Technology
OpenAI Codex Takes Control of Windows — AI Agents Now Run Your Desktop
OpenAI has extended Codex's computer use capability to Windows PCs, letting developers supervise desktop tasks from a smartphone. The update turns any Windows machine into a remotely supervised AI workstation — with deliberate constraints to keep humans in the loop.
By Leo W ·
OpenAI has brought its Codex computer use capability to Windows PCs, the company announced on June 1, 2026, extending a feature that was previously available only on macOS. The update allows developers to instruct Codex — OpenAI's coding agent — to perform desktop tasks on a Windows machine while monitoring and approving actions from a smartphone running the ChatGPT mobile app.
The workflow is designed around a specific use case: a developer who is away from their desk but needs a build to run, a UI check to complete, or a test suite to execute. Rather than waiting until they return to their machine, they can initiate the task from their phone, receive screenshots of what Codex is doing on the desktop, and approve or redirect actions in real time.
Deliberate Constraints by Design
OpenAI has built the Windows implementation with explicit limitations. Codex runs on the active foreground desktop — it cannot operate in a hidden session or while the machine is locked. This means the Windows session must remain visible, the machine must stay awake, and the user account must remain signed in for the duration of the task.
Users invoke computer use by mentioning @Computer or a specific @AppName in their Codex prompt after installing the Computer Use plugin in settings. The approval and screenshot flow keeps the human informed at each significant step, which OpenAI frames as a deliberate choice to maintain human oversight.
Amazon Bedrock Support Added Simultaneously
The Windows computer use announcement arrived alongside a separate update: Codex CLI 0.136.0 now supports Amazon Bedrock, allowing developers to run Codex using OpenAI models available through Amazon's cloud infrastructure. For enterprises with compliance requirements around data residency, the Bedrock integration removes a significant barrier to Codex adoption.
The ChatGPT mobile app rollout for Codex also launched in parallel, making the agent accessible from iOS and Android for the first time. The combination of mobile access, Windows support, and Bedrock integration represents a significant expansion of Codex's addressable surface — from a tool used primarily by developers on Mac terminals to a platform that can operate across device types, operating systems, and cloud environments.