01 · Existing computer
Pair a Mac or Windows PC
Select Set up Remote in the desktop app, scan the QR code, then open Remote in ChatGPT mobile. If the host sleeps or closes the app, access stops.
Official Remote docs ↗▍ Independent guide · checked
Codex on your phone—choose the host first.
OpenAI now offers Codex Remote through the ChatGPT mobile app. The useful distinction is whether you want to steer a task on a connected host or directly operate a full shell that stays online.
Official Remote first No account required Can recommend no purchase
Free mobile fit check
Separate the phone UI from the execution host.
Your answers stay in this tab. Terminalbox records only that the router was used, never the choices themselves.
Try the official path first
Remote is a companion to a connected host.
The phone sends prompts, approvals, and follow-ups. Files, commands, tools, credentials, and security controls come from the host where Codex is operating.
02 · Remote development environment
Connect an SSH host through the desktop app
Codex can run against a remote filesystem and shell after the desktop app connects to a trusted SSH host. Keep app-server transports off public networks.
OpenAI mobile announcement ↗Codex phone workflow comparison
Compare the control surface, not just the app.
“On a phone” can mean a mobile task UI or a directly operated terminal. Those are different products with different host requirements.
| Question | OpenAI Remote | DIY SSH / VPS | Terminalbox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where do commands run? | Connected Mac, Windows PC, or SSH environment | Your server or computer | Managed Linux container |
| Phone interface | ChatGPT mobile Remote tab | SSH client or browser terminal | Browser terminal |
| Full interactive shell | No; task UI with terminal output | Yes | Yes |
| Works after a laptop sleeps? | Only with another available host | Yes, if the host stays online | Yes |
| Root or kernel control | Whatever the connected host permits | Yes, on a suitable VPS | No |
| What you pay for | Eligible OpenAI plan and your host | OpenAI plus your infrastructure | OpenAI plus managed hosting |
Terminalbox is independent from OpenAI. “OpenAI,” “ChatGPT,” and “Codex” identify OpenAI products; no endorsement or partnership is implied.
When managed hosting earns its cost
Keep the shell available, not the laptop.
Terminalbox is relevant only when phone access must include the actual Linux terminal, background processes, interactive commands, and the same tmux state after every reconnect.
Compare persistent terminal plans →- One managed Linux pane from €6/month
- 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM, and 50 GB workspace
- Codex CLI plus other terminal agents
- No root access and no bundled OpenAI plan
Codex mobile questions
Keep the host boundary explicit.
Can I use Codex from an iPhone or Android phone?
Yes. Supported Codex chats are available through Remote in the ChatGPT mobile app. The code still runs on the paired computer or remote environment, not on the phone.
Does OpenAI Remote keep working after my computer sleeps?
No. If the connected host sleeps, loses network access, or closes the desktop app, remote access stops until that host is available again.
Is the Codex Remote tab a full interactive terminal?
It is designed for starting and steering chats, answering questions, approving actions, and reviewing diffs, tests, screenshots, and terminal output. Use SSH or a browser terminal when you need direct shell control.
Does Terminalbox include Codex or OpenAI usage?
No. Terminalbox provides the hosted Linux terminal and persistence. You authenticate Codex with your own eligible OpenAI account, and OpenAI usage limits or charges remain separate.
Can Terminalbox replace a root VPS?
No. Terminalbox intentionally does not provide root, kernel, or host-level network control. Choose a self-managed VPS when those capabilities are required.
Still not a clean fit?
Describe what must stay reachable.
We will recommend OpenAI Remote, DIY infrastructure, or managed hosting based on the actual dependency.