Orb Cloud MCP for ChatGPT desktop and Codex

Difficulty: Beginner 🧑‍💻
Contents

Connect Orb Cloud MCP to the ChatGPT desktop app, Codex CLI, or Codex IDE extension. These clients share MCP configuration on the same Codex host, so you can configure Orb once and use it across supported Codex surfaces.

Info

ChatGPT web uses a separate MCP app or plugin configuration and does not read the local MCP configuration used by ChatGPT desktop, Codex CLI, or the Codex IDE extension. See Orb Cloud MCP for ChatGPT web.

See the Orb Cloud MCP guide for a complete list of features, authentication options, and troubleshooting steps.

Configure the Orb Cloud MCP server once in your shared Codex configuration, then use it from ChatGPT desktop, Codex CLI, or the Codex IDE extension.

API Key Authentication/Bearer Token Configuration

Orb Cloud MCP currently uses an Orb Cloud API key for authentication with ChatGPT desktop, Codex CLI, and the Codex IDE extension.

Before configuring Orb Cloud MCP, create an API key and store it in an environment variable named ORB_API_KEY.

For example:

export ORB_API_KEY="orb-ok1-YourAPIToken"
Note

The ORB_API_KEY environment variable must be available to the application running ChatGPT or Codex. If you launch ChatGPT desktop outside of a terminal, make sure the environment variable is configured so the desktop app can access it.

Then add Orb Cloud MCP to your shared Codex configuration at ~/.codex/config.toml:

[mcp_servers.orb]
url = "https://panel.orb.net/mcp"
bearer_token_env_var = "ORB_API_KEY"

This configuration sends your Orb Cloud API key as a Bearer token in the Authorization header without storing the API key directly in your Codex configuration file.

ChatGPT desktop app

After configuring Orb Cloud MCP:

  1. Open or restart the ChatGPT desktop app.
  2. Open Settings, then select MCP servers.
  3. Confirm that orb appears in the server list and is enabled.
  4. In the composer, enter /mcp to confirm that Orb Cloud MCP is connected.

Orb Cloud MCP uses your API key as a Bearer token, so you do not need to click Authenticate.

Codex CLI

Run the following command:

codex mcp list

In the interactive Codex terminal interface, enter /mcp to view active MCP servers.

Codex IDE extension

After configuring Orb Cloud MCP:

  1. Restart the Codex IDE extension.
  2. Open the gear menu.
  3. Select MCP servers.
  4. Confirm that orb appears in the server list and is enabled.

Orb Cloud MCP uses your API key as a Bearer token, so you do not need to click Authenticate.

Using the Integration

Once connected, see Using the Integration in the Orb Cloud MCP guide for example prompts to try.

Support

For additional help connecting ChatGPT desktop or Codex to Orb Cloud:

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