How to Add a Local Git Repository to the Codex App

📘 Introduction

Codex can work in different places: in the cloud, in the terminal, in an IDE, and in the Codex App. That can be confusing when you are just getting started.

In this tutorial, you will learn how to add a local Git repository to the Codex App. This means you already have a repository folder on your computer, and you want Codex to use that folder as a local project.

This is different from connecting Codex Cloud to GitHub. In the Codex App, the starting point is your local repository folder.

💡 What are we implementing?

We will set up this local workflow:

local Git repository -> Codex App project -> coding task -> review changes

The key idea is simple: you select the local project folder, then ask Codex to work with that codebase.

This is useful when you want Codex to help with tasks such as:

• explaining a project structure
• fixing a small bug
• writing tests
• reviewing changed files
• refactoring one part of the code

✅ Prerequisites

Before we start, you should have:

☑️ Codex App installed
☑️ A local Git repository on your computer
☑️ Git installed
☑️ Basic understanding of folders and files
☑️ Optional: a GitHub account if you still need to clone the repository first

📁1️⃣ Open the Codex App

Open the Codex App on your computer and sign in with your ChatGPT account if needed.

The Codex App is designed as a command center for working with agents across projects. OpenAI describes it as a desktop app where agents can run in separate threads organized by projects, with support for reviewing changes and working with local code.

If this is your first time using the app, take a moment to look for the project selector or the option to add or open a project.

🌐2️⃣ Clone the Git repository if needed

If the repository is already on your computer, you can skip this step.

If the repository is still only on GitHub, clone it first:

git clone https://github.com/owner/repository.git
cd repository

Replace owner and repository with the real GitHub owner and repository name.

After cloning, you should have a normal local folder that contains the project files and a hidden .git directory.

🗂️3️⃣ Add the local repository to the Codex App

In the Codex App, choose the option to add or open a project.

Select the repository folder itself, not the parent folder that contains many unrelated projects. For example, choose:

/Users/yourname/projects/my-app

Do not choose only:

/Users/yourname/projects

Choosing the exact repository folder helps Codex understand the right project context and avoids exposing unrelated files.

You now have the local repository selected in the Codex App. In the Academy section, we continue with permissions, your first local Codex task, reviewing diffs, adding AGENTS.md, and avoiding common beginner mistakes.