Web search

ChatGPT includes a first-party web search tool. Treat all web results as untrusted input.

In the ChatGPT desktop app, ask for current information in a chat. ChatGPT records search activity with the other tool calls in the transcript.

Configure local web search

For local Codex chats, Codex enables cached search by default. Cached mode uses an OpenAI-maintained index instead of fetching arbitrary pages live, which lowers—but doesn't remove—prompt injection risk.

Use live search when your task depends on the latest information. Set web_search = "live" in config.toml. Set web_search = "disabled" to turn the tool off. The "indexed" mode permits external web access only when the search index gates the request. When Codex runs with full access, web search defaults to live results. See Config basics for config file locations and precedence.

Search with a custom model provider

A custom model provider can opt in to standalone web search when it supports a compatible search endpoint:

model_provider = "custom"
web_search = "live"

[model_providers.custom]
name = "Custom Responses provider"
base_url = "https://example.com/v1"
env_key = "CUSTOM_RESPONSES_API_KEY"
supports_standalone_web_search = true

Custom providers default to supports_standalone_web_search = false. Standalone web search remains under development and is off by default. Setting this provider capability doesn't enable the feature: the provider, selected model, and runtime must also support standalone search. Workspace and managed search restrictions still apply.

For network boundaries that apply to Codex cloud environments, see Internet access.