OpenAI provides developer APIs for GPT models. Codex supports ChatGPT sign-in for subscription access or API key sign-in for usage-based access. Codex cloud requires ChatGPT sign-in.

Best for: direct API access and usage-based billing. Get your API key from the OpenAI dashboard.

openclaw onboard --auth-choice openai-api-key
# or non-interactive
openclaw onboard --openai-api-key "$OPENAI_API_KEY"

{
  env: { OPENAI_API_KEY: "sk-..." },
  agents: { defaults: { model: { primary: "openai/gpt-5.2" } } },
}

Best for: using ChatGPT/Codex subscription access instead of an API key. Codex cloud requires ChatGPT sign-in, while the Codex CLI supports ChatGPT or API key sign-in.

# Run Codex OAuth in the wizard
openclaw onboard --auth-choice openai-codex

# Or run OAuth directly
openclaw models auth login --provider openai-codex

{
  agents: { defaults: { model: { primary: "openai-codex/gpt-5.2" } } },
}

• Model refs always use provider/model (see /concepts/models).
• Auth details + reuse rules are in /concepts/oauth.