project initialization workflow as the CLI, letting developers set up a new codebase context without switching to the terminal.

Interface Improvements

The desktop app also ships two quality-of-life improvements. First, macOS users can now customize their Dock icon, choosing between light and dark Codex variants to match their system theme or personal preference. Second, the command menu now features a dedicated Unread chats section that automatically highlights the most recently updated thread, making it easier to return to an active conversation after switching tasks.