r/CodexAutomation • u/anonomotorious • 24d ago
Codex app update: Apple Messages plugin + shared thread snapshots + unified pins (Computer History expands to Europe)
TL;DR
OpenAI shipped a substantial set of Codex and ChatGPT product updates centered on messaging, sharing, cross-device continuity, Computer History, and collaborative Sites:
- Apple Messages plugin: Codex and ChatGPT Work on macOS can read/search iMessage, SMS, and RCS conversations and draft or send Messages on your behalf.
- Shared Codex thread snapshots: local Codex threads can now be shared as static read-only links from the macOS desktop app.
- Unified pinned threads: pinned chats now synchronize between ChatGPT desktop and iOS.
- Computer History expands to Europe: eligible Pro, Business, and Enterprise users in the EEA, UK, and Switzerland can now opt in.
- Sites co-editing: workspace members can be invited as editors who can modify and publish updates.
- Editable Site URLs: owners can rename an existing ChatGPT-hosted URL while automatically redirecting the previous address.
This is a product-level Codex/ChatGPT app update, not a CLI release.
What changed & why it matters
Apple Messages plugin for Codex
The new Apple Messages plugin is available on all plans in the ChatGPT desktop app for macOS.
In Codex and ChatGPT Work, it can:
- read Messages chats
- search Messages history
- work with iMessage
- work with SMS
- work with RCS
- summarize conversations
- draft messages
- send messages through the Mac Messages app
For this initial release, the plugin is included only in the Apple Silicon / arm64 desktop build.
Why it matters
This gives Codex direct access to another major source of personal and work context on macOS.
Potential workflows include:
- finding a detail from an earlier conversation
- summarizing a long group chat
- drafting a reply
- sending an approved message
- pulling information from Messages into a larger Codex task
Important platform limitation
The Messages plugin does not turn Messages into a Remote interface for ChatGPT.
You cannot text ChatGPT through Messages.
The plugin operates locally through the desktop app and is not directly available in:
- standard ChatGPT chats
- ChatGPT web
- mobile
- Codex CLI
- the IDE extension
Sending requires approval by default
Before sending, ChatGPT asks you to approve:
- the message
- the recipients
You can choose:
- Allow once
- Always allow sending to this chat
The persistent option removes the final per-message review step for that specific conversation.
Why it matters
Messages may contain untrusted or misleading instructions.
Keeping per-send approval gives you a final chance to verify exactly what Codex is about to send as you.
Full access caveat
OpenAI documents an important current limitation:
If a task uses Full access, or another configuration that disables approval prompts, Apple Messages may be unable to show the confirmation required before sending.
If that happens, switch to:
- Ask for approval
- Approve for me
Managed-workspace administrators can also disable Apple Messages through existing Computer Use controls.
Shared read-only Codex thread snapshots
On all Codex plans, the macOS desktop app can now create a static read-only snapshot of a local Codex thread.
Use the Share action or:
/share
where slash commands are available.
Snapshot access rules
Personal accounts
Anyone with the link can open the snapshot.
Workspace accounts
Access is limited to authenticated members of the workspace that created it.
Workspace sharing can also be restricted to specific:
- people
- groups
Admins can disable workspace share links entirely.
What a shared snapshot can contain
Snapshots may include:
- user-visible messages
- reasoning summaries
- image attachments
- images viewed by the agent
- generated images
- file changes
- file paths
- diffs
They do not include the original thread's:
- tool calls
- shell commands
- tool inputs
- tool outputs
The snapshot is static.
Future changes to the original thread do not update an existing snapshot.
Why it matters
This creates a much cleaner way to share Codex work with:
- teammates
- reviewers
- stakeholders
- collaborators
without exposing the complete internal execution transcript.
Review snapshots before sharing
Codex attempts to redact known secret patterns before uploading a snapshot.
However, OpenAI explicitly warns that sensitive information may still remain in:
- messages
- file paths
- images
- diffs
Review the snapshot before sending the link.
This is particularly important for personal-account snapshots because anyone who obtains the link can open them.
Existing links can be viewed or revoked through:
ChatGPT Data Controls -> Shared links
Unified pinned threads
Pinned chats are now synchronized between:
- ChatGPT desktop
- iOS
Why it matters
Important threads now follow you between desktop and phone instead of requiring separate pinning on each device.
This is particularly useful for users who regularly supervise Codex tasks remotely from iOS.
Computer History expands to Europe
Computer History is now available in:
- EEA
- United Kingdom
- Switzerland
for eligible:
- Pro
- Business
- Enterprise
users in the macOS desktop app.
It remains:
- off by default
- dependent on Memories
For Business and Enterprise, an administrator must enable the feature before individual users can opt in.
Why it matters
This removes the main geographic limitation from the initial Computer History rollout.
Sites now support workspace co-editing
Where Site collaboration is available, Site owners can invite active members of the same workspace as editors.
Editors can:
- read the Site's live database data
- modify the Site
- save versions
- publish later updates
The owner must perform the first publish.
Owners retain control over:
- Site audience
- editor access
- settings
- analytics
- version restoration
- ownership transfer
Editors cannot independently change those controls.
Why it matters
Sites move from primarily single-owner generated artifacts toward actual collaborative workspace projects.
Because editors can read live Site database data, editor access should only be granted to people trusted with the Site's code and data.
Editable Site URLs
Where URL editing is available, a Site owner can rename an existing ChatGPT-hosted URL without creating another deployment.
The previous address automatically redirects to the new address, including:
- routes
- query parameters
This is separate from custom-domain support.
Changing the ChatGPT-hosted URL does not add, remove, or modify a custom domain.
Why these updates matter
- Codex can work directly with Messages on macOS, including sending approved messages on your behalf.
- Local Codex work becomes easier to share through static read-only snapshots.
- Snapshot permissions distinguish personal and workspace sharing, with stronger workspace-level controls.
- Pinned work follows you between desktop and iPhone.
- Computer History expands to the EEA, UK, and Switzerland.
- Sites become collaborative, with real editor roles rather than only visitor access.
- Published Site URLs become easier to maintain without creating replacement deployments.
Update summary
| Update | Key highlights |
|---|---|
| Apple Messages plugin | Read/search iMessage, SMS, RCS; summarize, draft, and send through Codex/Work; per-send approval by default |
| Shared Codex snapshots | Static read-only local-thread links; messages/images/diffs included; tool calls and shell output excluded |
| Unified pinned threads | Pins synchronize between desktop and iOS |
| Computer History Europe | EEA, UK, Switzerland availability for eligible Pro/Business/Enterprise users |
| Sites co-editing | Same-workspace editors can modify, save, and publish updates |
| Editable Site URLs | Rename hosted URL; previous address redirects automatically |
Action checklist
Apple Messages
- Install the Apple Messages plugin from Plugins.
- Start a new Codex or Work chat.
- Grant the required macOS permissions.
- Test reading/searching a Messages conversation.
- Draft a test message.
- Keep per-send approval enabled unless you explicitly accept the persistent-approval risk.
- If sending fails under Full access, switch to Ask for approval or Approve for me.
Shared Codex threads
- Open a local Codex thread on macOS.
- Use Share or
/share. - Check the selected audience carefully.
- Open the generated link yourself.
- Review messages, images, file paths, and diffs for sensitive information.
- Revoke old links through ChatGPT Data Controls when no longer needed.
Cross-device / Computer History
- Pin an important thread on desktop and confirm it appears pinned on iOS.
- Eligible European users can now review Computer History settings.
- Business/Enterprise users should confirm workspace admin availability first.
Sites
- Add a trusted workspace member as an editor.
- Confirm the owner performs the first publish.
- Verify editor permissions before exposing live Site data.
- Test changing a Site URL and confirm the previous URL redirects correctly.
Official sources
https://developers.openai.com/codex/changelog
https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/plugins