Add WaveAPI as a model provider in Codex’s config.toml to use GPT, Claude, Gemini, DeepSeek, GLM, Kimi, Qwen and other text models in Codex. Codex CLI and the Codex desktop app read the same configuration.
Prerequisites
- Codex CLI installed (
codex --version prints a version) or the Codex desktop app. See the Codex docs for installation.
- An API key created in the console.
1. Set the API key
Codex reads the key from the WAVEAPI_API_KEY environment variable.
launchctl setenv makes the variable visible to the Codex desktop app; restart the app afterwards. On Windows, open a new terminal after setting it.
2. Edit config.toml
Edit ~/.codex/config.toml (Windows: %USERPROFILE%\.codex\config.toml):
model and model_provider must be at the top of the file, before any [...] table. Inside a table they become fields of that table, and Codex keeps asking you to sign in to ChatGPT.
Verify
A reply means the configuration works.
Available models
Every text model except deepseek-v3.1-terminus can be used in Codex. Model IDs and prices are in the Text models overview.
Switch models with /model in Codex, or pick one at launch:
Generate images and videos
Codex can also generate images, videos and audio through WaveAPI’s MCP tools; see MCP & Skill.
Common errors