Codex Micro is a limited-run collaboration between Codex and Work Louder. It works with the ChatGPT desktop app, giving you a quick way to check on tasks, jump between them, use push-to-talk, and trigger common actions or skills without leaving the keyboard.
Set up Codex Micro
- Open the ChatGPT desktop app.
- Connect Codex Micro to your computer with a USB-C cable or Bluetooth, then follow the setup that appears when ChatGPT detects it.
- On macOS, allow Input Monitoring when prompted so ChatGPT can respond to key presses.
- Open Settings > Codex Micro to choose which tasks the Agent Keys follow, assign actions to the Command Keys and analog directions, and adjust the lighting.
To open these settings again, press and hold the dial for 500 milliseconds or select the Codex Micro icon beside your account name at the bottom of ChatGPT.
You’ll see Codex Micro in Settings after ChatGPT detects the device for the first time. If you want to use the device outside ChatGPT, customize those controls with Work Louder Input.
Read and switch tasks with Agent Keys
Each of the six frosted Agent Keys can follow a task and light up to show its current status. Press an Agent Key once to switch to that task without bringing ChatGPT forward. Press it twice within 350 milliseconds to switch tasks and bring the ChatGPT window forward.
| Light | Status | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| White | Idle | The task is idle. |
| Blue | Thinking | ChatGPT is working. |
| Green | Complete | The task completed with an unread update. |
| Amber | Requires input | ChatGPT needs your approval or response. |
| Red | Error | Something went wrong. |
| Off | No assigned task | The key doesn’t follow a task. |
The selected task’s key pulses with its status light.
Out of the box, the keys follow your six most recently updated tasks, whether or not they’re pinned. You can change Agent source in Settings > Codex Micro to use a different arrangement:
- Most recent tasks: Follow the six most recently updated tasks, pinned or unpinned.
- Pinned tasks: Follow the first six tasks in Pinned.
- Priority tasks: Put tasks waiting for input, unread tasks, and active tasks first.
- Custom assignments: Choose the task assigned to each Agent Key. Press an unassigned Agent Key to open a new task. When you start the task, ChatGPT assigns it to that key.
The status colors stay the same. You can decide which tasks the Agent Keys follow, but you can’t turn them into extra Command Keys.
Use and customize Command Keys
Codex Micro comes with six actions in its default layout:
| Key | Default action |
|---|---|
| Turn Fast mode on or off. | |
| Approve the current request. | |
| Decline the current request. | |
| Continue the current task in a new task. | |
| Start push-to-talk. | |
| Send the message in the composer. |
The Mic key uses your computer’s microphone. Codex Micro doesn’t have a microphone of its own. Hold the key while you speak, then release it to stop. For hands-free recording, press it twice within 350 milliseconds to keep recording. Press it again to stop.
A sea-green light moves around the keyboard while you record. It changes to a moving white light while ChatGPT processes your speech, then turns solid white when the prompt is ready. Press the Codex key to send it.
In Settings > Codex Micro, select a Command Key, then choose its keycap and action. You can open the browser or terminal, review changes, commit with Git, create a pull request, attach files or photos, manage scheduled tasks, change reasoning effort, or open Skills. If you choose a keycap that’s already used somewhere else, ChatGPT swaps the two instead of using one keycap twice.
After you remap a key, swap the physical keycap to match its new action.
Use the analog stick and dial
The analog stick moves freely in any direction. When you push it far enough from the center, ChatGPT turns the movement into one of four directional actions. Codex Micro starts with the mappings shown here.
Choose any available ChatGPT desktop command or enabled skill for each direction in Settings > Codex Micro.
| Direction | Default action |
|---|---|
| Up | Turn Plan mode on or off. |
| Right | Go forward in app history. |
| Down | Show or hide the sidebar. |
| Left | Go back in app history. |
The dial moves through the composer controls and options, with Reasoning selected by default. Turn the dial to change the selection, then press it to open or select the focused control. When a composer control or menu is open, the Agent Key immediately to the right of the dial lights red. Press that key to cancel.
In Settings > Codex Micro, choose whether the dial uses Composer navigation or Reasoning only. In Reasoning only mode, turning the dial opens and adjusts reasoning effort. Press the dial to open the slider or its advanced options.
Adjust lighting
In Settings > Codex Micro, adjust the brightness and choose how long the lights stay on when you’re not using Codex Micro. They come back on when you use the keyboard or an Agent Key changes status. By default, the lights turn off after three minutes.
When the keyboard reports its battery status, you can see it in Settings > Codex Micro and in the Codex Micro icon’s sidebar tooltip.
Add more layers
Codex uses layer 1. Use Work Louder Input to configure up to five more layers with shortcuts and actions for other apps.
Troubleshoot Codex Micro
Pair the keyboard again
Use the bottom-left touch control to start pairing again. The rear button controls power and doesn’t start pairing.
- Hold the bottom-left touch control for three seconds to enter communication mode.
- Tap the control to choose Bluetooth channel 1, 2, or 3.
- Hold the control for three seconds on that channel. The channel light flashes while pairing and turns solid when paired.
Fix Input Monitoring on macOS
If Settings > Codex Micro shows that Input Monitoring isn’t set up, select Open System Settings, then follow these steps:
- Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Input Monitoring.
- Turn on access for ChatGPT if it’s already listed. If it’s missing, drag ChatGPT from Applications into the list, or select Add (+) and choose ChatGPT.
- Quit and reopen ChatGPT, then confirm ChatGPT detects Codex Micro on layer 1.
For more about this macOS permission, see Apple’s Input Monitoring guide.
Get more Work Louder help
For help with Bluetooth, cables, power, or resetting the keyboard, see the Creator Micro 2 setup guide from Work Louder. For direct support, email hello@worklouder.cc.
Get Codex Micro
You can buy Codex Micro through OpenAI Supply Co while supplies last.
We expect orders to begin shipping shortly after purchase.