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ChatGPT Desktop includes Codex, OpenAI’s desktop coding agent. Ollama adds compatible local and cloud models to Codex’s model picker alongside ChatGPT’s native models.

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Prerequisites

  • Ollama v0.34.0 or newer
If ChatGPT is not installed, Ollama offers to download it during setup.

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Connect ChatGPT

  1. Open the Ollama desktop app and select Apps.
  2. Toggle ChatGPT (Desktop) to On.
  3. Follow the setup prompts. If ChatGPT is already open, Ollama asks to restart it before the new models appear.
  4. Open the ChatGPT desktop app and use Codex mode.

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Choose models

Open Ollama Settings, select Apps, then select ChatGPT. Choose up to five compatible local or cloud models and save your changes. Ollama asks to restart ChatGPT when a model change needs one.

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Disconnect ChatGPT

Open Ollama Apps and turn ChatGPT off. Ollama restores ChatGPT’s connection settings and usual profile. If ChatGPT is open, Ollama asks to restart it so the change takes effect.

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Codex behavior and limits

  • Only requests made with an Ollama model go to Ollama. ChatGPT’s native models keep using their usual provider.
  • Ollama models are for Codex mode. Regular Chat and voice keep using their usual ChatGPT connection.
  • Codex manages sessions. Ollama routes model requests and compaction when Codex asks for it, but does not store ChatGPT sessions.
  • Web search uses Ollama’s web-search service when you use an Ollama model. It requires Ollama sign-in and is limited to three calls per response.