Skip to content
Get packs

Guide · Open source

How to use CodexBar: install and read your AI coding limits

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

CodexBar is an open-source menu bar app for macOS that shows how much of your AI coding provider limits you have used and when each limit resets. It names OpenAI Codex and Claude Code among its supported providers. This guide covers installing it, setting up providers on a Mac, using the CLI on Linux, and the privacy trade-offs to check before you start.

CodexBarsteipete/CodexBar · ★ 22.9k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Check requirements. Confirm you have macOS 14+ or a Linux system with glibc 2.39+ and Qt 6.4+ for the desktop app.
  2. 2Install the app. On macOS, run brew install --cask codexbar. On Linux, install the CLI with brew install steipete/tap/codexbar or yay -S codexbar-cli.
  3. 3Enable providers. Open Settings → Providers and turn on the providers you use, such as Codex or Claude.
  4. 4Sign in to each source. Install or sign in to the CLI, browser session, OAuth flow, or API key that each provider needs.
  5. 5Read your limits. Check the menu bar to see each provider's usage windows and the countdown to its next reset.
  6. 6Plan long tasks. Start heavy work when a limit has room or right after it resets.

Check the requirements before you install CodexBar

The macOS menu bar app requires macOS 14+ (Sonoma). The README lists no Windows support, so Windows users have no listed install path.

On Linux, the Qt 6 desktop app needs glibc 2.39+ and Qt 6.4+, and it runs alongside a separately installed CodexBar CLI. Published desktop archives target x86_64 and ARM64.

  • macOS: macOS 14+ (Sonoma) for the menu bar app
  • Homebrew, if you use the brew install commands
  • Linux desktop: glibc 2.39+ and Qt 6.4+

Install the macOS menu bar app with Homebrew

You can download the app from GitHub Releases or install it with Homebrew using the command below.

brew install --cask codexbar

Enable the providers you use on macOS

On first run, open Settings → Providers and turn on the providers you use. Each provider needs its own source: CLIs, browser sessions, OAuth or device flow, API keys, local app files, or the provider app, depending on the provider.

Codex can optionally add OpenAI web dashboard extras through Settings → Providers → Codex → OpenAI cookies (Automatic or Manual). This step is optional.

  • Open Settings → Providers and enable the providers you use.
  • Sign in to the provider source you rely on, such as its CLI or browser session.
  • Optionally set OpenAI cookies for Codex dashboard extras.

Manage providers and API keys from the command line

Provider toggles and API keys are stored in the CodexBar config file. New installs use ~/.config/codexbar/config.json, and existing ~/.codexbar/config.json installs still load from the legacy path. You can script the same provider list that Settings → Providers uses.

For API-key providers, you can store a key without opening Settings. The set-api-key command trims the piped value, stores it with restrictive config-file permissions, and enables the provider by default. Use --no-enable to only save the key.

  • set-api-key trims the piped value and sets restrictive file permissions.
  • --no-enable saves the key without enabling the provider.
  • --api-key <key> is intended for one-off local scripts; the README notes shell history may record it.
codexbar config providers codexbar config enable --provider grok codexbar config disable --provider cursor printf '%s' "$ELEVENLABS_API_KEY" | codexbar config set-api-key --provider elevenlabs --stdin

Install the CLI or Linux desktop app

On Linux, install the CLI with Homebrew or, on Arch Linux, from the AUR. The README also publishes release tarballs for macOS and Linux, in glibc and static musl builds. For the Qt desktop app and Omarchy widget, follow the Linux installation guide linked in the README, which covers Arch/Omarchy, Fedora, and Debian/Ubuntu runtime packages.

GNOME may need a tray extension for the desktop app's tray icon. The app's windows work without a tray.

  • The desktop app needs the separately installed CodexBar CLI.
  • The desktop app offers usage and spending windows, separate settings, desktop notifications, and an optional tray icon.
brew install steipete/tap/codexbar yay -S codexbar-cli

Understand what CodexBar reads from your accounts

CodexBar reuses existing provider sessions, such as OAuth, device flow, API keys, browser cookies, and local files, so you do not need to enter passwords into it. The README says no passwords are stored.

This also means the app reads browser cookies and local files for many providers. If you do not want an app to access those, CodexBar is not a fit. Check each provider's documentation page in the README before enabling it.

What people use it for

  • Check remaining Claude Code or Codex limits from the menu bar before starting a long refactor.
  • Plan large coding tasks around session, weekly, or monthly reset times on a capped subscription.
  • Track several AI coding tools in one place instead of logging into each provider's dashboard.
  • Use the CLI on a Linux server or in scripts to read provider configuration and enable or disable providers.

Frequently asked questions

Is CodexBar free?

The README does not state pricing. It is published under the MIT licence, and the source is on GitHub. Check the repository for the licence text and any other terms.

Does CodexBar work on Windows?

The README lists no Windows support. It documents a macOS menu bar app and a Linux desktop app and CLI.

Does CodexBar store my passwords?

The README says CodexBar does not store passwords. It reuses existing provider sessions such as OAuth, API keys, browser cookies, or local CLI files.

How do I install CodexBar on macOS?

Requires macOS 14+ (Sonoma). Run brew install --cask codexbar, or download the app from GitHub Releases.

How do I install CodexBar on Linux?

Install the CLI with brew install steipete/tap/codexbar or, on Arch Linux, yay -S codexbar-cli. The Qt desktop app needs glibc 2.39+ and Qt 6.4+ and also needs the CLI installed separately.

Which AI tools does CodexBar support?

The README lists many providers, including OpenAI Codex and Claude Code, along with others such as Cursor, Gemini, and Copilot. It covers only the providers it names, so check the provider list for your tool.

New agent skills, repos and AI tools — every week

The best new skills and open-source projects, the fastest-growing repos, and one free prompt. Five minutes to read. Unsubscribe anytime.

Our verdict

CodexBar suits developers and subscribers on macOS or Linux who use several AI coding tools and want reset times visible at a glance. If you use Windows, or you do not want an app reading browser cookies or local files, pick a different tool or a provider's own dashboard.

Install options & downloads