Codex Merges Into the ChatGPT Desktop App
CodexOpenAI merged Codex into a single, unified ChatGPT desktop app on macOS and Windows, positioning it as a dedicated coding view alongside Chat and Work rather than a separate application. The update adds inline Markdown/code editing and annotations, GitHub pull request review in the sidebar, and support for working across multiple repositories in one project. Existing Codex users keep their projects and settings, and the app is available on every plan, including Free.
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ChatGPT Desktop App (Codex) - Full Tutorial for Beginners
YouTube
OpenAI Debuts ChatGPT Work Agent and New GPT-5.6 Models
MacRumors
OpenAI launches ChatGPT Work and unveils unified desktop app with Codex built in
Neowin
GPT-5.6 now generally available including app restructuring and naming confusion
Heise Online
Codex is now part of the ChatGPT desktop app on macOS...
X (Twitter)
Codex Becomes Part of the ChatGPT Desktop App
Starting July 9, 2026, OpenAI merged the standalone Codex desktop application into a single, unified ChatGPT desktop app for macOS and Windows. Rather than switching between separate ChatGPT and Codex apps, users now get Chat, Work, and Codex as three views inside one app, with Codex remaining a dedicated coding-focused environment rather than being watered down into a generic chat surface. Existing Codex users can update normally; their projects, settings, and workflows carry over unchanged, and macOS users can still keep a distinct Codex app icon and set Codex as their default view. The previous, non-unified ChatGPT desktop app is being renamed ChatGPT Classic.
New Features
Inline Editing and Annotations
Developers can now edit Markdown and code directly inside the app, add inline annotations on specific lines or sections, and ask Codex to revise exactly the content that's been selected, rather than describing the change in a prompt from scratch.
GitHub Pull Request Review in the Sidebar
Codex can now surface GitHub pull requests directly in the sidebar, showing reviewer feedback alongside the diff. This lets developers review and respond to PR comments without leaving the ChatGPT desktop app.
Multi-Repository Projects
Codex projects can now span multiple repositories at once, making it easier to work on changes that touch more than one codebase without juggling separate windows or sessions.
Performance Improvements and Bug Fixes
The release also ships several under-the-hood improvements: Computer Use performance was tuned specifically for GPT-5.6, task activity visibility and progress tracking were improved so users can better see what Codex is doing mid-task, plugin management was streamlined through Settings, and mobile connection reliability plus SSH project video rendering were both improved.
Availability
The updated ChatGPT desktop app, with Chat, Work, and Codex included, is rolling out globally on both macOS and Windows, and is available on every plan, including the Free tier.