# Codex CLI 0.164.0: what's new, verdict & setup Canonical: https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/codex-cli · Released: 2026-10-23 · Last verified: 2026-10-25 · Evidence: Tested (smoke test, 2026-10-25, local Qwen2.5-3B-Instruct, not vendor models) · Vendor: OpenAI · Official site: https://github.com/openai/codex > OpenAI's open-source coding agent that runs in your terminal. ## Verdict **A quality-of-life release: worth updating if you re-type the same prompts or switch models a lot, not a reason to switch tools.** Good for: - People who already use Codex and repeat the same setup prompts (presets save the typing) - Teams that connect Codex to enterprise MCP servers and want fewer sign-in hurdles - Anyone who wants an open-source (Apache-2.0) agent they can run from a terminal Skip if: - You are happy with another coding agent; nothing here changes the core capability - You need the image preview feature but your terminal does not support Kitty or Sixel graphics Tested. Tested 2026-10-25 (America/Chicago). Installed @openai/codex from npm: codex-cli 0.164.0. Ran "codex exec --oss --local-provider ollama -s workspace-write --json" against a local Ollama model (no ChatGPT sign-in; the model name needs the :latest tag). Told to run a sed command, Codex executed it in its sandbox (exit code 0) and calc.py changed a-b to a+b. A plain-language edit request ran no edit (the small model tried a sub-agent call that failed to parse); we kept two runs, so this is not a pass rate. Not tested: sign-in, presets, /model and /permissions arguments, MCP sign-in or image previews. Test environment: Linux x86_64 box with 8 CPUs and no GPU, no vendor account or API key. Agent tools were pointed at a local open-weight model (Qwen2.5-3B-Instruct, 4-bit, served by Ollama 0.40.11), so we tested the tool, not any vendor's hosted models. Full log: /tests/codex-cli. Test scope: - Kind and date: smoke test, 2026-10-25 (America/Chicago). Not a benchmark. - What we ran: Installed @openai/codex from npm (codex-cli 0.164.0) and ran 'codex exec --oss' against a local model; Codex executed a sed command in its sandbox and changed calc.py. A plain-language edit request ran no edit; we kept two runs. - Model used: Qwen2.5-3B-Instruct (4-bit), a small local open-weight model served by Ollama 0.40.11; no vendor-hosted model was used - Environment: Linux x86_64 box, 8 CPUs, no GPU; no vendor account, login or API key - Not tested: ChatGPT sign-in, presets, /model and /permissions arguments, MCP sign-in, image previews, OpenAI-hosted models. Full test log (commands, versions, raw output): [Codex CLI 0.164.0: our test log](https://theagenticweekly.com/tests/codex-cli) Pricing: Not verified. We have not verified pricing for this tool; see the official site. ## Best for - [Best AI tool for AI coding agents](https://theagenticweekly.com/best/ai-coding-agents) (#2): A mature open-source terminal agent that ships frequent updates; this one is about workflow polish. - [Best AI tool for vibe coding](https://theagenticweekly.com/best/vibe-coding) (#2): Workable for vibe coding if you are comfortable in a terminal; the presets slots help repeat your favorite starter prompts. ## What's new Codex CLI 0.164.0 adds numbered /presets slots for reusable prompts, inline arguments for /model and /permissions, image previews in supporting terminals, enterprise MCP sign-in and credential masking. - Save reusable prompts and slash commands in ten numbered /presets slots, with a keyboard menu for quick access. - Set model, reasoning effort, speed and permission profiles directly with inline /model and /permissions arguments. - Preview viewed and generated images in the fullscreen transcript on terminals that support Kitty or Sixel graphics. - Authenticate enterprise MCP connections using eligible Codex account grants or dedicated sign-in, including OAuth clients that require secrets. - Mask credentials during supported remote Bash commands and Zsh snapshot sessions, including credentials from custom providers. - The Amazon Bedrock setup wizard is now enabled by default. - Bug fixes: failed compaction no longer leaves partial summaries in history, and resumed sessions restore saved thread settings instead of global defaults. ## How to set it up: Install Codex CLI and try the new presets Install steps come from the project README. We ran the install and a short sandboxed task on 2026-10-25. The presets steps are based on the release notes only and were not tested; the notes do not document the exact save flow, so we have not written steps for it. 1. **Install Codex CLI.** On Mac or Linux, run the official installer. On Windows use the PowerShell installer in the README. npm and Homebrew are also supported. ``` curl -fsSL https://chatgpt.com/codex/install.sh | sh # or: npm install -g @openai/codex # or: brew install --cask codex ``` 2. **Start it and sign in.** Run codex and choose Sign in with ChatGPT to use it with your ChatGPT plan (the README lists Plus, Pro, Business, Edu and Enterprise). ``` codex ``` 3. **Check you are on 0.164.0 or newer.** The features below shipped in 0.164.0. If you installed from a package manager, update it first. 4. **Open the presets menu.** The release notes say reusable prompts and slash commands can be saved in ten numbered /presets slots with a keyboard menu. Type /presets inside Codex and follow the on-screen prompts. (Not tested by us; the exact save flow is not in the release notes.) ``` /presets ``` 5. **Use inline arguments on /model and /permissions.** Per the release notes, /model and /permissions now accept arguments inline so you can set model, reasoning effort, speed and permission profile in one command. The argument syntax is not in the notes; run /model and /permissions to see the options. (Not tested by us.) ## Pros and cons Pros: - Open source under Apache-2.0 (per the GitHub repository metadata) - Installs with a one-line script, npm or Homebrew - Frequent releases with detailed changelogs - Credential masking and sandbox hardening continue to improve Cons: - Release notes do not explain how to use several new features; expect to read the in-app help - Image previews need a Kitty- or Sixel-capable terminal - Alpha builds ship almost daily, so make sure you install a stable tag - Our test confirmed the install and sandboxed command execution only; with a small local model, plain-language edits were unreliable, and the new presets were not tested ## Guides for Codex CLI - [ChatGPT Work vs ChatGPT Chat vs Codex: what each is for](https://theagenticweekly.com/guides/chatgpt-work-vs-chatgpt-chat) (Reported (not run by us): from OpenAI's documentation; we have not used ChatGPT Work; last verified 2026-10-26) - [Which coding agents can use GPT-6.1 Terra?](https://theagenticweekly.com/guides/gpt-6-1-terra-in-coding-agents) (Reported (not run by us): from vendor docs and changelogs; last verified 2026-10-26) ## Alternatives - [Claude Code](https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/claude-code): Anthropic's agentic coding tool for your terminal, IDE and GitHub. - [Gemini CLI](https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/gemini-cli): Google's open-source terminal agent for Gemini, now largely replaced by Antigravity CLI for consumers. - [Kiro](https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/kiro): AWS's agentic coding tool that turns prompts into requirements, designs and tasks (spec mode), with an IDE and a CLI. - [Cursor](https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/cursor): AI code editor and agent platform with cloud agents, a CLI and its own Git hosting (Origin). - [Windsurf (now Devin Desktop)](https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/windsurf): Windsurf was renamed Devin Desktop on June 2, 2026: a full IDE with an Agent Command Center for managing local and cloud coding agents. - [Amazon Q Developer](https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/amazon-q-developer): AWS's AI coding assistant for IDEs and the CLI, with a free tier and a $19 Pro tier; IDE plugin support ends April 30, 2027. - [Augment Code](https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/augment-code): Coding agent and 'Cosmos' platform with a Context Engine, CLI and cloud agents; plans are flat team prices with usage included. - [Devin](https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/devin): Cognition's autonomous software engineer: a cloud coding agent that tests in its own browser and aims to hand back a mergeable pull request. - [Qodo](https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/qodo): AI code review platform with 15+ agentic workflows for IDEs, pull requests and security, priced by team credits. - [Warp](https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/warp): Warp's terminal and agent platform; it now pitches 'open infrastructure for cloud software factories' defined as code, with any model. - [Zed](https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/zed): High-performance, multiplayer code editor from the creators of Atom and Tree-sitter, open source with AI optional. - [goose](https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/goose): Open-source, extensible AI agent that installs, runs, edits and tests code with the LLM of your choice. ## FAQ ### What is new in Codex CLI 0.164.0? Numbered /presets slots for reusable prompts, inline arguments for /model and /permissions, image previews on Kitty or Sixel terminals, enterprise MCP sign-in, credential masking in remote Bash sessions and the Amazon Bedrock setup wizard enabled by default. ### How do I install Codex CLI? On Mac or Linux run curl -fsSL https://chatgpt.com/codex/install.sh | sh. You can also use npm install -g @openai/codex or brew install --cask codex. ### Is Codex CLI free and open source? The code is open source under Apache-2.0. Using it with your ChatGPT plan depends on that plan; check OpenAI's pricing for current limits. ## What we have not verified - How to save a preset and the exact /model and /permissions argument syntax (not documented in the release notes) - Pricing and plan limits for using Codex (not fetched) - Presets, /model and /permissions arguments, MCP sign-in and image previews (not tested; they need an interactive, signed-in session) ## Sources - [GitHub release rust-v0.164.0](https://github.com/openai/codex/releases/tag/rust-v0.164.0) (fetched 2026-10-25) - [Codex README (install instructions)](https://github.com/openai/codex) (fetched 2026-10-25) ## How to cite Agentic Weekly, "Codex CLI 0.164.0: what's new, verdict & setup", last updated 2026-10-25, https://theagenticweekly.com/tools/codex-cli Keep the Reported or Tested label when you quote the verdict.