> For clean Markdown of any page, append .md to the page URL.
> For a complete documentation index, see https://docs.heard.dev/llms.txt.
> For AI client integration (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.), connect to the MCP server at https://docs.heard.dev/_mcp/server.

# Codex app

Heard follows the Codex desktop app through local session activity on the same Mac. This is a local observer path, not the Codex CLI hook.

#### Two ways to run Heard

Heard is one engine with two distributions. The **downloadable macOS app** is the official managed build: sign in and it works, with premium voices and managed narration on Pro and the full voice-input suite on Power. The **open source engine** ([github.com/heardlabs/heard](https://github.com/heardlabs/heard), Apache 2.0) is free forever: clone or fork it and run it yourself with a local voice or your own provider keys. Dictation, spoken replies, ambient input, Heard Parrot, and iPhone pairing exist only in the app.

## Managed app setup

#### Enable Codex in Heard

Open Heard and enable the Codex integration.

#### Keep both apps running

Leave Heard in the menu bar while you use the Codex app under the same macOS account.

#### Start a new Codex task

Send a message in a new task so Heard can observe fresh local session activity.

#### Verify the connection

Listen for a clearly attributed progress update, question, or result.

## Open source setup

```bash title="Terminal"
heard install codex-app
```

Keep Heard running while Codex writes local session activity. You do not need to run a separate development daemon.

## If the Codex app stays quiet

1. Confirm Heard and Codex run under the same macOS user.
2. Confirm Codex is enabled in Heard.
3. Send a new message so there is fresh local activity to observe.
4. Verify the Mac output is audible and Heard is not paused.

See [Privacy and data](/privacy-and-data) for the difference between local observation and optional hosted narration or speech.