In the previous article, I explained the difference between Codex and ChatGPT. The key point was this: Codex can help you skip a lot of the copying, pasting, and switching between windows.

So in this article, let’s talk about what to do first if you’re ready to try Codex and want AI to start working directly for you.

Before You Start

First, I want to make sure you know a few basic things:

  1. Your plan affects available features, usage limits, and which apps you can connect

    • You can use Codex on the free plan. Higher-tier plans include more features. For example, in Taiwan, you need a Plus plan ($20/month) or above to connect popular services like Gmail and Google Sheets.
    • Codex is included with your ChatGPT plan, so you can check the latest pricing here.
    • Usage is split into weekly limits and five-hour limits. You can check your current usage here, and it also shows when the limit resets. Most people just wait for the reset instead of buying extra credits. If you keep running out, it probably makes more sense to upgrade your plan first.
    • Usage is not based on “how many messages you sent” or “how many words Codex replied with.” It depends on the actual task. More complex or time-consuming tasks use more of your usage limit.

  2. Codex changes fast, and so does the UI

    • The good part: there are always new features to try, and you get to try new AI workflows while they’re still fresh.
    • The downside: the interface can look a little different every week. Screenshots from tutorials online may no longer match what you see, so you often need to find where the feature moved (I usually just ask Codex). Some features don’t even have a visible UI yet. You have to start them by asking Codex in chat.

  3. Mac and Windows are different

    • Mac is currently the main platform, so it has the full feature set.
    • Windows may be missing some things. If there’s one specific feature you need before downloading or paying for Codex, make sure it’s available on Windows first.

Installation

If you search for Codex online, you will see a lot of different installation methods. The reason is what we talked about in the previous article: Codex was originally built to help engineers write code. So in the early days, Codex started as a terminal tool or an IDE plugin. For non-developers, that can feel pretty intimidating.

Later, OpenAI released the Codex app, a standalone app that makes installation and first-time use much simpler and more intuitive. So I recommend installing the Codex app.

I made a video and wrote a walkthrough for the exact setup steps. You can read this Notion guide. It includes:

  • Download links and installation steps
  • The initial setup when you open the Codex app for the first time
  • A guided exercise where Codex helps you edit files
    💡 I’ve already prepared practice files, so you don’t need to test this on your own important files right away.

If this is your first time using Codex, I recommend following the guide with the practice files I prepared. See how Codex reads files, how it suggests changes, and when it asks for your confirmation. Once you feel more familiar with that flow, you can start using it with your own work files.

👋 If you notice that the installation or first-time setup flow has changed a lot, please email me so I know it’s time to update this guide ☺️

Next Steps

I plan to keep writing more articles about how to use Codex. But there are already quite a few good resources you can explore if you want to learn more right away. Here are the ones I recommend:

  • Official use case examples: https://developers.openai.com/codex/use-cases

    You can use the sidebar to filter examples based on your situation and needs. For most office-work use cases, try the “Knowledge Work” filter in the sidebar. You’ll find examples for organizing information and working with everyday files.

    If you are ready to go a step further, you can choose “Automation” to see how Codex can help automate workflows.

  • OpenAI Academy: https://academy.openai.com/

    This is also an official resource. It teaches both ChatGPT and Codex. Most of it is live online events you can register for, but there are also articles and videos worth exploring.

If there is anything you especially want me to write about or explain, feel free to email me or leave a comment on YouTube and tell me what you’d like to see next ☺️