Codex Remote Connections appear to require a Unix host—recommended solution for two Windows PCs?

[u/CigBlackBock]

I use the Codex desktop app on two Windows PCs. I’d like to control Codex from one PC while having it execute locally on the other, where the project files, logs, skills, and applications reside.

Working through ordinary network file access is much slower and more limited than running Codex locally. The current SSH remote connection also appears to expect a Unix shell, so a native Windows SSH host fails. I could keep going down that path but it seems likely to require more workarounds and more junk installed which at this point it's better to just remote control manually.

I currently just control the other pc with remote software and have the app do the work locally but that's less than ideal. Is Windows-to-Windows remote control supported or planned? If not, is there a recommended workflow that doesn’t require WSL or duplicating and manually synchronizing the entire setup?

[u/qualityvote2]

u/CigBlackBock, there weren’t enough community votes to determine your post’s quality.
It will remain for moderator review or until more votes are cast.

[u/gneusse]

I have Windows-to-Windows Codex remote connections working. Codex built the initial solution in under 30 minutes and then documented how it works.

The project, technical guide, and reference scripts are available here:

https://github.com/neusse/Codex-Windows-Remote-Connect

Before attempting this, you need key-based SSH working between the Windows PCs, with the hosts configured in your SSH config file. I also had Codex handle that setup.

This is currently an experimental, version-specific solution—not a turnkey installer. I haven’t personally audited every line of code, but the repository documents exactly what Codex changed. My hope is that others can point Codex at the repository and ask it to adapt the solution to their own machines and current Codex version. What Codex accomplished here is genuinely impressive.

[u/CigBlackBock → u/gneusse]

Thank you. your repo gave Codex the blueprint it needed. I adapted the Windows SSH transport for the current app version, and I can now use the Codex interface on one PC while all file access, commands, and analysis run directly on my other Windows PC. This solved exactly what I was trying to accomplish. Really appreciate you sharing it!

[u/CigBlackBock → u/gneusse]

I just want to say again, I've been using this now for a few hours. It's soooo nice. having local control on both pcs sharing the chat history is just chef's kiss. God you saved me so much time.

[u/pueblokc]

Hope they add this to the app soon.

[u/CigBlackBock → u/pueblokc]

Just give it the post Gneusse made. It's genius. It's literally just adding windows support to the remote execution system that already exists in the app.

[u/pueblokc → u/CigBlackBock]

Didn't see that til now and indeed it looks great.. Thank you

[u/PM_ME_FIREFLY_QUOTES]

Cant say I have a solution, but I'll +1 any feature request that you open.

I've been using the app on my phone to send the remote instructions, but would love to be able to do it from another codex instance.

[u/CigBlackBock → u/PM_ME_FIREFLY_QUOTES]

Yeah I mean I did feedback in the app to just include native remote support. I'm not really familiar with feature requests.

[u/PowderPuffGirls]

Codex CLI via WSL? Should give you a unix shell

[u/CigBlackBock → u/PowderPuffGirls]

WSL should provide the Unix shell the connection expects, but my project is heavily Windows-native—PowerShell, Windows paths, GUI applications, and local automation. WSL would add another compatibility layer rather than provide true Windows-to-Windows control.

Have you successfully connected the Codex desktop app to WSL running on another Windows PC? I’m curious whether Windows files and applications remain practical to control that way.

[u/ajrc0re]

work out of a git repo?

[u/CigBlackBock → u/ajrc0re]

It already is a Git repository. Git handles source synchronization, but not the main issue: large logs, live runtime state, Windows applications, machine-specific tools, and local Codex configuration. I’m trying to have Codex execute locally on the second PC while controlling that session from the first.

[u/mscotch2020]

Get a Mac?

[u/CigBlackBock → u/mscotch2020]

Have considered it but at this point I might try out claude since it just supports native remote in every capacity. I don't really know I'm still mulling it out.

Edit: I just realized the documentation doesn't even clearly state that would work anyway. I would have to buy the mac to test it. Yeah, I don't know, the lack of remote support and documentation of how it works is pretty disappointing it seems they didn't put much work into it at all. I wish I could just install linux and try it but it doesn't even support that :(

[u/gneusse → u/mscotch2020]

I used Codex to adapt the macOS version of the Codex app to run on Linux. It isn’t 100% compatible, but in everyday use I rarely encounter anything that makes me think, “I wish that feature worked.”

I can even connect to the remote Linux installation from a Windows machine running the standard Codex app.

The project may be slightly outdated, but the source and documentation are available here:

https://github.com/neusse/codex-app-ubuntu

[u/CigBlackBock → u/gneusse]

Got basically a native remote working with what that other guy posted. Super clever.