How to make sure Codex alerts you when a task finishes on Mac?
| Fast answer: In Codex, go to Settings > General > Notifications, set Turn completion notifications to Always, keep permission and question notifications on, and make sure Mac Focus mode is off. |
Screenshot 1. Codex General settings with the Notifications section visible
Screenshot 2. Close-up of the notification controls that should be enabled
How to Make Sure You Actually Get Alerts on Mac
If Codex is not notifying you when a task finishes, the quickest fix is this: open Codex Settings, scroll to Notifications, set Turn completion notifications to Always, and keep Enable permission notifications and Enable question notifications turned on.
On Mac, also make sure Focus mode is off, because Focus can silence alerts even when Codex is set up correctly. If notifications still do not appear, recheck macOS notification permissions for the app and run a test task.
The main setting that controls the finished alert is Turn completion notifications. In the screenshot, it is set to Always, and that is the best choice if you want a notification when Codex finishes a thread. Below that, leave Enable permission notifications switched on so you are warned when Codex needs approval, and leave Enable question notifications on so you also see alerts when Codex needs input before it can continue.
The second thing to check is your Mac itself. If Focus mode is turned on, macOS may hide or silence the alert even when Codex is working normally. That is why someone can think Codex notifications are broken when the real problem is that Focus is filtering them out. Before testing again, turn Focus off from Control Center and make sure Do Not Disturb is not active.
Which Codex settings should be turned on
What you see on the screenshot, these are the important options to use if your goal is “notify me when Codex is done.”
First, Turn completion notifications should be set to Always. This tells Codex to send a completion alert whenever a thread finishes. If this is set to another option, you may only get alerts in limited situations or not at all.
Second, Enable permission notifications should stay on. This does not control the finished message directly, but it is still important because Codex may pause and wait for approval. If that happens and you never see the prompt, it can look like Codex is stuck instead of done.
Third, Enable question notifications should stay on. This helps when Codex asks for more information. Without this, a run can pause quietly and you may assume no notification system is working.
Why Mac Focus mode matters
Focus mode on Mac is one of the most common reasons people miss completion alerts. When Focus is active, macOS can suppress banners, sounds, or lock screen notices from apps. Even if Codex sends the alert correctly, the system may hold it back.
To avoid that problem, open Control Center on your Mac, check Focus, and turn it off while you are waiting for a task to finish. If you rely on Focus during work, then allow Codex through Focus filters so its notifications can still appear. For quick troubleshooting, the simplest move is to switch Focus off completely, run a short prompt in Codex, and see whether the completion banner appears.
FAQ
Why am I not getting a Codex notification when done?
Most often, either Turn completion notifications is not set to Always, macOS notification permission is disabled, or Focus mode is on and hiding the alert.
Should I turn on permission and question notifications too?
Yes. They are not the same as a completion alert, but they prevent silent pauses that make Codex seem unresponsive.
What is the best quick test?
Start a small Codex task that finishes in under a minute. Leave the app open, keep Focus off, and watch for the banner. If it appears, your settings are working.
Where do I change the setting?
In Codex, open Settings, stay on General, then scroll to Notifications. That is where the completion option and the other related notification toggles appear.
What if it still does not work?
Restart Codex, verify macOS allows notifications for the app, confirm Focus is off, and test again with Turn completion notifications set to Always.