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OpenAI shipped Codex version 26.527 for Windows on May 29, 2026, adding two features previously Mac-only: background computer use (Codex sees your screen, clicks, and types in any Windows app) and mobile remote control via the ChatGPT iOS and Android apps. A new Profile section shows usage stats and lifetime token activity. Available now via the Microsoft Store. Requires ChatGPT Plus, Pro, or Enterprise.
How Codex Got Here - The Full Timeline
| Date |
Update |
Platform |
| Feb 2, 2026 |
Standalone Codex desktop app launches. Multiple parallel agents, project threads, skills library. Sam Altman calls it "most loved internal product" at OpenAI. |
Mac only |
| Apr 16, 2026 |
"Codex for (almost) everything" - background computer use, PR review, multi-file terminals, SSH remote devboxes, in-app browser, image generation, memory. 3M weekly developers. |
Mac only |
| May 14, 2026 |
ChatGPT mobile app Codex integration - start, monitor, and steer coding tasks from iOS or Android while Codex runs on your desktop. |
Mac + mobile |
| May 22, 2026 |
Appshots (press both Command keys to send frontmost Mac app window to Codex), Goal mode goes GA (drive toward an objective for hours or days), remote computer use after Mac locks. |
Mac + mobile |
| May 29, 2026 |
Version 26.527: computer use on Windows, mobile remote control on Windows, Profile section with usage stats and lifetime token activity. |
Windows + Mac + mobile |
What Computer Use on Windows Actually Means
Background computer use was introduced for Mac on April 16 and is now available on Windows with version 26.527. It works differently from a scripted macro or an app-specific API integration. Codex operates its own cursor - it sees a screenshot of whatever is on screen, decides where to click or what to type, executes that action, takes another screenshot, and repeats. This means it can interact with any Windows application regardless of whether that app has an API or automation hooks - including legacy enterprise software, design tools, and niche developer utilities that would be impossible to automate programmatically.
The practical implications for Windows developers are significant. A typical workflow: describe a task in natural language, grant Codex screen access permissions, then walk away while it navigates your IDE, runs test suites, commits to Git, opens a browser to check output, and files a PR - all without you touching the keyboard. OpenAI confirmed the April update brought computer use to over 3 million weekly active Codex developers on Mac. Windows accounts for approximately 65% of developer desktop market share, meaning the addressable audience for this feature just expanded dramatically.
One important constraint: computer use requires the machine to be on, unlocked, and with the screen accessible - or configured for remote computer use, which allows Codex to operate the machine after it locks. The May 22 update added post-lock remote computer use for Mac; whether this arrives on Windows in a subsequent update has not been confirmed.
Mobile Remote Control - Starting and Steering Jobs from Your Phone
The ChatGPT mobile app Codex integration, which launched May 14 for Mac users, lets developers start a coding task from their iPhone or Android phone and then monitor and steer it while it runs on their desktop. The May 29 update brings this to Windows machines. The workflow: open ChatGPT on your phone, navigate to Codex, kick off a task (for example, "run the full test suite and fix any failing tests") and your Windows machine picks it up and starts executing. You can check progress, redirect the task, or approve a proposed change directly from your phone.
This is a meaningful quality-of-life improvement for developers who want to queue up long-running jobs - codebase migrations, test runs, documentation generation - without needing to be at their desk. The combination of computer use (Codex can operate any app) and mobile remote control (start jobs from anywhere) means a developer can effectively hand off a multi-hour coding workflow to their Windows machine from a coffee shop, a commute, or another meeting.
Profile Stats and the 64.9 Billion Token Milestone
Version 26.527 also adds a Profile section to the Codex app displaying user profile details, usage statistics, and lifetime token activity. Early adopters sharing screenshots on X showed individual lifetime token counts in the tens of billions - with one prominent early user showing 64.9 billion tokens processed, driving significant social engagement around the update. The addition of visible usage stats is a deliberate engagement mechanic: making token consumption visible creates a reference point for power users and surfaces the scale of work being offloaded to Codex in a way that is shareable.
For developers evaluating Codex for production use, the stats surface also provides a practical way to track API consumption and predict monthly costs before a billing surprise arrives. Codex runs on GPT-5.3-Codex-Spark (the fast Cerebras-hardware variant) for Plus users, with higher-tier models available on Pro and Enterprise plans.
Codex vs Claude Code - Which Should Windows Developers Use?
| Capability |
OpenAI Codex |
Claude Code (Anthropic) |
| Terminal automation (Terminal-Bench 2.0) |
77.3% |
65.4% |
| Complex codebase reasoning (SWE-Bench) |
~49% |
80.8% (Opus 4.8) |
| Desktop computer use (Windows) |
Yes - version 26.527 |
Via Cowork (separate product) |
| Image generation |
Yes - built in |
No |
| Context window |
128K |
1M tokens (beta) |
| MCP integrations |
~90 curated |
3,000+ |
| Mobile remote control |
Yes - iOS and Android |
No standalone mobile app |
| Goal mode (multi-hour autonomous runs) |
Yes - GA since May 22 |
Via Managed Agents (enterprise) |
The pragmatic split: use Codex for DevOps pipelines, frontend visual iteration, desktop automation across non-API apps, and scheduled autonomous tasks where Goal mode runs for hours unattended. Use Claude Code for architecture work, large-scale codebase refactors, and anything requiring 1M token context or deep MCP ecosystem integration. Both tools are evolving rapidly - the gap on SWE-Bench is the most concrete remaining differentiator for Claude Code, while Codex leads on the desktop automation and mobile remote control experience.
How to Get the Windows Update
The updated Codex app version 26.527 is available now via the Microsoft Store. Search for "OpenAI Codex" or update directly if you have an existing installation. You need a ChatGPT Plus, Pro, or Enterprise subscription - the app is not available on the free ChatGPT tier. After installing, grant the necessary screen recording and accessibility permissions when prompted - these are required for computer use to function. The first time Codex uses computer use, it will request confirmation before taking control of your cursor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Codex computer use safe - can it access my files and passwords?
Codex operates within the permissions you grant it. It sees your screen and can click and type in visible applications - it does not have direct file system access beyond what you explicitly give it in a task. OpenAI states permissions are scoped to explicit requests and follow enterprise-grade privacy standards. For sensitive workflows, the recommended approach is to run Codex in a sandboxed user account or a dedicated dev environment rather than your primary machine.
Does Codex computer use work on Windows 10 or only Windows 11?
OpenAI has not published a specific Windows version requirement for version 26.527. The Microsoft Store listing will show compatibility requirements for your device. Windows 11 is the safest assumption for full feature support given the accessibility API dependencies computer use relies on.
What ChatGPT plan do I need for Codex on Windows?
ChatGPT Plus ($20/month) unlocks the Codex desktop app with standard usage limits. Pro ($200/month) gives higher usage quotas and access to more capable underlying models. Enterprise is required for team deployments. A separate Codex add-on is available for Plus users who hit limits regularly and want more capacity without upgrading to Pro - it was confirmed available through at least May 31, 2026.
Can Codex run jobs while my Windows PC is locked?
Not yet confirmed for Windows. The May 22 update added post-lock remote computer use for Mac - Codex can operate a Mac after it locks, including remotely via Codex Mobile. OpenAI has not confirmed whether this capability is included in the Windows version 26.527 launch or coming in a subsequent update. Check the Codex release notes for clarification.
What is Goal mode and is it available on Windows?
Goal mode, which went GA on May 22, lets you set a specific objective and have Codex work toward it autonomously for hours or even days - checking in only when it needs a decision or hits a blocker. It is available in the Codex app, IDE extension, and CLI. The May 29 Windows update does not specifically call out Goal mode as new for Windows, suggesting it may already be available in the Windows app or is arriving alongside this update. Check your Codex app settings after updating to version 26.527.