# Get a text when OpenAI Codex finishes a task

> Add the AI Text-a-roo plugin or MCP server to the Codex CLI so Codex can text you when it finishes, gets stuck or needs approval, then read your reply from your phone.

Canonical: https://aitextaroo.com/agents/codex · Updated: 2026-10-24

Install the AI Text-a-roo plugin, or run codex mcp add with the AI Text-a-roo URL and sign in with codex mcp login. Codex can then text you progress, questions and results, and wait for your reply by SMS. To start Codex tasks by text, run aitextaroo-bridge --agent codex.

## Set up Codex

1. Install the plugin, which bundles the MCP server and the Agent Skill:

   ```
   codex plugin marketplace add rwfresh/aitextaroo-clients
   codex plugin add aitextaroo@aitextaroo
   ```
2. Or add only the server:

   ```
   codex mcp add aitextaroo --url https://api.aitextaroo.com/mcp
   ```
3. Sign in with your phone (we'll text you that the app is connected):

   ```
   codex mcp login aitextaroo
   ```
4. Prefer an API key? Set it in ~/.codex/config.toml instead:

   ```
   [mcp_servers.aitextaroo]
   url = "https://api.aitextaroo.com/mcp"
   bearer_token_env_var = "AITEXTAROO_API_KEY"
   ```
5. Ask Codex to text you when it's done, and to wait for your reply.
6. To text Codex from your phone, run the bridge:

   ```
   pipx install aitextaroo
   aitextaroo-setup --save
   aitextaroo-bridge --agent codex
   ```

## What works today

- Codex texts you: Yes
- You text Codex: Yes. In a session, Codex reads your reply when it's waiting with wait_for_reply. With the bridge, every text you send becomes a new Codex prompt.
- Texts your contacts (Pro): Yes
- PIN approvals: Yes

## Things to ask Codex

- “Text me when the migration finishes, with a one-line summary of what changed.”

## Good to know

- Codex gives up on an MCP tool call after 60 seconds by default. Keep wait_for_reply's timeout_seconds under that (the default, 45, is), or raise tool_timeout_sec under [mcp_servers.aitextaroo] in ~/.codex/config.toml.

## Sources

- [Codex MCP docs](https://learn.chatgpt.com/docs/extend/mcp?surface=cli)
- [Codex plugins](https://developers.openai.com/codex/plugins/build)