Use the Codex view in the ChatGPT desktop app
Codex Skin verifies the official app identity before it applies a new theme. It does not theme Chat, Work, ChatGPT on the web, the Codex CLI, or an IDE extension.
Install, apply, switch, restore
How to change your Codex theme.
Choose a six-digit theme ID on this site, then use the free Codex Skin Plugin in the Codex view of the ChatGPT desktop app. The guided flow handles device approval, applies or switches the theme, and keeps an offline path back to the official interface.
macOS + Windows · verified and reversible
The complete route
01Choose
02Install
03Approve
04Unlock
05Apply
Before you start
Four checks make a Codex theme change predictable.
Use macOS or Windows
The guided theme flow supports both desktop platforms, with identity and capability checks tailored to the current system.
Allow browser authorization
Sign-in and current-device approval happen on the Codex Skin website, never inside a theme package.
Keep network access for new theme downloads
A new theme needs a signed package download. Restoring the official interface remains available offline.
Five steps to change a Codex theme
Choose on the website, then apply the theme from Codex.
To change a Codex theme, choose a published theme and copy its six-digit ID. Install the free Plugin in a Codex task, approve the current device if prompted, then ask the Plugin to apply or switch to that ID. Restore remains available offline.
01
Choose on the website
Pick a theme and copy its six-digit ID.
Every published Codex theme has a stable public ID, a full preview, and a visible Free or Pro label. Open the detail page before deciding which theme to apply.
The ID keeps the same theme selected through sign-in, Checkout, and device approval.
02
Install in Codex
Add the free Codex Skin Plugin in a normal task.
Copy the verified setup below into a Codex task. It adds the public Marketplace source, installs Codex Skin, and confirms that one enabled Plugin is ready.
There is no unverified manual theme import: the Plugin downloads and verifies each published data-only package.
Plugin setupCopy, paste, and run in CodexInstalls the current Codex Skin Plugin
codex plugin marketplace add yuanjohn01-byte/codex-skin-plugin --ref main
codex plugin add codex-skin@codex-skin
codex plugin list --json03
Approve in the browser
Sign in and approve the device you are using.
When approval is required, the Plugin opens a short browser continuation. Approve the current device, then return to the same Codex task without choosing the theme again.
Canceled or expired approval fails closed and leaves the new theme unapplied.
Device approval states
ReadySigned in, current device approved
Return to the same Codex task and continue with the selected six-digit ID.
Action neededApproval canceled
Nothing is applied. Start browser approval again when you are ready.
ExpiredContinuation expired
Start a new short-lived browser approval from the same Codex task.
Limit reachedThree active devices
Remove an old device in account settings before approving another.
04
Continue Free or unlock Pro
Free themes continue directly. Pro checks active access.
A Free Codex theme never requires payment. Pro includes all published Pro themes, new releases, compatible updates, switching, and reapplication during an active annual subscription. The regular price is US$19.90/year; the Launch Sale is US$9/year before applicable taxes.
The US$9 base price renews yearly until canceled. Canceling stops the next renewal, not the current paid period.
Free routeNo payment step
An approved device can continue directly to the signed Free theme package.
Pro routeLaunch Sale US$9 / year
Regularly US$19.90/year. The US$9 Launch Sale base price renews annually until canceled; applicable taxes are added at Checkout, and manual refund requests are available within seven days.
05
Apply or switch
Ask the Plugin to apply the six-digit theme ID.
Say “Apply theme 100002” or ask to switch to another published ID. The Plugin verifies the package and the visible result before it reports that the Codex theme is active.
Completely closing the desktop app or restarting the computer ends the active theme session. Ask the Plugin to apply the theme again next time.
Try these Plugin prompts.
01“Apply theme 100002.”
02“Switch to theme 100005.”
03“Check for an update to my current theme.”
04“Restore the official Codex appearance.”
05“Show my Codex Skin status.”
Success means the current Codex session is visibly using the verified theme — it is not a permanent system changeIf apply or verification stops, the official Restore path remains available
Local boundaries
A Codex theme changes presentation, not the work in your workspace.
No conversation access
The Plugin does not need to read or upload your Codex conversations.
No code or project access
Theme packages do not read source code, project directories, or unrelated local files.
Data-only theme packages
Published themes cannot execute JavaScript, CSS, Shell, or PowerShell.
After an app update
Codex Skin reapplies a theme only when it can verify the result safely.
An update to the ChatGPT desktop app can change the Codex interface. Ask the Plugin to check and reapply your theme; it continues only when the current identity and required capabilities pass. Completely closing the app or restarting the computer also ends the active theme session.
Ready
Reapply is available
Identity and capabilities pass, so the last verified Codex theme can be applied again.
Retry
Your confirmation is needed
Restart the desktop app or begin a new Codex task, then ask the Plugin to continue.
Checking
Compatibility is being verified
New theme apply pauses while the current interface change is reviewed.
Protected
New apply stops; Restore remains
Unknown identity, structure, or capability fails closed without deleting the recovery point.
Always keep the way back
Restore the official Codex interface — even offline.
Restore works without network access, login, active Pro access, or the Plugin cache. The recovery point lives outside that cache, so expiry, refund, removal, or a failed update cannot take away the local way back.
No networkNo loginNo active accessNo Plugin cache
Open the Restore guide
When something stops
A safe stop protects the workspace and points to the next action.
The Plugin is not installed
Run the verified setup, confirm one installed and enabled Plugin, then start a new Codex task.
Authorization was canceled or expired
Restart browser approval. The selected six-digit theme ID stays attached to the continuation.
The theme is testing or blocked
New apply remains unavailable until compatibility is verified. The existing Restore path remains available.
Download or verification failed
The new package is not applied. Retry later or restore the previous verified state.
Common questions
Changing, importing, and switching Codex themes.
Choose a published theme, copy its six-digit ID, install the free Codex Skin Plugin, approve the current device if prompted, and ask the Plugin to apply that ID in the same Codex task.
Choose before you apply
Find a Codex theme, then bring its six-digit ID into your workspace.
Browse the published gallery for a full preview, or review the free open-source Plugin before you install it.