The launch-promo should end tomorrow.
I signed in to codex, also tried running codex --free. I made sure I have a payment method, and my account has created at 2022 so I should be eligible.
I am definitely running the latest version as of 14.6.2025:
You’ll note that it says that a pop-up will guide you through the process. I wouldn’t trust that it’s code that’s been tested on anything other than the mandatory AirMacBookOSX issued to every drone. You’ve got to have UI support.
Codex officially supports macOS and Linux. Windows support is experimental and may require WSL.
Also bantered is “Windows 11” needed (maybe..we don’t know).
So I’d spin up a virtual machine of Ubuntu. That also keeps AI off your personal data ( providing there’s nothing for it to mount on the network without a password.)
Ensure you do these first:
• Your Plus/Pro subscription is older than 7 days
• You haven’t already redeemed this offer
• Your API organization has a valid default payment method on file
That’s API billing → add payment method; it is not connected to ChatGPT - platform.openai.com
Typically you’ll also want to set an OPENAI_ORG_ID as an environment variable. This “flow” should be making an API key, so I wouldn’t want to short-circuit that by already having one when running the command.
Then the command would actually need to know who you are.
codex --login – should be the same general path to get started as free.
Now, look at whether you actually have use for $5 API credit expiring in 30 days and also use for codex on a supported environment after all that.
I got the pro plan when Codex was launched on the basis I could claim the $50 API credit, but after chatting back and forth with chatGPT it said I am not eligible because I am not in the US or Canada. Nowhere on the site does it suggest you have to be in these countries, so I requested a refund 3 weeks ago and I’ve heard nothing back. OpenAI seem happy to take your money but not fulfil the agreements. Shame! In the meantime I’ve moved to Claude Code and it’s proven to be much better for my circumstances.
Don’t believe what ChatGPT says. It is a language predictor that will fill in missing information, and is particularly bad for producing plausible false reasons in making AI-powered excuses for when there is no action it can take.
There’s just a bunch of tedious steps that one has to do correctly, already having setup an API organization with a payment method and having some understanding of the API platform.
https://help.openai.com/en/articles/11381614-codex-cli-and-sign-in-with-chatgpt
I tried all the steps and understand the API. It still says 404 bad request.
regarding the env variable OPENAI_ORG_ID, am I supposed to just export it in my shell where I run the codex --login command?
I followed that article to the letter previously and the credit never appeared in my account!
