Codex: Share Read-Only Snapshots of Your Threads
CodexCodex on the ChatGPT desktop app for macOS now lets users share a read-only snapshot of a local Codex thread with a link. Snapshots freeze the conversation at the moment of sharing — including messages, reasoning summaries, image attachments, and file diffs — while stripping out raw tool calls, shell commands, and known secret patterns. Personal-account links are open to anyone who has them, while workspace-account links stay restricted to teammates, making it easy to show a collaborator exactly how a task was solved.
Key Takeaways
- Codex on ChatGPT desktop for macOS now supports sharing a read-only snapshot of any local thread via a simple link.
- Snapshots include messages, reasoning summaries, image attachments, and file diffs, but intentionally exclude raw tool calls and shell commands.
- Codex auto-redacts known secret patterns before upload, though OpenAI still recommends manually reviewing a snapshot before sharing it.
- Personal-account links are public to anyone holding the URL, while workspace-account links stay restricted to workspace members.
- Snapshots are static — they capture a point in time and won't reflect later changes to the original thread.
- The feature launched alongside a broader August 20 ChatGPT desktop update that also added an Apple Messages plugin and Site collaboration features.
Sources & Mentions
1 external resource covering this update
Share a Snapshot of Any Codex Thread
Codex on the ChatGPT desktop app for macOS now lets users share a read-only snapshot of a local Codex thread with a single link — a lightweight way to show a teammate, manager, or collaborator exactly how a task was solved without granting them access to the live, editable conversation.
What Gets Shared
A snapshot freezes the thread at the moment it's created: user-visible messages, reasoning summaries, image attachments, and file changes (including paths and diffs) are all included, so a viewer can follow the whole arc of a task. Raw tool calls, shell commands, and tool input/output are deliberately left out, keeping snapshots readable and reducing the chance of leaking anything sensitive. Codex also automatically redacts known secret patterns before a snapshot is uploaded, though OpenAI still recommends reviewing the shared view before sending the link, since file paths or other sensitive details can remain visible in messages, images, or diffs.
Personal vs. Workspace Links
Snapshots created from a personal ChatGPT account produce links anyone can open, while snapshots created from a workspace account are restricted to members of that workspace. Because a snapshot is static, it won't update as the original thread continues to evolve — it's a point-in-time record, not a live view.
The feature shipped alongside a broader August 20 update to the ChatGPT desktop app for macOS that also added an Apple Messages plugin, Site co-editing, and editable Site URLs.