Install ChatGPT Desktop and Open Codex

Codex Beginner Path · Step 1 of 5

• Path overview: AI Learning Paths
• Goal: finish official installation, account sign-in, and an empty-folder verification.
• Estimated time: 10 minutes.

💡 What you will complete: Download and install the ChatGPT desktop app, open Codex, and confirm that the basic setup works. Workspace selection and real tasks come in Step 2; multi-API configuration is optional.

About the app name

OpenAI has moved the former standalone Codex desktop app into the updated ChatGPT desktop app. The current path is: install ChatGPT, then open Codex inside the app. The Windows file is normally named ChatGPT Installer.exe, and the Mac package is ChatGPT.dmg; seeing the ChatGPT name is expected.

1. Quick Route

In one sentence: get the official setup working first, then consider CC Switch.

If something fails, do not change everything at once. Note the numbered step where you stopped, then find the matching item in Section 9.

2. Before Installing

Check these four items first:

• Supported operating system: Windows 10 build 17763 or later, Windows 11, or macOS 14+ on Apple silicon or an Intel processor with AVX2 support.
• Your own ChatGPT account: do not buy a shared account or ask a stranger to sign in for you.
• Your current country or region is supported by OpenAI.
• A new empty folder, such as codex-demo, that Codex can access for the first test.

As of July 31, 2026, OpenAI's help center lists Codex access for Free, Go, Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Edu. Usage limits and feature availability vary by plan and may change.

Regional availability

Mainland China is not currently listed on OpenAI's supported countries and territories page. Registration or sign-in may fail in an unsupported location, and accessing the service outside supported regions may put an account at risk. This guide covers official installation and compliant configuration only. It does not provide instructions for bypassing regional restrictions. CC Switch does not change OpenAI's supported-country list.

3. Download the Official Installer

These links were checked on July 31, 2026. Installers can change. If a direct link stops working, use the official OpenAI download page for the latest version.

Computer	Official installer	Use it when
Windows	👉 Download the ChatGPT Windows installer	Windows 10 build 17763+ or Windows 11
macOS (Apple silicon)	👉 Download ChatGPT.dmg	M1, M2, M3, M4, or later Apple silicon on macOS 14+
macOS (Intel)	👉 Download ChatGPT for Intel	Intel processor with AVX2 support on macOS 14+
Direct link fails	👉 Open the official OpenAI download page	Use the latest official installer

Use official installers only

Do not download a cracked, modified, “portable,” or file-sharing-site build. Codex can read files in folders you deliberately open. An untrusted package could steal your ChatGPT session, API keys, or local files.

After downloading, read only the section for your computer: Section 4 for Windows or Section 5 for Mac.

4. Windows Setup

4.1 Open the Installer

The Windows direct link usually downloads a small official bootstrap installer. It is not the entire application; it continues the download and installation through Microsoft's channel.

Double-click the .exe file and follow the installer.

4.2 Finish Installation

When installation finishes:

1. Open the Windows Start menu.
2. Search for ChatGPT.
3. Open the application.
4. If Windows shows a security warning, first confirm that the file came from the OpenAI/Microsoft links in this guide. Stop if the source is unclear.

4.3 If the App Is Missing

Check in this order:

1. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps and search for ChatGPT.
2. Run the official bootstrap installer again.
3. Update Windows and Microsoft Store, then retry.
4. If it still fails, use the official OpenAI download page instead of a third-party download site.

After installation, continue with Section 6.

5. Mac Setup

5.1 Open the DMG

Double-click the .dmg file you downloaded.

5.2 Move It to Applications

Drag the Codex or ChatGPT icon into Applications.

5.3 First Launch

1. Open Finder > Applications.
2. Double-click Codex or ChatGPT.
3. If macOS asks for folder, notification, or other permissions, grant only what you actually need.

The redesigned ChatGPT desktop app requires macOS 14+ and supports both Apple silicon and Intel processors with AVX2. If you are unsure which installer to use, open Apple menu > About This Mac: M1, M2, M3, or M4 means Apple silicon; an Intel label means use the Intel installer in Section 3. Do not look for an unofficial “compatible” build if the OS or processor is unsupported.

5.4 If macOS Blocks It

If macOS says the app cannot be opened or verified:

1. Delete the current installer.
2. Download it again from the official link in this guide.
3. In Finder > Applications, right-click Codex or ChatGPT and choose Open.
4. Only after confirming the official source, use System Settings > Privacy & Security to allow it.

Do not approve an unknown DMG merely to save time. After installation, continue with Section 6.

6. Sign In and Open Codex

6.1 Use Official ChatGPT Sign-in

Open Codex or ChatGPT and choose Sign in with ChatGPT. Your browser will open the authorization page. Prefer your own official account. Do not buy shared accounts or give your credentials to a stranger.

1. Sign in to your ChatGPT account in the browser.
2. Approve the request to return to the desktop app.
3. If the browser does not switch back automatically, return to the desktop app manually.

If an error appears, do not repeatedly change settings in the main sign-in flow. Save the complete message, then use Section 9 to find the matching symptom.

6.2 Open Codex

Open Codex inside the ChatGPT desktop app. Depending on the version, the label may read Codex, Open Codex, or a similar localized name.

Continue only after the Codex interface appears.

7. Finish Your First Task

7.1 Choose a Dedicated Folder

Choose the empty folder created in Section 2, for example:

• Windows: D:\codex-demo
• Mac: ~/Documents/codex-demo

Do not start with:

• the entire Desktop;
• the entire Documents folder;
• the root of C:\;
• your Mac home folder;
• a large folder containing accounts, contracts, or customer data.

Codex is useful because it can work with project files, but broader permission also increases the scope of accidental reads or edits. An empty folder is the safest first step.

7.2 Run a Verifiable Test

Paste this request into Codex:

Do not modify any other location. Inspect the current folder. If it is empty, create README.md containing “Codex installation succeeded,” then tell me exactly what you changed.

If README.md appears, the installation, sign-in, folder permission, and basic execution path all work.

🚀 Next: Learn Workspace Boundaries

Installation is only the first step. Continue with Step 2: the Codex workspace guide → before opening real files or a large folder.

💡 CC Switch note: If you use the official ChatGPT sign-in, you can stop here. You do not need another tool. If you need to switch among multiple API services, finish this official test first and then follow the CC Switch guide instead of manually editing config.toml.

8. Do You Need CC Switch?

CC Switch is a third-party configuration manager, not an OpenAI product or a required Codex component. If you only sign in with ChatGPT, skip it.

If you regularly switch among multiple API URLs, keys, or models, use the standalone guide:

👉 Read “CC Switch Setup for Codex”

The guide covers Windows and macOS downloads, enabling Codex, keeping official sign-in, adding providers, testing connections, security, and troubleshooting.

9. Troubleshooting

9.1 Is the Small Windows Installer Normal?

Yes. The direct link is a bootstrap installer that downloads the full app through Microsoft's channel. Do not search for an unofficial “full package.”

9.2 What If Microsoft Store Cannot Find It?

Use the official Windows direct link or the OpenAI download page. Update Windows and Microsoft Store first. Do not use a cracked package or change regions to bypass official availability requirements.

9.3 Can I Install It on an Intel Mac?

Yes, if the Mac runs macOS 14+ and its Intel processor supports AVX2. Use the official Intel DMG in Section 3. If processor support is unclear, check Apple menu > About This Mac and confirm the current requirement on OpenAI’s download page.

9.4 Can Free Users Use Codex?

Yes. As of July 31, 2026, OpenAI's help center lists Free, Go, Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Edu as plans with Codex access. Limits and feature availability vary by plan, so check the latest official details.

9.5 Do Plus Users Need API Credits?

Not for normal ChatGPT sign-in. API costs apply only when you explicitly choose an API workflow. For multiple configurations, see the standalone CC Switch guide.

9.6 What If the Browser Does Not Return to the App?

Try these steps in order:

1. Confirm that browser authorization is complete.
2. Return to the ChatGPT app manually.
3. Fully quit and reopen ChatGPT.
4. Confirm that the default browser did not block the redirect.
5. Verify that the account and current location meet OpenAI's availability rules.

9.7 What Does a 403 Region Error Mean?

If you see Token exchange failed: 403 Forbidden: Country, region, or territory not supported, the password is usually not the problem. The login server has classified the current access location as unsupported.

OpenAI says access from outside its supported-country list may result in an account being blocked or suspended. This guide does not provide instructions for using a US IP, global proxy mode, VPN, region changes, or relay services to bypass those restrictions.

If you are physically located in a supported country but still receive this error:

1. Disable any proxy, VPN, accelerator, or company network that may route traffic through another country.
2. Make sure the browser, ChatGPT desktop app, and operating system use the same stable network exit that matches your actual location.
3. Fully quit ChatGPT, reopen it, and repeat the official account authorization.
4. If it still fails, review OpenAI's supported countries and territories and contact OpenAI Support.

A successful installation does not guarantee service availability everywhere. Mainland China is not currently on OpenAI's supported list. Follow OpenAI's current availability and account rules.

9.8 Which Folder Should I Choose?

Use a new empty codex-demo folder first. Avoid the system drive, entire Desktop/Documents folders, and locations containing sensitive data.

9.9 What If Codex Cannot Modify Files?

Check that ChatGPT/Codex has permission for the selected folder and that the file is not read-only. On macOS, inspect System Settings > Privacy & Security > Files and Folders. On Windows, check folder permissions and security-software blocks.

9.10 How Do I Uninstall It?

• Windows: open Settings > Apps > Installed apps and uninstall ChatGPT.
• Mac: move ChatGPT from Applications to Trash.

10. Safety Checklist

• ChatGPT came from an official OpenAI/Microsoft link.
• The first workspace is a dedicated empty folder.
• You did not select the whole desktop, a disk root, or a folder with private files.
• You did not share a ChatGPT password or API key with anyone.
• You understand that ChatGPT plans and API usage are billed separately.
• You understand that installation does not guarantee service availability in every region.

11. Final Check

You are ready when all four items pass:

• The ChatGPT desktop app opens.
• Your ChatGPT account is authorized.
• Codex opens inside ChatGPT.
• Codex can create README.md in the dedicated folder.

🎉 Step 1 is complete: official installation → official sign-in → empty-folder test. Continue with Step 2: the Codex workspace guide. Read the optional CC Switch guide only when you need multiple API configurations.

12. Need More Help? Join the Community

If you are stuck on installation, sign-in, folder permissions, or CC Switch configuration, scan the QR code to add us on WeChat.

Send “Codex” after adding the account so we can identify your request and invite you to the AI tools community. For account security, never send your ChatGPT password, API key, or other sensitive information.

13. Official Sources

• OpenAI desktop download
• Moving to the new ChatGPT desktop app
• Codex plans and usage
• ChatGPT supported countries
• ChatGPT Windows requirements