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OpenAI Apps SDK manifests

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This page is about how an app for ChatGPT is described under OpenAI's Apps SDK, which OpenAI now documents as Plugins for ChatGPT and Codex: the old developers.openai.com/apps-sdk address now answers HTTP 301 to /plugins (checked 2026-10-29). The "manifests" title only partly fits what OpenAI defines. In the docs the app layer has no manifest file of its own: an app is described at runtime by its MCP server (tool descriptors, _meta fields and ui:// HTML resources) [4][1][2]. The one file OpenAI calls a manifest belongs to the packaging layer: "A portable plugin has a plugin.json manifest at its root. It can also include a skills/ directory, an mcp.json file for bundled MCP servers, and assets." [6], built on the vendor-neutral Agent Plugins schema [6][21]. This page is not about MCP Apps, the open UI standard ChatGPT implements ("ChatGPT implements the open MCP Apps standard for UI returned by an MCP server." [1]). It is not about Agent Plugins itself, which has no wiki page, and not about the 2023 ChatGPT plugins and their ai-plugin.json file, which the current docs do not mention [33].

Overview

The Apps SDK is OpenAI's toolkit for building apps that run inside ChatGPT: an app is an MCP server whose tools the model can call, optionally paired with an HTML component that ChatGPT shows in an iframe [4][1][12]. OpenAI launched it in preview at DevDay in October 2025, opened app submissions and an in-ChatGPT app directory that December, and now documents the same stack as Plugins, shared by ChatGPT and Codex [13][15][16][5]. For the UI, ChatGPT implements the open MCP Apps standard, and its own window.openai bridge and openai/* keys are now optional extensions and compatibility aliases [1][2][11]. The manifest OpenAI defines is part of packaging: a plugin.json file following the vendor-neutral Agent Plugins schema, uploaded in a ZIP for review, with older Codex and Claude-style manifests still accepted [6][7][8].

Who uses it

Named apps or plugins in ChatGPT, each shown on the company's own dated page or in OpenAI's own repository (source pages HTTP 200, checked 2026-10-29).

Who reads it

Clients that run these apps or read these manifests, with dated statements.

Recent coverage

See also

References

  1. OpenAI, Add UI to your MCP server (developers.openai.com), checked 2026-10-29: "Custom UI is optional. Add it when a plugin use case requires people to inspect, compare, edit, confirm, or navigate structured information. Keep the MCP tools useful without a component so ChatGPT and Codex can complete the workflow without UI." "ChatGPT implements the open MCP Apps standard for UI returned by an MCP server." "Declare the UI resource with _meta.ui.resourceUri." "This standards-first foundation lets the same UI run in ChatGPT and other compatible MCP Apps hosts." "After the MCP Apps flow works, use window.openai only for capabilities that the shared specification does not cover." "The compatibility aliases remain available for existing integrations. New UI should use the shared fields and bridge methods in the middle column." — https://developers.openai.com/plugins/build/chatgpt-ui
  2. OpenAI, Reference (developers.openai.com), checked 2026-10-29: "Start with the open standard. Use the MCP Apps specification for shared UI fields and bridge methods. OpenAI extensions are optional and live in window.openai when you want ChatGPT-specific capabilities." "_meta["openai/outputTemplate"] Tool descriptor string (URI) None OpenAI-specific optional/compatibility alias for _meta.ui.resourceUri in ChatGPT." "_meta["openai/widgetCSP"] Resource contents object Legacy ChatGPT compatibility key for widget CSP metadata. Standard CSP fields are superseded by _meta.ui.csp, but redirect_domains is still required for trusted openExternal destinations." "They help ChatGPT describe and frame the rendered iframe without leaking metadata to other clients." "_meta["openai/toolInvocation/invoking"] Tool descriptor string ≤ 64 chars Short status text while the tool runs." — https://developers.openai.com/plugins/reference
  3. OpenAI, Troubleshooting (developers.openai.com), checked 2026-10-29: "Confirm the tool descriptor sets _meta.ui.resourceUri to a registered HTML resource with mimeType: "text/html;profile=mcp-app" (ChatGPT honors _meta["openai/outputTemplate"] as an optional compatibility alias), and that the resource loads without CSP errors." — https://developers.openai.com/plugins/deploy/troubleshooting
  4. OpenAI, MCP server (developers.openai.com), checked 2026-10-29: "Plugins primarily use tools. Each tool has a name, description, input schema, and optional output schema. These fields help the model decide when to call the tool and how to use its result." "Deploy production MCP servers at stable HTTPS endpoints using the streamable HTTP transport." — https://developers.openai.com/plugins/concepts/mcp-server
  5. OpenAI, Plugin architecture (developers.openai.com), checked 2026-10-29: "Plugins are the packages people discover, install, share, and publish in ChatGPT and Codex." "ChatGPT and Codex share one universal plugin directory. When you publish a public plugin, people can discover the same listing from supported surfaces in either product." — https://developers.openai.com/plugins/concepts/plugins
  6. OpenAI, Package your plugin (developers.openai.com), checked 2026-10-29: "For a portable Agent Plugins package, add plugin.json at the plugin root and declare the Agent Plugins schema." "A portable plugin has a plugin.json manifest at its root. It can also include a skills/ directory, an mcp.json file for bundled MCP servers, and assets." "The root plugin.json is the portable entry point. OpenAI also accepts legacy and Claude-compatible manifests, but new packages should use this format." "Public plugins are published once to the universal plugin directory shared by ChatGPT and Codex." "For complete public examples, inspect Figma, Notion, and Build web apps." "my-first-plugin/plugin.json { "$schema": "https://agent-plugins.org/schemas/1.0.0/plugin.schema.json", "name": "my-first-plugin", "version": "1.0.0"," — https://developers.openai.com/plugins/build/plugins
  7. OpenAI, Upload and submit your plugin (developers.openai.com), checked 2026-10-29: "Submit the package you've already built as a ZIP, resolve automated findings, and submit it for review." "After initial publication, changes to your MCP server are picked up automatically, and eligible updates go live once they pass automated checks. There's no need to upload a new plugin ZIP or publish each update; changes to plugin metadata or skills still require a new ZIP." "Complete individual or business verification in organization settings to publish under your name or a company name." "For domain verification, host the exact challenge token as plain text at the URL shown in the portal: https://<challenge-base-host>/.well-known/openai-apps-challenge" "Five positive test cases." "Three negative test cases." "displayName Required String Name shown to users; required, at most 30 characters." "Your package can declare multiple MCP servers, but only one MCP server can be connected per plugin." — https://developers.openai.com/plugins/deploy/submission
  8. OpenAI, Plugin submission errors (developers.openai.com), checked 2026-10-29: "plugin_manifest_missing ZIP must contain root plugin.json with a supported Agent Plugins schema" — https://developers.openai.com/plugins/deploy/submission-errors
  9. OpenAI, Plugin guidelines (developers.openai.com), checked 2026-10-29: "These guidelines cover all plugins listed in the ChatGPT Directory, including MCP and skills-only plugins." "All plugin submissions must come from verified individuals or organizations." "Plugins must function reliably in ChatGPT on both desktop and mobile, including any UI components." — https://developers.openai.com/plugins/plugin-guidelines
  10. OpenAI, Plugin Extensions (developers.openai.com), checked 2026-10-29: "OpenAI MCP Extensions enables developers to hook their plugins into key surfaces of the ChatGPT user experience, including the sidebar, composer, and file viewers." — https://developers.openai.com/plugins/build/extensions
  11. OpenAI, Plugin UI changelog (developers.openai.com; entries 2026-02-22, 2026-03-25, 2026-07-21 cited), checked 2026-10-29: "2026-02-22 MCP Apps compatibility Fixes & improvements ChatGPT is now fully compatible with the MCP Apps spec." "2026-03-25 Plugin distribution guidance Fixes & improvements Approved Apps SDK integrations could be distributed as Codex plugins. At launch, plugins were available only in Codex." "2026-07-21 Legacy tool visibility metadata deprecated Fixes & improvements Deprecated _meta["openai/visibility"] because its private value hides a tool from the model without specifying app visibility, which can make the intended audience unclear." — https://developers.openai.com/plugins/changelog
  12. Vaibhav (VB) Srivastav and Katia Gil Guzman, OpenAI for Developers in 2025 (OpenAI Developers blog), 2025-12-30, checked 2026-10-29: "Dec 30, 2025 General OpenAI for Developers in 2025" "we introduced the Apps SDK —an open-source framework that extends the Model Context Protocol (MCP) to let developers build UIs alongside their MCP servers, defining both the logic and interactive interface of applications that can run in clients like ChatGPT." — https://developers.openai.com/blog/openai-for-developers-2025
  13. Maxwell Zeff, OpenAI launches apps inside of ChatGPT (TechCrunch), 2025-10-06, checked 2026-10-29: "OpenAI is launching a new way for developers to build applications inside of ChatGPT. Starting Monday, users in ChatGPT will be able to access interactive applications from companies like Booking.com, Expedia, Spotify, Figma, Coursera, Zillow, and Canva. OpenAI is also launching a preview of the Apps SDK, the developer-facing toolkit to build these apps." — https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/06/openai-launches-apps-inside-of-chatgpt/
  14. Jay Peters, OpenAI will let developers build apps that work inside ChatGPT (The Verge), 2025-10-06, checked 2026-10-29: "Developers can access the SDK for making apps in preview starting today. Later this year, developers will be able to submit apps for review and publication, and OpenAI also plans to offer a directory for users to browse apps, according to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman." — https://www.theverge.com/news/793039/openai-chatgpt-apps-developers-sdk-canva-zillow-devday-2025
  15. Lucas Ropek, ChatGPT launches an app store, lets developers know it's open for business (TechCrunch), 2025-12-18, checked 2026-10-29: "App developers looking to launch their programs in ChatGPT can now submit them for review and potential publication, OpenAI said Wednesday." "OpenAI's Apps SDK, which is still in beta, currently provides a toolkit for developers looking to create new experiences for ChatGPT users." — https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/18/chatgpt-launches-an-app-store-lets-developers-know-its-open-for-business/
  16. Richard Lawler, The ChatGPT app store is here (The Verge), 2025-12-18, checked 2026-10-29: "On Wednesday evening, OpenAI launched an App Directory to browse all the tools currently available and opened its SDK for developers to build new interactive experiences that operate within the bot's UI." — https://www.theverge.com/news/847067/openai-app-store-directory-sdk-chatgpt
  17. Ashley Capoot, OpenAI DevDay 2026 recap (CNBC live updates), 2026-09-29, checked 2026-10-29: "Altman said OpenAI is launching plugin extensions, which means developers can build plugins that are "essentially entire applications that feel native to ChatGPT" and are distributed through OpenAI." "With plugin extensions, you can build an editor, a dashboard, a whole workspace directly into ChatGPT and Codex," — https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/29/openai-devday-2026-live-updates.html
  18. Sarah Perez, OpenAI's latest features take direct aim at the app store model (TechCrunch), 2026-09-29, checked 2026-10-29: "Now, developers will be able to track their review, see what needs to be fixed, request a human review, and update their plug-in's tools without starting their whole submission over." — https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/29/openais-latest-features-take-direct-aim-at-the-app-store-model/
  19. Model Context Protocol Blog, MCP Apps - Bringing UI Capabilities To MCP Clients, 2026-01-26, checked 2026-10-29: "MCP Apps are supported in: Claude - available today both on web and desktop experiences Goose - available today Visual Studio Code - available in Visual Studio Code Insiders ChatGPT - starting this week" — https://blog.modelcontextprotocol.io/posts/2026-01-26-mcp-apps/
  20. Model Context Protocol docs, MCP Apps - Model Context Protocol (extension overview), checked 2026-10-29: "MCP Apps are currently supported by Claude, Claude Desktop, VS Code GitHub Copilot, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Goose, Postman, MCPJam, and Archestra.AI." — https://modelcontextprotocol.io/extensions/apps/overview
  21. Agent Plugins project, Agent Plugins (home page), checked 2026-10-29: "Agent Plugins is an open, vendor-neutral standard for packaging reusable components into portable plugins. Its version 1.0.0 specification defines a shared format for Agent Skills and MCP servers that compatible clients can discover and load consistently." "Its initial Technical Steering Committee includes Core Maintainers from Amazon, Cursor, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Vercel." — https://agent-plugins.org/
  22. Agent Plugins project, Compatible Clients (undated page), checked 2026-10-29: "ChatGPT & Codex ChatGPT brings together agents for different kinds of work, including Codex for software development and ChatGPT Work for broader work. Use ChatGPT across desktop, web, and mobile, with Codex also available in your editor and terminal." — https://agent-plugins.org/compatible-clients
  23. Zillow, Zillow becomes the only real estate app in ChatGPT (Zillow Front Porch), 2025-10-06, checked 2026-10-29: "Written by Zillow on October 6, 2025" "The Zillow App in ChatGPT is live right now for all logged-in ChatGPT users in the U.S. on Free, Plus and Pro plans." — https://www.zillow.com/news/zillow-becomes-first-real-estate-app-in-chatgpt/
  24. Spotify, Introducing Spotify in ChatGPT (For the Record newsroom), 2025-10-06, with later updates, checked 2026-10-29: "Introducing Spotify in ChatGPT October 6, 2025" "The Spotify app in ChatGPT is now live in English across 145 countries to all logged-in ChatGPT Free, Plus, and Pro accounts, available on both web and mobile (iOS and Android)." — https://newsroom.spotify.com/2025-10-06/spotify-personalized-prompts-chatgpt/
  25. Adobe, Edit with Photoshop in ChatGPT (Adobe Blog), 2025-12-10 (publication-date metadata), checked 2026-10-29: "Today, we're empowering anyone to edit with Photoshop directly in ChatGPT, making this iconic creativity tool accessible for everyone." "Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Express are also now available to the 800 million people who use ChatGPT each week. With these apps, you can easily bring Adobe magic to your photos, create stunning designs, and edit your PDFs directly in ChatGPT" — https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2025/12/10/edit-photoshop-chatgpt
  26. Canva, Creative Operating System announcement (Canva Newsroom), 2025-10-30 (publishedAt metadata, UTC), checked 2026-10-29: "available inside platforms including ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini (coming soon)" — https://www.canva.com/newsroom/news/creative-operating-system/
  27. OpenAI, openai/plugins repository on GitHub (raw file): plugins/canva/.codex-plugin/plugin.json, checked 2026-10-29: "Bring your Canva design workflow into Codex and create, refine, and review designs through natural conversation." — https://raw.githubusercontent.com/openai/plugins/main/plugins/canva/.codex-plugin/plugin.json
  28. OpenAI, openai/plugins repository on GitHub (raw file): plugins/canva/.app.json, checked 2026-10-29: "connector_68df33b1a2d081918778431a9cfca8ba" — https://raw.githubusercontent.com/openai/plugins/main/plugins/canva/.app.json
  29. OpenAI, openai/plugins repository on GitHub (raw file): plugins/figma/.codex-plugin/plugin.json, checked 2026-10-29: "Figma workflows for implementing designs in code, creating Code Connect templates for published Figma components, and generating project-specific design system rules for repeatable Figma-to-code work." — https://raw.githubusercontent.com/openai/plugins/main/plugins/figma/.codex-plugin/plugin.json
  30. OpenAI, openai/plugins repository on GitHub (raw file): plugins/figma/.app.json, checked 2026-10-29: "connector_68df038e0ba48191908c8434991bbac2" — https://raw.githubusercontent.com/openai/plugins/main/plugins/figma/.app.json
  31. GitHub API, repository metadata for agentplugins/agent-plugins-spec (created 2026-04-03, read live), checked 2026-10-29: "agentplugins/agent-plugins-spec" — https://api.github.com/repos/agentplugins/agent-plugins-spec
  32. GitHub API, directory listing of openai/plugins/contents/plugins (entries counted live), checked 2026-10-29: "plugins/figma" — https://api.github.com/repos/openai/plugins/contents/plugins
  33. OpenAI, Plugins — full documentation (llms-full.txt; scanned live for terms), checked 2026-10-29: "Single-file Markdown export for building plugins with skills, MCP servers, and optional UI." — https://developers.openai.com/plugins/llms-full.txt

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