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Connect Codex to Willow

Use the OpenAI Codex CLI with your organization's Willow tools.

Prerequisites​

  • Codex CLI installed (codex --version to verify)
  • Your organization's Willow URL (from the Connect MCP modal)

Step 1: Get Your Connection URL​

In Willow, click Connect MCP at the bottom of the left sidebar.

Click Codex in the client grid. Copy the URL shown.

Step 2: Add the MCP Server and Authenticate​

Run this command, replacing the URL with the one you copied:

codex mcp add willow --url "https://yourorg.mcp-s.com/mcp"

willow is the name you're giving this connection. You can use any name.

Codex adds the server, detects OAuth support, and starts the auth flow immediately. No separate login step needed.

Codex terminal showing mcp add command, server added, OAuth detected and auth URL provided

Open the URL in your browser. Log in to your Willow account if prompted, then complete the authorization.

Willow Authorize Access page showing Codex is requesting access with an Allow button

The browser confirms authentication is complete.

Browser showing Authentication complete. You may close this window.

Back in the terminal, Codex confirms with Successfully logged in.

Codex terminal showing Successfully logged in

Codex stores the credentials and uses them automatically on future connections.

note

This writes the server to ~/.codex/config.toml (global). To scope it to a project instead, add it to .codex/config.toml in your project root:

[mcp_servers.willow]
url = "https://yourorg.mcp-s.com/mcp"

Step 3: Verify the Server is Connected​

In a Codex TUI session, run:

/mcp

You should see willow listed with its Auth method, URL, and available tools.

Codex TUI /mcp output showing the Willow server with OAuth auth, URL, and full tools list

Step 4: Verify It Works​

Ask Codex:

"List what tools you have access to in Willow MCP"

Codex will inspect the available tool metadata and list them under the mcp__willow__ namespace.

The tools you see will depend on which MCP servers your organization admin has installed, which tools on those servers they have enabled, and what tools each MCP server exposes. Your list may look different from the one shown here.

Codex TUI showing Willow MCP tools listed under the mcp__willow__ namespace

Troubleshooting​

Server not listed after /mcp

  • Check that ~/.codex/config.toml has the correct [mcp_servers.willow] entry with url
  • Confirm the URL matches what the Connect MCP modal shows

OAuth login fails

  • Ensure you have accepted the invite from your admin
  • Re-run codex mcp login willow to redo the auth flow

Tools not available after authenticating

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