Codex Mobile iOS 1.2026.160: Workspace File Browser, LaTeX Rendering & MCP Approval Controls
CodexCodex on iOS received a meaningful update with version 1.2026.160 on June 15, 2026. The update introduces a workspace file browser for previewing files and linking paths directly into prompts, a directory picker for selecting workspace folders at thread start, and LaTeX rendering for mathematical and technical notation in Codex messages and plans. MCP approval choices now allow users to grant tool permissions for the current chat or persistently across multiple chats from mobile, alongside improved diff review controls and more reliable pairing and reconnection flows.
Key Takeaways
- The workspace file browser lets iOS users preview and link project files into prompts directly from mobile, removing the need to switch to desktop to reference specific files.
- LaTeX rendering in messages and plans enables mathematical and technical notation to display correctly on iOS, a meaningful improvement for data science and ML workflows conducted on mobile.
- MCP approval choices now work from mobile for both single-chat and cross-chat permission grants, bringing mobile closer to feature parity with the desktop approval experience.
- Diff collapse/expand controls make reviewing changed files significantly more ergonomic on a small screen by letting users toggle all diffs at once rather than file by file.
- Improved pairing reliability with clearer error messages and manual pairing-code support reduces friction when connecting the iOS app to a Codex desktop host.
- Status indicator improvements across running threads, queued prompts, and subagents give users a clearer real-time picture of what Codex is doing without needing to navigate into individual threads.
Sources & Mentions
1 external resource covering this update
Codex for iOS Gets a Workspace File Browser and LaTeX Rendering
The June 15, 2026 update to Codex on iOS (version 1.2026.160) strengthens the mobile experience with new tools for navigating workspaces, reviewing code changes, and handling mathematical content, while tightening the reliability of pairing and reconnection flows.
Workspace File Browser
The most notable addition is a dedicated workspace file browser that allows users to preview files directly from their mobile device and link workspace file paths into Codex prompts. This closes a gap that previously required switching to a desktop to locate and reference specific files during a coding session. Alongside this, a directory picker lets users select a workspace folder when starting a new thread, giving more precise control over which part of a project Codex should operate on from the outset.
LaTeX Rendering in Messages and Plans
Codex messages and plans now render LaTeX notation, making it significantly easier to work with mathematical expressions, formulas, and technical notation in Codex's outputs on mobile. This improvement is particularly relevant for users working on data science, machine learning, academic research, or any domain that involves mathematical content alongside code.
MCP Approval Controls
Users can now respond to MCP (Model Context Protocol) tool approval requests directly from mobile, with the ability to allow requested actions either for the current chat or persistently across multiple chats. This brings mobile approval parity closer to the desktop experience, reducing the need to switch devices when Codex requests permission to use a connected tool or integration.
Diff Review Controls
Reviewing code changes is now more ergonomic on mobile with new controls to expand or collapse all diffs at once when reviewing changed files. Rather than toggling diffs file by file, users can get a full view of all changes or collapse everything to focus on summaries, streamlining the review workflow on a smaller screen.
Reliability and Status Improvements
The update also refines status indicators for running threads, queued prompts, side chats, and subagents, making it easier to understand at a glance what Codex is currently doing. Pairing and onboarding flows are more robust, with clearer error messages, manual pairing-code entry support, and improved host selection following initial pairing. Task-list recovery, reconnect state handling, and thread performance have all been improved, along with fixes for stuck thread-list swipe actions and misleading connection errors when sending prompts.