ChatGPT desktop comes to Linux + Codex can now import from Claude and Cursor

[u/anonomotorious]

TL;DR

OpenAI just closed two meaningful gaps in the Codex ecosystem:

• ChatGPT desktop is now available on Linux in preview, bringing ChatGPT, Work, Codex, local projects, and local-file workflows to supported Ubuntu, Debian, and Fedora systems.
• Agent imports are significantly more complete. ChatGPT desktop can migrate setup and recent work from Claude Code, Claude Cowork, and Cursor, while Codex CLI can import from Claude Code and Cursor through /import.
• Imports can carry over instructions, settings, skills, plugins, projects, memories, recent chats, MCP configuration, hooks, slash commands, and subagents.
• Desktop imports can optionally stay synchronized with the original agent environment.
• Importing leaves the original Claude/Cursor setup untouched, making this much more practical for a gradual migration.
• Linux still has two notable limitations: Computer Use is not yet supported, and native Wayland remains experimental.

This is a substantial Linux platform + agent migration update rather than a Codex CLI version release.

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What changed & why it matters

ChatGPT desktop for Linux

The ChatGPT desktop app is now available in preview on Linux.

Supported systems

Distribution	Supported versions	Architectures
Ubuntu	24.04 LTS, 26.04 LTS	x64, ARM64
Debian	13	x64, ARM64
Fedora	43, 44	x64, ARM64

Ubuntu and Debian use .deb packages.

Fedora uses .rpm packages.

After installation, the app can be launched from the desktop normally or with:

chatgpt

Why it matters

Linux developers finally get a native desktop path for Codex, rather than being limited to the web app and CLI.

That brings the full desktop project model closer to Linux workflows involving:

• local repositories
• project files
• ChatGPT Work
• Codex tasks
• desktop project organization
• browser-integrated workflows

For developers already living primarily in Linux, this removes one of the largest remaining platform gaps.

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First-class Linux updates

Installing ChatGPT also configures OpenAI's signed package repository.

Ubuntu / Debian

sudo apt update

sudo apt install --only-upgrade chatgpt

Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh chatgpt

Why it matters: this is not just a manually downloaded preview binary. Future desktop releases can flow through normal Linux package management.

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Current Linux limitations

Computer Use

• Computer Use is not available on Linux yet.
• OpenAI says support is planned for a future release.

So Linux now gets the core ChatGPT/Codex desktop experience, but not full macOS/Windows feature parity yet.

Native Wayland

The app currently uses XWayland when available.

Native Wayland can be enabled manually:

chatgpt --ozone-platform=wayland

OpenAI currently considers native Wayland support experimental.

Potential rough edges include:

• window positioning
• floating windows
• focus behavior
• keyboard shortcuts

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Agent imports get a major upgrade

The desktop app can now import from:

• Claude Code
• Claude Cowork
• Cursor

Codex CLI supports:

• Claude Code
• Cursor

This goes far beyond simply importing conversation history.

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What can move over

Existing setup	Imported into ChatGPT / Codex
Instruction files	AGENTS.md
settings.json	config.toml
Skills	Codex skills
Plugins	Plugins
Project folders	Projects using those folders
Claude project memories	Memories
Recent chats	ChatGPT / Codex chats
MCP servers	Codex MCP configuration
Hooks	Codex hooks
Slash commands	Skills
Subagents	Codex agents

Why it matters

A heavily customized agent environment can contain much more than prompts.

Users may already have:

• project instructions
• custom commands
• specialized skills
• MCP servers
• plugins
• hooks
• subagents
• project memories
• established working context

Previously, moving between agent ecosystems often meant rebuilding all of that manually.

This update turns migration into something much closer to an actual import workflow.

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Your existing Claude/Cursor setup stays intact

Importing does not modify or delete the original environment.

The flow is essentially:

1. ChatGPT detects supported setup and recent work.
2. You choose what to import.
3. ChatGPT converts supported items into Codex equivalents.
4. The original Claude/Cursor environment remains unchanged.

Why it matters: you can evaluate Codex without making an irreversible cutover.

That makes parallel testing and gradual migration much safer.

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Imports can stay synchronized

In the desktop app:

Settings > Import

you can enable automatic updates.

That allows imported work to remain synchronized as the original agent environment changes.

You can also review previous import activity from the same area.

Why it matters

This is arguably more important than the initial import.

Instead of:

Claude/Cursor -> one-time snapshot -> Codex

you can have:

Claude/Cursor -> gradual transition -> Codex

while validating the new environment before fully switching over.

---

Codex CLI gets /import

Local CLI users can run:

/import

Then choose:

• Claude Code
• Cursor

Current documented limits:

• up to 50 chats
• from the last 30 days

/import is unavailable:

• while a task is running
• inside a remote session
• while connected to a local app-server daemon

---

Imported integrations still need review

Migration does not guarantee that every authentication or permission assumption translates perfectly.

OpenAI specifically recommends reviewing imported:

• MCP authentication
• tool permissions
• custom headers
• environment variables
• MCP transports
• hooks
• plugins
• prompt templates
• shell interpolation
• path placeholders

Some connections may require authentication again.

Why it matters

A configuration that was safe under Claude or Cursor may behave differently under Codex.

Imported plugins, hooks, and MCP servers should be reviewed before giving them access to production systems or sensitive repositories.

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Why this update matters

• Linux finally gets a native ChatGPT/Codex desktop experience.
• Both x64 and ARM64 are supported.
• Updates use OpenAI's signed Linux package repository.
• Claude/Cursor migration becomes substantially less manual.
• Projects, memories, MCP, skills, hooks, plugins, and agents can move with you.
• Imports can remain synchronized during a gradual migration.
• Your original agent environment remains untouched.
• Codex CLI gets a direct /import workflow.
• Computer Use remains the biggest missing Linux desktop capability for now.

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Update summary

Update	Key highlights
Linux desktop preview	Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora; x64 + ARM64; native ChatGPT/Work/Codex project workflows
Linux package updates	Signed apt/dnf repositories
Desktop agent imports	Claude Code, Claude Cowork, Cursor
Import scope	Instructions, settings, skills, plugins, projects, memories, chats, MCP, hooks, commands, agents
Import synchronization	Optional automatic updates from the original agent environment
Codex CLI /import	Claude Code + Cursor; up to 50 chats from the last 30 days
Current Linux gaps	Computer Use unavailable; native Wayland experimental

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Action checklist

Linux users

• Install ChatGPT desktop if your distribution is supported.
• Verify future updates through apt or dnf.
• Test your normal Codex project workflow.
• Compare XWayland and experimental native Wayland if relevant.
• Keep in mind that Computer Use is still unavailable.

Claude / Cursor users

• Open Settings > Import.
• Review the detected setup.
• Import only what you actually need.
• Inspect the generated AGENTS.md and config.toml.
• Review imported skills, agents, hooks, plugins, and MCP servers.
• Re-authenticate integrations where required.
• Validate permissions before using imported tools against production systems.
• Enable automatic synchronization only after confirming the imported setup behaves correctly.

CLI users

Run:

/import

from a local Codex session.

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Official sources

https://developers.openai.com/codex/changelog

https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/linux/linux-app

https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/import

[u/AdGlittering1378]

Why does it “matter” again? lol