CodexSkinLite

Make Codex feel like yours.

A small macOS companion for giving the Codex desktop app a warmer, more personal look.

Take a look

Main settings	Custom theme editor

The custom theme editor uses a real Codex layout and moves a red marker to show which part of Codex a setting controls. The preview image is blurred only to keep private conversation text out of the repository.

Why CodexSkinLite?

Codex is a great place to work, but it does not have to look the same for everyone. CodexSkinLite adds a gentle customization layer for people who want a calmer workspace, a favorite color palette, or a little more personality around their chats.

It works alongside the official Codex app and does not modify the official Codex.app bundle.

What you can do

• Bring your own theme — Import DreamSkin-compatible theme ZIPs or browse the theme gallery.
• Tune the details — Adjust colors, transparency, blur, corner radius, shadows, and the composer position.
• See what you are changing — The custom theme editor shows the real Codex layout and moves a red marker to the selected component.
• Add a softer background — Use a background image with position, fill mode, and opacity controls.
• Choose a more comfortable width — Keep conversations and the composer centered with a bounded maximum width.
• Keep settings per theme — Your custom adjustments stay with the theme you edited.
• Choose your top and bottom backgrounds — Independently keep Codex's native top and bottom gradients or let your theme background show through.
• Return to the native interface — Disconnect to remove CodexSkinLite's rendering layer without closing Codex or interrupting running tasks. Reconnect when you want your saved appearance back.

In-app preview

_{The editor's Codex preview preserves the real interface structure while blurring private conversation text.}

Download

Download the latest signed and Apple-notarized Apple Silicon build from Releases.

Install

1. Download the latest CodexSkinLite-<version>-macos-arm64.zip from Releases.
2. Unzip it and move CodexSkinLite.app to your Applications folder.
3. Open CodexSkinLite.
4. Use Open Codex in CodexSkinLite when you want Codex to start with your saved appearance settings.

CodexSkinLite currently supports Apple Silicon Macs (M1 and later) with the Codex desktop app installed.

Make your first look

1. Open the CodexSkinLite settings window.
2. Import a theme ZIP, or open the DreamSkin theme gallery.
3. Select a theme and enable it.
4. Open Custom Theme to choose colors, a background image, and component styles.
5. Select a component to see exactly which part of the Codex interface it controls.
6. Use Preview to try the changes, then Save when the look feels right.

Your theme package stays unchanged. CodexSkinLite stores your personal adjustments separately, so you can return to the original theme at any time.

A few useful notes

• If Codex was already open, launch it through Open Codex so CodexSkinLite can connect cleanly.
• An existing Codex session is not terminated automatically just because it was started without CodexSkinLite.
• Imported themes and customizations are kept locally in your macOS Application Support folder.
• If a theme ever needs a clean start, choose None or reset its customization from the settings window.

For contributors

Build and test locally

cargo test --all-targets
npm ci --prefix renderer
npm test --prefix renderer

The packaged app is built for Apple Silicon. Release packaging requires a Developer ID Application certificate and an Apple notarytool keychain profile.

License and attribution

CodexSkinLite is licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 only.

The project contains adapted compatibility concepts and code from CodexPlusPlus. See NOTICE for attribution and additional context.

Codex is a product of OpenAI. CodexSkinLite is an independent utility and is not affiliated with or endorsed by OpenAI.