How to install a Codex theme safely
First copy a contract-validated theme string, then check Codex Desktop Settings for an Appearance or theme import control. The public OpenAI documentation reviewed on 2026-07-17 does not establish a stable import path, so stop if your installed version does not show one.
- Last reviewed
- 2026-07-17
- Applies to
- Codex Desktop versions that visibly provide a theme import control
Before you begin
Save your current appearance choice and use only the controls exposed by Codex Desktop. A native theme is appearance data; it should not require scripts, runtime injection, or edits inside the application bundle.
Apply the theme
- Open a theme detail page and review its light or dark variant and contrast information.
- Choose Copy Theme. If clipboard access is unavailable, use the labeled manual-copy field.
- Open Codex Desktop Settings and look for Appearance or theme controls.
- If an Import control is present, paste the string, review the preview, and apply it.
- If the control is absent or the string is rejected, keep the current theme and do not modify application files.
Common errors
Smart quotes can corrupt copied JSON, an older or newer build may not expose the observed control, and a string can pass this site’s contract checks without being manually verified in your installed build.
Restore the previous look
Return to the same Appearance controls and select the previous or default theme. If you cannot do that from visible settings, stop and consult current OpenAI documentation instead of deleting local application data.
Sources and next steps
These sources establish general Codex product context. They did not document a stable codex-theme-v1 Desktop import contract when reviewed, which is why this guide labels the import workflow as observed and version-dependent.