WINDOWS · VERIFIED 12 SEPTEMBER 2026

Computer Use is already on.

The actual Codex interface on AREA51 has a Computer Use plugin, described as Control Windows apps. Native clicks, typing and screenshots worked in this session.

Correction: The earlier claim that desktop control was unavailable was wrong. A browser tool reported its own native APIs disabled; a separate installed Computer Use tool was available and working. No setting was changed and no reconnect was needed.

1. Open Plugins, then the gear

Choose Plugins in the left sidebar. Click the gear at the top right, immediately left of Add. This opens the installed-plugin management list.

Actual Plugins screen with gear beside Add — Real screenshot. Main content cropped to omit unrelated tasks.

2. Search “computer”

In the management list, search computer. The Computer Use row has a blue switch with its knob on the right: it was already enabled.

Computer Use search result showing enabled blue switch — The real enabled state, captured before making any configuration change.

3. Open Computer Use for details

Click the plugin name. Its page shows Try now, one enabled Computer Use skill, developer OpenAI, and version 26.908.40834. The page explains that users choose which apps to allow and can stop actions.

View the real plugin detail page

Computer Use detail page showing enabled skill, developer and version — Actual product wording is preserved, including references to ChatGPT within the Codex plugin page.

What caused the confusion?

Tool	Verified result
`mcp__cua_repl`	Its session instructions disable native APIs. That statement applies to this tool.
`mcp__node_repl__js` + `@oai/sky`	The installed Computer Use plugin successfully listed windows, captured Codex, clicked Plugins and searched for computer.

There is no verified need for a separate “Enable desktop/native control” switch. Do not follow the earlier guessed instruction.

Scope: verified on this Windows installation. These captures do not prove control inside Far Cry 5, an all-app permission grant, or the same interface on macOS. No permission prompts or security settings were changed.