Slash commands - how to find and use shortcuts safely

Start Codex and open the slash command menu

Open your terminal in your project folder and type "codex" to start. Once Codex is running and waiting for input, type a single forward slash "/" and then pause — do not press Enter yet. Look at what appears on screen. Most versions of Codex will show a dropdown or list of available slash commands as you type.

Ask Codex to explain its available commands in plain English

Whether or not a dropdown appeared, type this exact prompt and press Enter. This asks Codex to describe its own command list in plain English — which is more reliable than guessing command names, because the list can vary between versions.

Identify the three safest commands for beginners

From the list Codex gave you, identify the commands that only read information or control the session — they do not edit files. Common safe examples include commands that show status, show the current model, clear the screen, or exit. If Codex described any commands as read-only or informational, those are your safest choices.

Try one safe read-only command

Pick one safe command from your list and type it into Codex. Read the response. If the response is information about the session, the model, or the project — that is what you expected. If anything looks like it is about to edit a file, type "stop" before pressing Enter on any confirmation.

Save your personal Codex cheat sheet

Open your notepad or a plain text file. Write down the commands you found today that are safe and useful. Keep the list to 3 to 5 commands maximum. For each one write: the exact command to type, and one sentence saying what it does. Save this file somewhere you can find it easily — next to your AGENTS.md file is a good place.