Codex App: Settings Sync Between Desktop App and VS Code Extension
Codex app version 26.323 introduces cross-surface settings synchronization between the desktop app and the VS Code extension, ensuring that key configuration preferences remain consistent across both surfaces. A new settings entry point has also been added directly inside the VS Code extension, giving developers easier access to preferences without leaving their editor.
Sources & Mentions
5 external resources covering this update
Settings Now Stay in Sync Between the Codex App and VS Code Extension
With the release of Codex app version 26.323 on March 24, 2026, OpenAI has addressed a longstanding friction point for developers who use both the Codex desktop application and the Codex VS Code extension: settings are now synchronized between the two surfaces.
What Gets Synced
Key configuration preferences β such as model selection, approval settings, and other user-configurable options β are now kept consistent between the desktop Codex app and the VS Code extension. Previously, developers working across both surfaces would need to configure each independently, creating the risk of inconsistent behavior between their desktop agent sessions and in-IDE coding sessions.
New Settings Entry Point in the VS Code Extension
Alongside the sync, version 26.323 adds a dedicated settings entry point directly within the VS Code extension UI. This makes it easier for developers to access and adjust their Codex configuration without switching to the desktop app or manually editing the shared ~/.codex/config.toml file.
A Unified Cross-Surface Experience
The Codex ecosystem spans multiple surfaces: the macOS and Windows desktop app, the VS Code extension (which also supports Cursor and Windsurf), and the CLI. The settings sync in 26.323 is a step toward treating these surfaces as parts of a single coherent tool rather than separate products that happen to share a backend.