# How to Install i-have-adhd for Codex: Complete Setup Guide

> Easily install i-have-adhd for Codex with our step-by-step guide. Follow simple instructions to register, install, and activate the plugin for enhanced productivity.

- Repository: [Ayoub Ghriss/i-have-adhd](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd)
- Tags: getting-started
- Published: 2026-09-11

---

**To install i-have-adhd for Codex, register the repository in the plugin marketplace using the `--ref main` flag, install the plugin with `codex plugin add`, and activate the skill during sessions using the `$i-have-adhd` command.**

The **i-have-adhd** repository by ayghri provides a Codex-compatible plugin that reformats AI responses into an ADHD-friendly structure characterized by concrete next actions and numbered steps. Installing this tool requires configuring the Codex plugin marketplace and explicitly invoking the skill during sessions to apply the behavioral rules defined in [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md).

## Step-by-Step Installation Guide

### Register the Repository in the Marketplace

First, add the repository to your local Codex plugin marketplace. According to the [`INSTALL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/INSTALL.md) file, you must specify the main branch using the `--ref` flag to ensure Codex pulls the correct version:

```bash
codex plugin marketplace add ayghri/i-have-adhd --ref main

```

### Install the Plugin

Once registered, install the plugin into your Codex environment using the marketplace reference:

```bash
codex plugin add i-have-adhd@i-have-adhd

```

### Verify Installation

Confirm the plugin is available in your local environment:

```bash
codex plugin list

```

You should see **i-have-adhd** listed among your installed plugins.

## Activating and Using the Skill

Installation alone does not enable the ADHD-friendly formatting rules. You must explicitly invoke the skill in each session where you want to apply the ten behavioral rules defined in [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md).

### Enable ADHD-Friendly Mode

Type the following command in your Codex session to activate the skill:

```text
$i-have-adhd

```

Once activated, every subsequent response will start with a concrete next action, use numbered lists for multi-step processes, and follow the specific formatting constraints documented in the [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) file.

### Disable the Skill

To return to normal output mode without uninstalling the plugin, use either of these commands:

```text
stop adhd mode

```

or

```text
normal mode

```

## Updating and Uninstalling

### Update the Plugin

To fetch the latest version from the marketplace and apply updates, remove the old version and reinstall:

```bash
codex plugin marketplace upgrade i-have-adhd
codex plugin remove i-have-adhd
codex plugin add i-have-adhd@i-have-adhd

```

### Complete Uninstallation

To remove the plugin entirely and deregister the repository from your marketplace:

```bash
codex plugin remove i-have-adhd
codex plugin marketplace remove ayghri/i-have-adhd

```

## Summary

- **Register** the repository using `codex plugin marketplace add ayghri/i-have-adhd --ref main`
- **Install** the plugin with `codex plugin add i-have-adhd@i-have-adhd`
- **Activate** during sessions using the `$i-have-adhd` command to apply the ten rules from [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md)
- **Disable** the formatting with `stop adhd mode` or `normal mode`
- **Update** by upgrading the marketplace entry, removing the old plugin, and reinstalling

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Does installing the plugin automatically enable ADHD-friendly formatting?

No. As implemented in ayghri/i-have-adhd, installation only makes the plugin available to your Codex environment. You must explicitly invoke the skill with the `$i-have-adhd` command in each session to activate the formatting rules. This design allows you to toggle between standard and ADHD-friendly modes as needed.

### What file contains the behavioral rules for the ADHD-friendly output?

The rules are defined in [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md). This markdown file contains the ten specific formatting requirements that Codex applies once the skill is invoked, including directives to start responses with concrete next actions and to use numbered lists for any multi-step instructions.

### Why do I need to specify `--ref main` when adding the repository?

The `--ref main` flag ensures Codex pulls from the main branch of the ayghri/i-have-adhd repository. This guarantees you are registering the stable, production-ready version of the plugin as documented in the [`INSTALL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/INSTALL.md) file, rather than potentially incomplete development branches.

### How do I switch back to normal mode after enabling the skill?

To disable the ADHD-friendly formatting and revert to standard Codex output, type either `stop adhd mode` or `normal mode` in your active session. This immediately stops applying the rules from [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) without requiring you to remove or reinstall the plugin.