OpenAI Appshots turn any Mac window into context for Codex
OpenAI's new Appshots feature lets Mac users send the contents of any app window to Codex with a double Command key press, including text outside the visible area. It requires macOS permissions and works across all plans, complementing Computer Use without regional restrictions.
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Key points
- Press both Command keys to send the active window's content to a Codex thread, including text outside the scroll area.
- Directly send API docs, emails, design drafts, or error messages without copying or describing.
- Requires macOS screen recording and accessibility permissions; available on all plans.
- Complements Computer Use and is not subject to the EEA, UK, or Switzerland regional ban.
Why it matters
This matters because press both Command keys to send the active window's content to a Codex thread, including text outside the scroll area.
Technical impact
May affect developer workflows, team collaboration, automation capability, and toolchain choices.
OpenAI Appshots turn any Mac window into context for Codex
Jonathan Kemper
View the LinkedIn Profile of Jonathan Kemper
May 22, 2026
With the new Codex feature Appshots, Mac users can send the contents of any app window to OpenAI's coding assistant Codex at the press of a button, giving it the context it needs for a task. Pressing both Command keys sends the active window to a Codex thread. Codex doesn't just get a screenshot - it also receives the text from the window, including content outside the visible scroll area. That means API docs, emails, design drafts, or error messages can be sent over directly without users having to copy or painstakingly describe anything.
For services like Google Docs or Gmail, Codex sometimes only captures the visible screenshot. Using Appshots requires macOS permissions for screen recording and accessibility features. The feature works on Mac across all plans and complements the Computer Use function announced in April. Unlike Computer Use, Appshots aren't affected by the regional ban covering the EEA, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland.
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Source: OpenAI