Install guides / Codex (OpenAI)

Install your agent in Codex

Codex is now built into the ChatGPT desktop app. If you use the app, make a project that works in a folder (New project, then choose the folder), and put AGENTS.md in that folder. Start chats inside that project: chats outside it won't see the file.

Step 1: AGENTS.md (the personality and rules)

  1. Copy codex/AGENTS.md into the root of your project folder, not a subfolder. If one already exists, paste the agent's sections at the end of it.
  2. Codex reads AGENTS.md at the start of every session in that folder.

Step 2: Skills

  1. Copy each folder in codex/skills/ into your Codex skills folder, which is usually ~/.codex/skills/ (or $CODEX_HOME/skills/ if you've changed it).
  2. Each skill is a folder with a SKILL.md inside. Codex discovers it when a session starts and loads it only when the task needs it.
  3. Start a new Codex session (CLI, IDE extension or app).

Test it

  • Ask: "What skills do you have?" Yours should be listed.
  • Ask it to run something risky. It should ask first.

Notes

  • Codex is changing quickly. If a skill isn't picked up, check OpenAI's current skills guide (developers.openai.com/codex/skills) for the folder location.