Codex Desktop Quick Start

This guide installs Codex Desktop and configures it to send model requests through AnyRoute.

Windows

1. Install Codex Desktop

Download Codex from the official OpenAI site or search for Codex in Microsoft Store.

After the first launch, fully quit Codex, including its system-tray process. Configure the provider before reopening it.

2. Configure AnyRoute

Option A: CC Switch (recommended)

Download CC Switch from its GitHub Releases page.

In the Codex panel:

Select Add provider.

Choose the GPT/Codex provider type, not Claude.

Enter the AnyRoute base URL and API key.

Load the available models, select the required model, and save.

Enable the provider and restart Codex.

Option B: manual configuration

Create the directory without deleting any existing Codex data:

New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force "$env:USERPROFILE\.codex" | Out-Null

Create or update %USERPROFILE%\.codex\config.toml. Merge these settings with any existing configuration:

model_provider = "anyroute"
model = "gpt-5.6-sol"
model_reasoning_effort = "high"

[model_providers.anyroute]
name = "AnyRoute"
base_url = "https://cc.anyroute.io"
env_key = "OPENAI_API_KEY"
wire_api = "responses"

Set the key as a user environment variable:

[System.Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable(
  "OPENAI_API_KEY",
  "YOUR_API_KEY",
  [System.EnvironmentVariableTarget]::User
)

The key is stored in the user's environment and can be read by processes running as that user. Do not use this approach on a shared account; use CC Switch or another secure credential-management method instead.

Fully restart Codex after changing the provider.

macOS

The provider settings are the same. The configuration directory is:

~/.codex

Open it in Finder with:

Preserve existing config.toml, authentication data, history, logs, and caches.

Some Codex Desktop features may require an official ChatGPT/Codex sign-in even when model requests are routed through AnyRoute. CC Switch 3.16.1 or later includes an option to retain the official sign-in while switching a third-party provider.

Prerequisites:

CC Switch 3.16.2 or later

Codex Desktop, and preferably Codex CLI, installed

An official ChatGPT/Codex account

An AnyRoute API key

Never copy or share ~/.codex/auth.json. It can contain official sign-in tokens and must be treated as a secret.

In CC Switch, select OpenAI Official in the Codex panel.

Start Codex and complete the official sign-in flow once.

Confirm that Codex recognizes the official account.

In CC Switch, open:

Settings → General → Codex App Enhancement

Enable Retain official sign-in when switching to a third-party provider.

This keeps the official authentication state while changing the model-provider configuration.

3. Add and enable AnyRoute

Use:

Base URL: https://cc.anyroute.io

API key: a Codex-compatible AnyRoute key

Enable the provider and restart Codex so that it reloads config.toml and the model catalog.

Expected behavior

Codex may continue to display the official account.

Model traffic follows the active CC Switch provider and Codex provider configuration.

Verify the actual billing provider using AnyRoute usage records, not the account label shown in Codex.

Restart Codex after changing a model mapping.

Troubleshooting

Codex still displays the official account

This is expected when official sign-in retention is enabled. Confirm the active provider in CC Switch and verify requests in AnyRoute usage records.

The model list did not change

Fully quit and restart Codex.

HTTP 401

Confirm that the AnyRoute key is active, assigned to a Codex-compatible group, and available to the Codex process.

HTTP 404 or incorrect model list

Confirm the base URL and model ID. If CC Switch uses local routing for the selected compatibility mode, verify that its routing service is running.

For CLI-specific setup and troubleshooting, see Codex CLI Quick Start.

Windows#

1. Install Codex Desktop#

2. Configure AnyRoute#

Option A: CC Switch (recommended)#

Option B: manual configuration#

macOS#

Optional: retain official sign-in for official app features#

1. Complete an official sign-in#

2. Enable sign-in retention#

3. Add and enable AnyRoute#

Expected behavior#

Troubleshooting#

Codex still displays the official account#

The model list did not change#

HTTP 401#

HTTP 404 or incorrect model list#