Guide ยท Codex CLI
How to run Codex CLI from your phone
OpenAI's Codex CLI is a terminal agent, so running it from your phone comes down to reaching the terminal it runs in. This guide starts Codex CLI inside a tmux session on your own server, drives it from the QuickTUI app, and keeps the session alive after you disconnect.
Codex CLI does real work on your files over minutes, not seconds, so you want it on a machine that stays put. Keep it in tmux on the server and attach a view from your phone. QuickTUI is a native iPhone and iPad app (plus a browser client) that attaches to real tmux on a server you host: the same Codex session, reachable from anywhere.
Install the server
Run the installer on the machine where Codex CLI should run. It sets up the QuickTUI service and can install tmux 3.2+ if it is missing.
macOS / Linux
curl -fsSL https://quicktui.ai/q.sh | shWindows (PowerShell)
irm https://quicktui.ai/q.ps1 | iexPair the app by scanning quicktui-server --qrcode, or add the server manually by
URL and token. The connection is direct by default, so your code and keys never touch our
servers. A single server is free with full features; QuickTUI Pro is a one-time purchase for
unlimited server profiles.
Start Codex CLI in a session
On the server, open a named tmux session and launch Codex inside it:
tmux new-session -s codex
codexFrom the app, attach to the codex session and you are at the live prompt. Send
instructions, read the output, and approve or steer the agent the same way you would locally.
Keep the session alive
- It survives disconnects. tmux keeps Codex running on the server; close the app and it keeps going. The session keeper reattaches to the live view when you return.
- It survives the network. Switching Wi-Fi to LTE or 5G, backgrounding the app, or losing signal does not stop the run.
- Run more than one. Start a second session with
tmux new-session -s codex2for another task or repo, and switch between them in the app.
FAQ
Does Codex CLI keep running when I leave?
Yes. Codex runs in tmux on your server, so it continues after you detach. QuickTUI's session keeper reattaches to the same live session when you reopen the app.
Can I run Codex and Claude Code at the same time?
Yes. Start each in its own tmux session and switch between them in the app. QuickTUI is a full terminal for any CLI agent, not a single-tool client.
Do I need SSH?
No. QuickTUI talks to its own lightweight server over HTTP/WebSocket. Reach it on your LAN, over a VPN or tunnel such as Tailscale or Cloudflare Tunnel, or a public address.