---
title: "Using the window"
description: "Find the control, read the banner, and close safely."
image: "https://daftai2026.github.io/incodex/social.svg"
---

> Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://daftai2026.github.io/incodex/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Using the window

## The installed control

After `incodex install`, launch the **official Codex icon** as usual. The hat-glasses control is at the leading edge of Search's toolbar action group, before the other actions. Its exact spacing follows the official app.

![Diagram of the control and privacy banner](/incodex/images/window-guide-en.svg)

This is a position diagram, not a screenshot. Click the hat-glasses control, or press **Shift+Command+N** on macOS / **Ctrl+Shift+N** on Windows. On macOS, the installed integration also exposes the action in the official Dock menu and the existing menu-bar status menu.

Hover over the normal-window control for “Open incognito window”. In an incognito window, hover changes the hat to a circle-x with an exit tooltip. Clicking it closes that private window; it does not start a nested window.

## Additional sidebar entry (v1.3.0)

**Added in v1.3.0.** Incodex adds a second hat-glasses control first in the sidebar's pinned-plugin area, above the other pinned entries. The Search-toolbar control stays in place. Both controls use the same open/exit action and follow the official app's styling.

The extra entry appears when Incodex recognizes the sidebar layout; otherwise, use the existing toolbar control. Opening through this entry has been verified on macOS. Windows real-window verification is still pending.

## The private window

The separate window uses the same login, language, and base configuration. Earlier chats are absent. It follows the main window's size and placement. Its home-page notification explains the private session; dismissing this banner only hides the explanation, not the isolation.

`incodex open` also receives the hat-glasses control and banner, whether the official app has the current installed loader or has never been patched.

## Close versus minimize

Normal close removes the isolated home and Chromium profile. **Minimize keeps the session alive**. On macOS, the red button closes; the yellow button minimizes. On Windows, close the isolated window normally.

An unexpected crash, force quit, or shutdown may leave cleanup work. Use [doctor](/incodex/en/commands/doctor/) to inspect leftovers; do not delete your official `~/.codex` data.

## Terminal menu

Run `inc` in a terminal. Use arrows or `j/k`, Enter to select, digits to run immediately, `V` for version, and `q` to quit. Without a terminal, no arguments prints help. `inc` and `incodex` are the same program. `--help` and `--version` also accept `-h` and `-V`.

Source: https://daftai2026.github.io/incodex/en/windows/index.mdx