# Codex can now control a Mac while it's locked

By Steven Van · 2026-05-22

The phone app gains locked-screen Mac control, Appshots, a multi-day Goal mode, and annotation for adjusting web page look.

Codex now works from a locked Mac. Using the app on a phone, the same computer-use permissions extend to a Mac that's locked with the screen off, so Codex can operate applications there without the machine being awake.

- **Locked Mac use**: Codex can securely use apps on a Mac from the phone even while the Mac is locked and its screen is off.

- **Appshots**: screen context can be brought straight into the Codex app.

- **Goal mode**: now available in the app, the IDE extension, and the CLI, letting a goal be set for [Codex](<https://developers.openai.com/codex/app/computer-use#locked-use>) to work toward over hours or days.

- **Advanced annotation mode**: lets the look of web pages be adjusted directly while leaving feedback.

[![](<https://learn.chatgpt.com/og/docs/computer-use.png>)](<https://developers.openai.com/codex/app/computer-use#locked-use>)

![Codex](<https://creatorstoolbox.com/images/codex.png>)

Codex

Cloud-based AI coding agent by OpenAI — assign tasks and Codex writes, tests, and ships code in a sandboxed environment.

[View Codex →](<https://creatorstoolbox.com/tools/openai-codex>)

[Original source](<https://developers.openai.com/codex/app/computer-use#locked-use>)

[Read Codex can now control a Mac while it's locked on Creators Toolbox](<https://creatorstoolbox.com/blog/codex-codex-thursday-locked-mac-use-appshots-goal-mode-advanced-annotation>)

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Canonical source: https://creatorstoolbox.com/blog/codex-codex-thursday-locked-mac-use-appshots-goal-mode-advanced-annotation