Restore Option+Space Quick Chat on macOS after ChatGPT/Codex app unification
What version of the Codex App are you using (From “About Codex” dialog)?
Version 26.707.31123
What subscription do you have?
ChatGPT Pro
What platform is your computer?
Darwin 25.5.0 arm64 arm
What issue are you seeing?
After the latest macOS desktop update that integrates Codex into the ChatGPT desktop app, the previous Quick Chat behavior appears to be gone.
Before this update, pressing Option+Space on macOS opened a small Quick Chat / launcher-style window. This was very useful for quickly sending a prompt without switching fully into the desktop app.
After the update, pressing Option+Space no longer opens that small Quick Chat window. I also cannot find an obvious replacement setting, migration notice, or configurable global shortcut for the same behavior.
This feels like a regression rather than a new feature request because an existing keyboard-driven workflow was removed or made undiscoverable after the desktop app unification.
What steps can reproduce the bug?
- Update to the latest macOS desktop app where Codex is integrated into ChatGPT.
- Ensure the desktop app is installed and running.
- From any app on macOS, press Option+Space.
- Observe that the previous small Quick Chat window does not open.
- Open the app settings and look for a Quick Chat or global shortcut replacement.
- Observe that there does not appear to be an obvious equivalent setting or migration path.
What is the expected behavior?
Pressing Option+Space should continue to open the small Quick Chat window, or the app should provide a clearly documented replacement shortcut with equivalent behavior.
If the shortcut or feature was intentionally changed, the app should expose the replacement in settings and ideally show a migration notice after update.
Additional information
This workflow matters because Quick Chat was a low-friction way to use ChatGPT/Codex while working in other apps, especially while coding. Opening the full app is not an equivalent replacement because it adds a context switch and breaks the previous launcher-style interaction.
If this was removed intentionally, please consider restoring it or adding a configurable global shortcut for the same Quick Chat behavior.
7 Comments
Potential duplicates detected. Please review them and close your issue if it is a duplicate.
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I'm seeing the same behavior on my Mac after updating to the unified ChatGPT app.
Previously, Option + Space opened a lightweight Quick Chat window, which I used dozens of times a day for quick questions while coding. After the update, that workflow appears to be gone, and I can't find any replacement shortcut or setting.
What makes this especially confusing is that the release notes mention the new Chat Bar, but on my installation (v26.707.31428) there is no "Chat Bar" entry under Keyboard Shortcuts, and searching for "Chat Bar" returns no results.
If this is an intentional change, I'd really appreciate some migration guidance. Otherwise, I believe this is a regression. The old Quick Chat/Companion workflow was one of the most useful features of the macOS app.
Additionally, I intentionally used the Quick Chat overlay for everyday ChatGPT questions and reserved Codex for coding tasks. If the new launcher is intended to route into Codex by default, it would be great to have an option to choose whether Option + Space opens Chat, Work, or Codex.
same for me, its completely gone. (macOS)
REGRESSION!!!
same here
same, missing this feature a lot
literally the only reason i'm still subscribed to chatgpt
Yes popout window hotkey does restore it partially, but now it'll be a "task" in codex. I want just a regular chat and probably most folks do as well.