Add KnowMan to Codex config.toml
Codex stores MCP configuration in config.toml, normally ~/.codex/config.toml. Trusted projects can use a project-scoped .codex/config.toml. Add the knowman table shown in the configuration on this page. Codex requires command for stdio servers and allows args and env. See Codex MCP documentation.
Use the Codex CLI command
You can add the same local server from the command line: codex mcp add knowman --env KNOWMAN_API_KEY=km_... -- npx -y @knowman/mcp. The command places the server name and environment variable before --, followed by the stdio server command. See Codex MCP documentation.
Sign in once with knowman login
Run npx -p @knowman/mcp knowman login, then approve access in the browser. The CLI and MCP server share the saved credential, so you can remove the env block from config.toml after signing in. For a server without a browser, use KNOWMAN_API_KEY=km_... instead. See the KnowMan MCP guide.
Verify the installation
Run codex mcp list to confirm that Codex lists the configured server. In the Codex TUI, run /mcp to view active MCP servers. The ChatGPT desktop app, Codex CLI, and IDE extension share the same MCP configuration. See Codex MCP documentation.
Use KnowMan in the desktop app or IDE extension
In the ChatGPT desktop app, open Settings and select MCP servers to manage servers. In the Codex IDE extension, open the gear menu and select MCP servers. Save the server, then select Restart in the desktop app or Restart extension in the IDE extension. See Codex MCP documentation.
Search and answer with KnowMan tools
kb_search searches saved items by keyword or meaning and returns titles, URLs, and metadata. kb_ask answers questions with citations. kb_get_item returns readable content and metadata for one item. See the KnowMan MCP guide.
Save and retrieve more with KnowMan
kb_save saves a URL to the Inbox or Knowledge Base, with an optional note. kb_recent lists recently saved items. kb_memories lists saved claims, decisions, and playbooks. KnowMan also provides answers with citations for questions about saved material. See the KnowMan MCP guide.
Set the key and run your first search
Put your KnowMan API key in the KNOWMAN_KEY environment variable. In ~/.codex/config.toml, add [mcp_servers.knowman] with url = "https://api.knowman.io/mcp" and bearer_token_env_var = "KNOWMAN_KEY".
Start with: “Use the knowman kb_recent tool and list the titles it returns”, then “Use the knowman kb_search tool with the query bookmark and list the top results”.
Each prompt returns saved-item titles from your KnowMan library. KnowMan provides six tools: kb_search, kb_ask, kb_get_item, kb_save, kb_recent, and kb_memories, at https://api.knowman.io/mcp.
Questions people ask
Can Codex run the KnowMan MCP server?
Yes. Codex supports stdio servers that run as local processes, and KnowMan is a local stdio MCP server. It cannot be used with a client that accepts only remote MCP servers. See Codex MCP documentation and the KnowMan MCP guide.
Do I need to sign in again for every Codex session?
No. Run knowman login once, then the CLI and MCP server share the saved credential. You can omit KNOWMAN_API_KEY from the Codex configuration after sign-in. See the KnowMan MCP guide.
How do I check that Codex sees the server?
Run codex mcp list to see configured servers. In the Codex TUI, use /mcp to view active servers. See Codex MCP documentation.
Does ChatGPT on the web use this Codex configuration?
No. ChatGPT web does not read local Codex configuration files. The documented shared configuration applies to the ChatGPT desktop app, Codex CLI, and IDE extension. See Codex MCP documentation.