OpenAI Codex CLI: Account Verification with VirtualSMS

July 18, 2026 · View on GitHub

Drop-in .codex/config.toml example that wires VirtualSMS MCP into the OpenAI Codex CLI for account verification, number rentals and proxies.

License: MIT npm version Powered by VirtualSMS MCP Server

What this is

VirtualSMS is an account verification platform for developers and AI agents. It combines one-time SMS verification, dedicated number rentals, matching-country proxies and private cloud browser sessions behind one API, one MCP server and one prepaid balance.

This repo is a single .codex/config.toml example that gives the OpenAI Codex CLI access to the VirtualSMS MCP server, the same virtualsms-mcp npm package that powers Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, OpenClaw, Hermes, Cline, Zed, and Continue.dev. After a codex restart, your agent has 40 MCP tools across SMS verification, number rentals, proxies and browser sessions, covering 2500+ services and 145+ countries (growing weekly).

Paste this into ~/.codex/config.toml (or %USERPROFILE%\.codex\config.toml on Windows) — Codex reads TOML, not JSON, so this is a [mcp_servers.<name>] table, not a mcpServers JSON block:

[mcp_servers.virtualsms]
url = "https://mcp.virtualsms.io/mcp"
http_headers = { "x-api-key" = "vsms_your_api_key_here" }

No npm install, no Node.js required on the client. The MCP server runs at mcp.virtualsms.io.

Get your API key at https://virtualsms.io.

Quick install: Local (stdio via npm)

  1. Copy .codex/config.toml into:

    • macOS / Linux: ~/.codex/config.toml
    • Windows: %USERPROFILE%\.codex\config.toml

    (If you already have a config.toml, merge the [mcp_servers.virtualsms] block in.)

  2. Set your API key inline in the config OR export it:

    export VIRTUALSMS_API_KEY=vsms_your_key_here

  3. Get your API key at https://virtualsms.io (free, no card).

  4. Restart Codex. The 40 virtualsms_* tools appear in the MCP tool list.

What this gets your agent

  • Receive one-time SMS codes from $0.05: create_order returns number + order id, wait_for_sms returns instantly over WebSocket for interactive flows, or get_sms polls on your own schedule for batch / cron jobs
  • Rent dedicated numbers from 1 to 30 days
  • Buy matching-country residential, mobile and datacenter proxies
  • Launch private cloud browser sessions that work alongside your number and proxy (beta)
  • Find the cheapest available number across 2500+ services and 145+ countries
  • Swap a number that did not deliver: no extra charge
  • Cancel + refund unused orders, one or many at a time
  • Account introspection: balance, transactions, success rate, 30-day spend

Tool reference + recommended flow: .codex/config.toml.

Numbers

VirtualSMS numbers are carrier-issued mobile numbers, backed by real physical SIM cards on operators like Vodafone, O2 and T-Mobile, not VoIP. Carrier-lookup APIs flag VoIP and eSIM ranges, and services that care, such as Tinder, Discord, WhatsApp, OnlyFans, Hinge and banking apps, can silently reject those numbers. Carrier-issued mobile numbers pass these checks more reliably.

Compatible services

WhatsApp · Telegram · Tinder · Discord · Instagram · Hinge · Bumble · OnlyFans · Snapchat · PayPal · Google · Apple · Facebook · TikTok · Twitter / X · LinkedIn · Uber · Amazon · Netflix · Spotify · GitHub · Coinbase · Kraken · Binance · MEXC · OKX · Bybit · 2500+ more.

Cross-references

License

MIT: see LICENSE.