How to Install a Codex Theme on Windows

Upstream instructions can change. Before running commands, compare this guide with the original GitHub repository.

A codextheme.tools recipe is settings data, not an installer. Windows imports the local image through the upstream tray workflow; it does not execute this site's ZIP or recipe.

The public v1.3.3 Setup.exe is currently unsigned. Verify the original GitHub Release and optional SHA256SUMS. Do not disable Defender, SmartScreen, or Smart App Control.

Requirements

Windows with the official Store-installed Codex app.
Codex launched once and then closed before installation.
No global Node.js or manual PowerShell for the ordinary Setup.exe path.

Install and launch the original v1.3.3 release

Download CodexDreamSkin-Setup-v1.3.3.exe and, optionally, SHA256SUMS.txt from the original GitHub Release.
Close Codex and run the installer. It installs for the current user in LocalAppData and should not ask for administrator elevation.
If SmartScreen appears, choose More info only after confirming the original source and checksum. If policy offers no safe continue action, stop and contact the administrator.
Launch Codex Dream Skin from the Start menu and use its system-tray icon.

An unexpected administrator password prompt is a stop condition. Update by running the newer original Setup.exe over the existing installation; saved themes and images remain in the managed user directory.

Import and switch a local image theme

After the upstream app is running, open its system-tray menu and choose the documented background-image action. v1.3.3 analyzes the image locally, stores the managed theme under %LOCALAPPDATA%\CodexDreamSkin, and lets you save, switch, pause, or restore themes from the tray.

Use a UI-free local image no larger than 16 MB.
Keep each image edge at or below 16,384 pixels and the total at or below 50 megapixels.
Use the Builder to prepare crop and readability, then select the exported wallpaper in the upstream tray action.

Verify the live UI

Inspect both Home and a normal Task after applying. Treat a missing home background, task ambient layer, native composer, sidebar skin, or interactive control as a failure. v1.3.3 carries the v1.3.2 route-selector fix and also verifies against the staged active theme, retries slow first paint, waits for watcher teardown, and tolerates a Store package update only when the endpoint still belongs to a registered Codex version.

Security boundaries

Never replace or take ownership of files under WindowsApps.
Keep decorative layers non-interactive and native controls above them.
CDP stays on loopback, but it has no same-user authentication. Run only trusted local software.
Preserve config.toml as strict UTF-8 and stop on ambiguous file shapes.

Restore before troubleshooting by hand

Use the tray Restore action or Windows Settings → Apps → Installed apps uninstaller. The uninstaller must restore the official appearance and close CDP before removing runtime files; it stops if Restore fails. The restore guide keeps that boundary explicit.