Support standalone Windows installer (`codex-setup.exe`)

[programming-with-ia]

What variant of Codex are you using?

App

What feature would you like to see?

Many Windows users cannot easily install applications from the Microsoft Store due to system restrictions, corporate policies, offline environments, or personal preference for traditional installers.

Currently the Codex Windows app appears to be distributed only through the Microsoft Store. It would be very helpful if a standalone installer such as codex-setup.exe or .msi were provided.

Benefits of a standalone installer:

• Allows installation without Microsoft Store
• Works in offline or restricted enterprise environments
• Lets users choose the installation directory
• Easier automation and deployment (scripts, DevOps, package managers)
• Better compatibility with portable setups and custom Windows environments

Many developer tools provide both distribution methods (Store + standalone installer), which gives users more flexibility.

A simple downloadable installer from the GitHub releases page or official website would solve this.

Example:

codex-setup.exe
codex-x64.msi

Additional information

Other developer tools commonly provide standalone installers alongside store versions, which improves accessibility for developers using custom setups or environments where the Microsoft Store is disabled.

Providing a traditional installer would make Codex easier to adopt across a wider range of developer environments.

[HerrViththalani]

Use this maybe its helps winget install Codex -s msstore

[luvchurchill]

Use this maybe its helps winget install Codex -s msstore

That's using the store too. Just via terminal instead of GUI

[rockyicer]

Microsoft Store might still mean it is not very mature. 😄

[FrankHepi]

I can’t install it from the store, this issue is definitely important.

[Quma233]

Agree, Microsoft Store is terrible

[pavelbe]

I’m also affected on Windows 11.

I want to use the Codex App for Windows, but Microsoft Store is not a reliable installation path for my setup. A standalone installer such as .exe or .msi would make installation much easier and would avoid Store-related failures and policy restrictions.

In my case, I’m on Windows 11 and the Store path is the blocker. I would strongly support:

• a direct download from the GitHub releases page or official OpenAI site
• a standard .exe installer
• or an .msi package for managed or enterprise deployment

Even if Microsoft Store remains supported, having a standalone installer in parallel would make the Windows app much more accessible.

[kaka77]

+1

[USPartyParty]

Over a week of this issue persisting. Unforgivable really. App download is still broken through the store. How hard is it to release a direct download? How does microsoft + openai have a functioning application on macs, while not being able to support their own native ecosystem? Utterly repugnant

[jmartinezb3]

+1 from me. Requiring the Microsoft Store can be a real blocker, especially on work machines or restricted environments. A simple standalone .exe or .msi installer would make Codex much easier to adopt and deploy.