OpenAI's Codex Can Now Use Your Mac Even When It's Locked
OpenAI has introduced a new feature for its Codex desktop app that allows it to operate on a Mac even when the device is locked. Users can send tasks to Codex from their phones, enabling it to interact with apps while the screen is off. This feature requires specific permissions and is not available in certain regions at launch.
- ▪OpenAI's Codex can now operate on a locked Mac, allowing users to send tasks from their phones.
- ▪The feature requires the Computer Use plugin and permissions for Screen Recording and Accessibility.
- ▪Codex can interact with apps, but it cannot automate Terminal apps or system-level admin prompts.
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OpenAI's Codex Can Now Use Your Mac Even When It's LockedFriday May 22, 2026 4:28 am PDT by Tim HardwickOpenAI has rolled out Computer Use for its Codex desktop app on macOS, and its latest trick is that your Mac doesn't even have to be unlocked for the coding agent to use your apps while you're away. In a post on X, OpenAI Developers said users can now send Codex tasks from their phone and have it operate apps on their Mac "even when the screen is off and locked." A picture attached to the post shows a locked Mac displaying a "Codex is Using Your Mac" overlay with a prompt to press any key or click to unlock. For the feature to work, the Computer Use plugin needs to be installed and granted Screen Recording and Accessibility permissions.
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