Codex skin installation guides

Make it yours.
Install with confidence.

Choose the right type of customization, follow the platform steps, verify the real controls, and keep a working recovery path.

macOS

Install Dream Skin on macOS

Follow the project installer, use the correct folders, verify the result, and keep the restore command.

Open guide Windows

Install Dream Skin on Windows

Check the Microsoft Store app and Node.js, install Dream Skin, then test the real Codex interface.

Open guide Choose

Native theme or Dream Skin?

Compare capabilities, trust boundaries, file formats, and recovery before choosing a layer.

Open guide Recovery

Restore the stock Codex look

Close Dream Skin, restore the previous appearance, and reopen Codex normally.

Open guide Safety

Understand the safety boundary

Know which files Dream Skin changes, how its local connection works, and when to stop.

Open guide Fix

Codex skin not working

Follow symptoms to logs and safe stop conditions without changing unrelated Codex settings.

Open guide

Practical compatibility matrix

One goal, three different layers.

Native appearance is the lowest-risk option. Dream Skin is a separate community tool for image-backed interfaces; its theme ZIP is not a native Codex theme file.

Option	Required app	Platform	Best for	Local footprint	Recovery
`Codex native appearance`	`Official Codex settings`	`macOS and Windows`	`Colors, typography, and code-theme settings`	`No separate app required`	`Return to the previous setting`
`Dream Skin on macOS`	`Official Codex Desktop plus the Dream Skin community tool`	`Apple Silicon and Intel Mac`	`Artwork, adaptive composition, and translucent surfaces`	`App: ~/.codex/codex-dream-skin-studio; themes: ~/Library/Application Support/CodexDreamSkinStudio`	`Run the installed restore command`
`Dream Skin on Windows`	`Microsoft Store OpenAI.Codex plus the Dream Skin community tool`	`Windows; PowerShell 5.1+; Node.js 22+`	`Artwork, saved themes, tray controls, and translucent surfaces`	`Themes and app data: %LOCALAPPDATA%\CodexDreamSkin`	`Run restore-dream-skin.ps1 -RestoreBaseTheme -PromptRestart`

Quick answers

Before you run a theme.

Is Codex Dream Skin an OpenAI feature?

No. It is an independent community project. Codex Skin Lab is also independent and does not imply endorsement.

Does a downloaded theme ZIP install itself?

No. Codex has no native “Import Dream Skin ZIP” command. Install Codex Dream Skin first, then follow the platform guide for its local theme folder.

How do I know installation worked?

Run the included verifier, then manually test Home, a normal task, sidebar navigation, menus, scrolling, Diff colors, focus, resize, and the composer. A wallpaper alone is not a pass.

What should I do after a Codex update?

Restore the normal Codex appearance, confirm the official app works, update Codex Dream Skin from its project page, reinstall it, and verify again.

Can I use any artwork?

Use work you created, licensed, or have permission to use. A public download does not grant rights to third-party characters, people, brands, or photographs.

Make it yours.Install with confidence.