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Codex uses @openai/codex-sdk. Config is written to ~/.codex/. You can also authorize reading files you already have locally. Install the Codex SDK in Settings → SDK dependencies first. If the install is incomplete (CLI integrity is missing), the status stays Not installed. Codex provider page

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Ways to connect

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Add a provider

Click Add provider and fill in a name and config JSON. The UI edits two blocks:
  • config: model_provider, model, model_providers, and similar fields
  • auth: auth fields such as OPENAI_API_KEY
You can also pick official OpenAI direct access, or a third-party / proxy preset. Official direct uses https://api.openai.com. Saving writes to ~/.codex/ immediately.

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Authorize local config

If you already use the Codex CLI in a terminal:
  1. Run codex login in a terminal and confirm you can ask a question
  2. In CC GUI, authorize reading ~/.codex/config.toml and auth.json
  3. Restart VS Code
Authorization is read-only. It does not overwrite those two files. You can revoke it at any time.

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Custom models and environment variables

Each Codex provider can add models:
  • Model ID is required. Letters, numbers, dots, hyphens, underscores, slashes, and colons are allowed
  • Display name and description are optional
  • You can set a context window separately (unit: K tokens)
You can also add environment variables for two kinds of child processes: A variable name must start with a letter or underscore. Built-in protected variables cannot be overwritten.

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How this differs from Claude

For everyday code changes, use Default or Agent. If you want a plan before files change, switch to Claude Code plan mode.

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Usage

Settings → Usage can estimate cost only after you add input / output / cache prices on the model. Empty prices fall back to the default rates.

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Next steps