Codex Multi-Profile

Unofficial helper. Not affiliated with OpenAI. Needs Codex Desktop from the Microsoft Store.

Purpose & acceptable use

This repository is a local, open-source utility for Windows developers who already hold multiple authorized ChatGPT accounts (for example personal and work) and need to switch between them in Codex Desktop while keeping one shared workspace.

It is not intended for:

  • sharing one paid subscription across people or machines
  • bypassing rate limits, quotas, or billing
  • automating sign-in, scraping, or unofficial API access
  • any use that violates OpenAI's Terms of Use

Use only accounts you own or are explicitly allowed to use. Changes that enable abuse are out of scope (CONTRIBUTING.md).

The problem

A second CODEX_HOME often does not switch accounts. The Desktop app-server still reads ~\.codex\auth.json, so you land on the main ChatGPT user.

You try… What actually happens
Copy ~\.codex + set CODEX_HOME UI still shows the main account
Start-Process with $env:CODEX_HOME Env is dropped → wrong account
Run ChatGPT.exe from WindowsApps Access Denied
Launch Codex.exe Process exits with code 1

AuthSwap keeps sessions, skills, MCP, and memories in ~\.codex. Only auth.json moves for the profile window, then restores on close.

Install

  1. Install Codex Desktop and sign in once (main account).
  2. Close every Codex window.
  3. In Windows PowerShell:
git clone https://github.com/Hung2124/codex-multi-profile.git
cd codex-multi-profile
powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .\scripts\Install-CodexMultiProfile.ps1

One-liner (zip + same installer):

irm https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Hung2124/codex-multi-profile/main/install.ps1 | iex

Desktop shortcuts

Shortcut What it does
Codex1 Secondary ChatGPT login (first run asks you to sign in)
Codex Main Restore the original account and open Store Codex
Codex Profiles List / create another profile

Rule: close one Codex UI before opening the other.

Quick check after install:

$m = "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\CodexParallelDesktop\CodexProfile.ps1"
powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File $m -Action doctor
powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File $m -Action verify

Usage

Set $root once, then call the actions you need:

$root = "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\CodexParallelDesktop"
$m    = "$root\CodexProfile.ps1"
Goal Command
Open secondary account ...\Launch-CodexProfile.ps1 -Name codex1
Restore main + Store app ...\Launch-CodexMain.ps1
Create codex2 -Action new -Name codex2
List / status / doctor -Action list · status · doctor
Repair stale AuthSwap lock -Action repair
Install file sync check -Action sync-check
JSON status -Action status -AsJson
Running processes -Action processes
Diagnostic bundle -Action diagnostics
Verify install -Action verify
Remove a profile -Action remove -Name codex2 -Force
Safe bug-report log ...\Redact-LaunchTrace.ps1
Update from git clone .\scripts\Update-CodexMultiProfile.ps1

Examples:

powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$root\Launch-CodexProfile.ps1" -Name codex1
powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$root\Launch-CodexMain.ps1"
powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File $m -Action doctor
powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "$root\Redact-LaunchTrace.ps1"

More copy-paste flows: docs/recipes.md.

Tests (no Codex UI required):

powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .\tests\Run-All.ps1

Agent skill

Install also copies SKILL.md to:

  • %USERPROFILE%\.codex\skills\codex-multi-profile\
  • %USERPROFILE%\.cursor\skills\codex-multi-profile\

So Codex / Cursor agents know not to launch Codex.exe, not to use WindowsApps, and not to Start-Process without a .cmd wrapper.

Safety

Does Does not
Copy auth.json locally between ~\.codex and profiles\<name> Upload tokens or set a permanent CODEX_HOME
Clone ChatGPT.exe out of the Store package Run the Store binary in-place
Restore main auth on close; refuse to save if active email == main Delete ~\.codex history

Do not commit auth.json or *.bak. Prefer Redact-LaunchTrace.ps1 before pasting logs.

Uninstall

powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .\scripts\Uninstall-CodexMultiProfile.ps1
# add -PurgeProfiles to also delete local profile auth copies

~\.codex is never deleted.

Docs

Doc Topic
Architecture Why AuthSwap exists
Troubleshooting Wrong account, locks, BOM
FAQ Common questions
Recipes Daily command cards
Support Before opening an issue
Changelog Releases
Contributing PR rules
Security Token handling

License

MIT © Hung Nguyen