It paints beneath the real app
A continuous wallpaper runs under Codex while route-aware translucent layers keep the home screen, tasks, cards, and composer readable.
Codex Dream Skin for Codex Desktop
Codex Dream Skin for Codex Desktop.
Codex Dream Skin is an unofficial, reversible theme studio that puts immersive wallpapers behind the real Codex Desktop interface. Use built-in templates, switch skins locally, or create your own clean 16:9 Codex skin.
Works through local loopback CDP. Restore returns Codex to its stock launch path.
Theme input
background.jpg + theme.json
Result
Real Codex controls stay usable
What is Codex Dream Skin?
A skin layer for Codex Desktop, not a fork of Codex.
Codex Dream Skin launches the official Codex Desktop app with a local DevTools connection and injects a visual layer into expected renderer windows. It keeps your threads, plugins, sign-in state, provider settings, project picker, composer, and native controls intact.
It is reversible by design
Restore closes the managed theme session and returns Codex to the normal launch path. No official app package, signature, or install directory is modified.
It treats images as templates
A Codex Dream Skin template is a UI-free wallpaper plus metadata for appearance, focus, safe area, and task-page behavior.
Codex Dream Skin examples
Real previews and concept cases from the GitHub project.
These images show the visual range users expect when searching for Codex Dream Skin. The first two are real injected Codex screenshots; the remaining images are concept cases that should be regenerated as clean UI-free wallpapers before importing.
Codex Dream Skin templates
Start with built-in skins, then make your own.
A fresh install seeds one tested portrait preset plus five procedural abstract presets. Built-in packs use preset-<slug>/theme.json and background.jpg. Your imported themes are saved separately as custom-*.
Featured tested preset
Romantic Rose
preset-romantic-rose is the current real-device verified theme. It uses a UI-free 2560 x 1440 derived wallpaper, leaves the left side calm for native Codex content, and concentrates the portrait and floral detail on the right.
The README screenshots are previews only because they contain real Codex UI. Switch the preset pack instead of importing a screenshot.
Midnight Aurora
Calm dark aurora layers for a focused baseline.
preset-midnight-aurora
Sakura Dawn
Soft morning pinks for a brighter coding surface.
preset-sakura-dawn
Amber Dusk
Warm late-day light with low-glare contrast.
preset-amber-dusk
Forest Mist
Quiet green atmosphere for readable task pages.
preset-forest-mist
Cyber Neon
Neon accents for a night-studio feeling.
preset-cyber-neon
How to install Codex Dream Skin
Install once. Switch skins whenever your workspace mood changes.
Pick your platform, run the installer, launch the managed skin session, then switch to any saved template by ID or through the menu/tray UI.
- Install official Codex Desktop and launch it at least once.
- From the repository, open
macos/and install the stable runtime. - Choose a saved theme by ID, or use the Desktop commands and optional menu-bar control.
cd macos
./scripts/install-dream-skin-macos.sh --no-launch
~/.codex/codex-dream-skin-studio/scripts/switch-theme-macos.sh \
--id preset-romantic-rose- Install Node.js 22 or newer, then close Codex.
- Run the installer once from the repository.
- Start Dream Skin, then switch through the tray under saved themes.
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .\windows\scripts\install-dream-skin.ps1
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .\windows\scripts\start-dream-skin.ps11. Switch a built-in preset
Use switch-theme-macos.sh --id preset-midnight-aurora on macOS, or the Windows tray saved-theme menu. Built-in IDs always start with preset-.
2. Import your own wallpaper
Use the customize command or tray import flow. Choose a pure image, not a screenshot. Codex Dream Skin prepares it into your local theme store.
3. Verify or restore
Use the verify command when checking a new install. Use restore when you want to close the CDP session and return Codex to its normal launch path.
Automation workflow
The scripts turn image files into repeatable Codex skins.
Codex Dream Skin is more than a wallpaper switcher. The installer seeds templates, the launcher opens the official Codex app with a local CDP endpoint, the injector applies the visual layer, and verify/restore scripts keep the workflow recoverable.
Install
Seed templates
Launch skin session
Switch or import
Verify or restore
Custom Codex skins
Make your own Dream Skin without breaking Codex readability.
The best custom themes start as a clean wallpaper, then use metadata to tell Codex where the visual focus is and which side should remain safe for native content.
Open the reference prompt guideRecommended image contract
- Use a 2560 x 1440, 16:9 master image when possible.
- Keep the left 50%-58% calm, low contrast, and low detail.
- Place the main subject or brightest structure around the right 58%-88%.
- Avoid readable text, signatures, logos, windows, cards, sidebars, buttons, and composers.
- Confirm rights before using real people, brands, characters, or third-party artwork.
{
"appearance": "auto",
"art": {
"focusX": 0.72,
"focusY": 0.45,
"safeArea": "left",
"taskMode": "ambient"
}
}FAQ
Answers before you install.
Is Codex Dream Skin official?
No. It is an unofficial project for the official Codex Desktop app. It is not affiliated with OpenAI and does not claim to be an official Codex theme system.
Does it modify Codex itself?
No official app package is patched. The project launches Codex with local loopback CDP and injects into expected renderer targets. Restore closes the managed theme session and reopens Codex normally.
Can I import the README screenshots as templates?
No. README screenshots contain real Codex UI and are only previews. Import or switch the UI-free wallpaper pack inside preset-* instead.
Will it change my API key or model provider?
No. Theme installation and API/provider configuration are separate. The project explicitly avoids rewriting API Key or Base URL settings.
What image formats work?
macOS can read common formats such as PNG, JPEG, HEIC, TIFF, and WebP. The prepared injected file should stay within the documented limits, with 2560 x 1440 as the recommended master.
What should I do after a Codex update?
Rerun install and launch. The scripts rediscover the current app package instead of trusting stale executable paths.
Ready to make Codex yours?