ChatGPT includes Chat and Work, plus Codex in the desktop app. Chat is for fast, conversational assistance and everyday questions. Work is an agent designed for longer, multi-step work and finished deliverables. Codex remains dedicated to software development and technical work.
ChatGPT Voice adds a live voice interface to Work and Codex in the ChatGPT desktop app. You can speak, interrupt naturally, and coordinate tasks using the tools and permissions available to the selected experience.
Work follows the same usage structure as Codex. The Codex pricing page explains included usage and additional credits; its examples are based on coding tasks, so Work usage will vary by task.
Choose an experience
Chat: Ask questions, search, brainstorm, or get quick conversational help.
Work: Research a topic, analyze information, or create a document, spreadsheet, presentation, report, or Site.
Codex: Write or debug code, run tests and commands, review changes, or work with a repository.
Voice: Talk naturally with Work or Codex in the ChatGPT desktop app and ask it to start or coordinate tasks.
Where Work and Codex are available
Work is available on ChatGPT web and mobile for eligible paid plans. Work is also available in the ChatGPT desktop app when included for your plan and workspace.
Work is available for eligible ChatGPT Enterprise and Edu workspaces with Enterprise Key Management (EKM) enabled. For eligible workspaces, Work is enabled by default for members who use the default workspace role unless a workspace owner or admin turns it off, and Workspace settings and role-based access controls continue to determine each member’s access.
Work on web and mobile runs in the cloud. In the desktop app, select ChatGPT from the top-left menu, then select Work from the toggle at the top of the page. Chat and Work chats appear together in Recents, where you can sort, filter, and pin chats. Your existing ChatGPT Projects appear under Projects. From a project, choose Chat to start a new chat, or choose Work to start a Work chat using the project’s context. When allowed by your plan and workspace, Work in the desktop app can also use local files and desktop apps with your permission.
Cloud Work chats sync across web, mobile, and desktop. Work chats started on web or mobile appear in the desktop app, and cloud Work chats started on desktop can be continued on web or mobile. When you start local chats, they stay on your computer.
Codex remains a separate view in the ChatGPT desktop app. Select Codex from the top-left menu. Its workflows are unchanged, and its history remains separate from ChatGPT history. Codex can work with local folders, repositories, terminals, and developer tools. Codex is not selectable on web or mobile. You can access supported desktop Codex chats from the Remote tab in the ChatGPT mobile app, but those chats do not become web or mobile chat history.
ChatGPT Voice in Work and Codex is a desktop capability on macOS and Windows. Work on web and mobile is separate, and Codex remains unavailable as a selectable experience on web or mobile.
Use Voice with Work or Codex
Open the ChatGPT desktop app and choose Work or Codex.
Select the Voice control, or use a shortcut you configured in Settings. No default shortcut is documented.
Allow microphone access when prompted. Computer context may also require Screen & Audio Recording and Accessibility permissions.
Begin speaking. You can interrupt naturally, follow the live text in the chat, and ask Voice to start or coordinate tasks.
Voice uses the tools and permissions available to the selected experience.
Note that connected Voice time is metered separately where flexible pricing applies; tasks started through Voice draw from the same shared agentic usage and credit pool as Work and Codex. Learn more.
Only one Voice conversation can run at a time. See ChatGPT Voice for Voice settings, ordinary Chat Voice limits, retention, and data controls.
Configure Work access for your workspace
Workspace owners and admins can manage Work for the default workspace role and custom roles in Workspace settings → Permissions & roles.
Work: One access control determines whether members assigned to the role can use Work on ChatGPT web, mobile, and the desktop app.
Codex Local: Controlled separately, so enabling or disabling Work does not change access to Codex Local.
Browser use and network access: Separate controls that apply to Work on ChatGPT web and mobile.
Chat remains available in every configuration. When Work or Codex Local is off for a member’s role, the member can see that the product is unavailable and request access from a workspace admin.
Set starting defaults for Work and Codex
Workspace owners and admins can use the Models page in Workspace settings to set the starting model, reasoning level, speed, and new-chat behavior for Work and Codex.
Note that these settings define the starting experience, but do not make a model available or unavailable. Available models controls and role-based access still determine which models a member can use. Enforced workspace requirements also continue to apply. When more than one option is allowed, members can switch away from the starting default.
Start on desktop
Open the ChatGPT desktop app and sign in.
Select ChatGPT or Codex from the top-left menu.
If you select ChatGPT, choose Chat or Work from the toggle at the top of the page.
Start a new chat or open an existing project. From a project, choose Chat to start a new chat, or choose Work to start a Work chat using project context. In Work or Codex, you can also open a local folder.
To use Voice in Work or Codex, select the Voice control, allow the required permissions, and begin speaking.
Describe the outcome you want. Add any files, constraints, and review criteria ChatGPT should use.
Review the result, then ask for changes or follow-up work in the same chat.
Start Work on web or mobile
Open ChatGPT on the web or in the mobile app and select Work.
Start a new chat or open an existing project.
Add any files and context ChatGPT should use, then describe the task or deliverable you want completed
A project keeps related chats, files, and instructions together. Work can also run once, repeat on a schedule or trigger, or monitor for changes through Scheduled Tasks. You can review progress, answer questions, change direction, and approve important actions.
Chats created in Chat sync between ChatGPT web and the desktop app. On desktop, Chat and Work chats appear together in Recents, where you can sort, filter, and pin chats.
Cloud Work chats sync across web, mobile, and desktop. Work chats started on web or mobile appear in the desktop app, and cloud Work chats started on desktop can be continued on web or mobile.
Codex remains a separate view. Its workflows are unchanged, and its history remains separate from ChatGPT history. Codex does not appear on web. Use the Remote tab in the ChatGPT mobile app to access supported remote Codex chats.
FAQ
Can Work use files on my computer?
Yes, in the desktop app. Open a local folder or project and grant access only to the files the task needs. Local files and outputs remain on that computer unless you explicitly move or share them. Work on web and mobile cannot directly access files on your computer.
Is Codex available on web or mobile?
Codex is not selectable on web or mobile. You can access supported desktop Codex chats from the Remote tab in the ChatGPT mobile app. Remote access does not add those chats to your web or mobile chat history.
Where can I learn more?
See Using Codex with your ChatGPT plan for Codex access and usage. See Projects in ChatGPT for help organizing ongoing work, and Scheduled Tasks in ChatGPT for recurring or trigger-based work.
How do you switch between Chat, Work, and Codex?
On desktop:
Select ChatGPT or Codex from the top-left menu. In ChatGPT, select Chat or Work from the toggle at the top of the page. Chat and Work chats appear together in Recents. Use the filter to show all chats or only Chat or Work, and sort or pin chats as needed. Codex remains a separate view; its workflows are unchanged, and its history remains separate from ChatGPT history.
While you’re in Codex, select New chat to open Quick Chat.
On mobile:
Select Chat or Work from the dropdown at the top of the screen. Codex is not selectable on mobile, but you can access supported desktop Codex chats from the Remote tab.
Can I use Voice with Work or Codex?
Yes, for eligible accounts in the ChatGPT desktop app on macOS and Windows. Voice uses the tools and permissions available to the selected experience. Work on web and mobile remains separate, and Codex is not selectable on web or mobile.
What’s happening to regular ChatGPT?
The fast, familiar Chat experience is still available.
On desktop, select ChatGPT from the top-left menu, then select Chat from the toggle at the top of the page.
On mobile, select Chat from the dropdown at the top of the screen.
Why can I use Work on web or mobile but not with local files in the desktop app?
As we roll out the Work feature, Cloud Work and local Work access may update at different times. First, ask a workspace owner or admin to confirm the Work permission assigned to your role. If the permission is enabled, allow time for the local-permission backfill to complete before contacting Support.