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Codex Issues / #5607

Brew refuses to upgrade Codex; homebrew install/update instructions outdated for codex-cli

Resolved 💬 24 comments Opened Oct 24, 2025 by gsusI Closed Oct 24, 2025
💡 Likely answer: A maintainer (github-actions[bot], contributor) responded on this thread — see the highlighted reply below.

Attempting to update Codex using Homebrew with the previous formula does not work as expected:

$ brew upgrade codex
Warning: Treating codex as a cask. For the formula, specify the `--formula` flag. To silence this message, use the `--cask` flag.
Error: Cask 'codex' is not installed.

Even though codex reports there's a new version available:

$ codex --version
codex-cli 0.46.0

$ codex 
╭─────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
│ ✨ Update available! 0.46.0 -> 0.47.0.          │
│                                                 │
│ See full release notes:                         │
│                                                 │
│ https://github.com/openai/codex/releases/latest │
│                                                 │
│ Run brew upgrade codex to update.               │
╰─────────────────────────────────────────────────╯

However, running brew upgrade codex doesn't update Codex.

Workaround:

You need to uninstall any previous formula installation and reinstall Codex using the cask:

$ brew uninstall codex --formula
Uninstalling /opt/homebrew/Cellar/codex/0.46.0... (13 files, 25.6MB)

$ brew install codex --cask
==> Downloading https://github.com/openai/codex/releases/download/r
==> Downloading from https://release-assets.githubusercontent.com/g
############################################################ 100.0%
All dependencies satisfied.
==> Installing Cask codex
==> Linking Binary 'codex-aarch64-apple-darwin' to '/opt/homebrew/b
🍺  codex was successfully installed!

After reinstalling, Codex updates successfully:

$ codex --version
codex-cli 0.47.0

Expected Documentation Update:

  • Update installation and upgrade instructions to note that Codex now uses a Homebrew cask, not a formula.
  • Add explicit troubleshooting/advice if Homebrew throws a "Cask not installed" error or refuses to upgrade.
  • Update the in-app update message to reflect the correct upgrade command for users who may have the formula version installed.

View original on GitHub ↗

24 Comments

github-actions[bot] contributor · 8 months ago

Potential duplicates detected. Please review them and close your issue if it is a duplicate.

  • #5324
  • #5317
  • #5515
  • #5601
  • #5599

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wongjustin99 · 8 months ago

Having the same problem, I had previously re-installed as a cask, but I still couldn7t update the cask

oneslash · 8 months ago

Folks commented in my issue that auto bump is not working. #5601

Eklinden · 8 months ago

Same for me but lastest version is 0.48.0.
Reinstalled codex and it only updates it to 0.47.0 🤔

ShettyBryan · 8 months ago

@Eklinden Thats true but on the brew site I don't see it updated to 0.48.0. While on github it does say it is 0.48.0.

And in the cli app itself we have a prompt saying to upgrade but it just does "brew upgrade" which is still 0.47.0 as of this moment.

<img width="471" height="171" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/057be91c-3ae0-459d-a401-61aa1dd2bc32" />

derwaldgeist · 8 months ago
$ brew uninstall codex --formula $ brew install codex --cask

This did not work for me. It uninstalled codex 40, but did not install the latest one (48).

If I try, I get the message:

Warning: Not upgrading codex, the latest version is already installed

but I couldn't run the command anymore.

However, I then did

$ brew uninstall codex --cask $ brew install codex --cask

This worked, but got me to 47 instead of the latest 48.

Funny enough, when I try to run it, it asks me to upgrade to 48, which then fails.

zcaceres · 8 months ago
> $ brew uninstall codex --formula > $ brew install codex --cask This did not work for me. It uninstalled codex 40, but did not install the latest one (48). If I try, I get the message: > Warning: Not upgrading codex, the latest version is already installed but I couldn't run the command anymore. However, I then did > $ brew uninstall codex --cask > $ brew install codex --cask This worked, but got me to 47 instead of the latest 48. Funny enough, when I try to run it, it asks me to upgrade to 48, which then fails.

Same problem. Stuck at 47 after uninstalling formula and reinstalling.

p-linnane · 8 months ago

Our autobump workflow in Homebrew was broken. It's been resolved, and you can now upgrade to 0.48.0.

etraut-openai contributor · 8 months ago

Thanks @p-linnane!

Looks like this issue is fixed, so closing. If anyone is still having trouble upgrading to 0.48.0, please let us know.

praxder · 8 months ago

Thanks for the quick fix!

atgambardella · 8 months ago

@etraut-openai now getting this same issue trying to upgrade 0.47.0 -> 0.49.0

p-linnane · 8 months ago

@atgambardella Please open an issue https://github.com/Homebrew/homebrew-cask. The OpenAI team can't assist with Homebrew internals.

jaycoolh · 8 months ago

@p-linnane could you update the docs to specify install should be

brew install --cask codex

not brew install codex

?

p-linnane · 8 months ago

No, because I don't work for OpenAI. I'm a Homebrew maintainer. The --cask flag is also not necessary, since there is no longer a Codex formula.

etraut-openai contributor · 8 months ago

We've updated the main README and the FAQ to provide additional guidance.

derwaldgeist · 8 months ago
upgrading to 1.48.0

Cool! Where can I find 1.48? Sounds amazing!

derwaldgeist · 8 months ago

Just did a fresh uninstall and re-install of codex and am still seeing this.

<img width="564" height="197" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/ca474def-dcc9-49f6-ab32-9d7b9306b594" />

Running brew upgrade codex results in this message:

Warning: Not upgrading codex, the latest version is already installed

No matter if I append --cask or --flask

p-linnane · 8 months ago

@derwaldgeist run brew uninstall codex && brew update && brew install codex.

derwaldgeist · 8 months ago

@p-linnane Worked, thanks!

LMCom · 8 months ago
Thanks @p-linnane! Looks like this issue is fixed, so closing. If anyone is still having trouble upgrading to 0.48.0, please let us know.
brew upgrade codex
Warning: Treating codex as a formula. For the cask, use homebrew/cask/codex or specify the `--cask` flag. To silence this message, use the `--formula` flag.
Warning: codex 0.46.0 already installed

I am still stuck on version 0.46, although 0.50 is out. Homebrew does not seem to see the new version. I will use the workaround.

oneslash · 8 months ago

@LMCom, you must remove the brew uninstall codex and install from cask brew install --cask codex

bikrrr · 8 months ago

Is bug back with 0.55.0? I'm on 0.53.0 and get this upgrade prompt when I run Codex:

<img width="1196" height="346" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/d28638de-76bf-4512-8c9d-cbf255ce67c3" />

Then, when I press 1, I get:

<img width="1332" height="160" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/0fce90c8-9a86-49ab-b04c-866bcf83118c" />

I've tried nearly all the uninstall/reinstall commands in this and this other thread, but still stuck on 0.53.0.

Any ideas?

oneslash · 8 months ago

It is not a bug,the homebrew cask updater runs about every 3 hours.

The update will be available in a few hours.

The Github action for updater https://github.com/Homebrew/homebrew-cask/actions/workflows/autobump.yml

p-linnane · 8 months ago

I just ran a manual update job in Homebrew/cask. It should be available in the next 20 minutes or so.