Clean up subscriptions with Codex.

Why this works

Subscription cleanup is a strong first Codex task because it is useful, contained, and easy to supervise. The agent can search, compare senders, open unsubscribe links, and keep notes, but you still decide what it can touch.

The bigger lesson is that these agents are now capable enough for tedious personal and professional chores when you give them clear instructions, the right connection, and proper permissions. Start with low-risk work like this before trusting an agent with anything sensitive.

Run it

1. 1
   Open Codex

   Start in Codex. This workflow works best when the agent can use tools, inspect sources, and keep track of what it is doing.
2. 2
   Choose the setup

   Use the strongest model and reasoning level available to you. We prefer GPT-5.5, Fast Mode, and the highest reasoning setting you have access to. Higher-tier plans are better suited for this setup, but you can still test the same playbook on a ChatGPT Plus plan.
3. 3
   Connect the right source

   Give Codex one safe way to see your inbox. Use the built-in Gmail or Outlook connector, open your inbox with the Codex Chrome extension, or grant computer-use access to the specific browser or app you want it to use. Keep the access limited to this task.
4. 4
   Ask Codex for the list and plan

   Ask Codex to go through your email and identify recurring subscriptions, newsletters, paid services, and other repeat senders. Have it return the sender, category, rough value, recommendation, and the actions it plans to take. It should not unsubscribe yet. Remember to have it not unsubscribe from The Playbooks.
5. 5
   Review the plan and give feedback

   Read the list before Codex does anything. Tell it what to keep, what to ignore, what not to touch, and anything you don't want it to touch. Be explicit about paid services, work systems, school accounts, financial accounts, medical portals, legal services, or anything important.
6. 6
   Let Codex work, then get the report

   Approve a small batch first, or approve the whole plan if you are comfortable. Codex should execute only what you approved, stop when something looks risky, and then give you a report of what changed, what it skipped, what failed, and what still needs manual review.

The prompt

Go through my email and find recurring subscriptions, newsletters, paid services, receipts, and repeat senders I may want to clean up.

Use only the inbox, browser, connector, or computer access I have explicitly given you.
Do not unsubscribe from anything yet.
Do not unsubscribe me from The Playbooks AI.
Do not change account settings, cancel paid services, delete accounts, or touch work, school, financial, legal, medical, or security-related accounts without my explicit approval.

First, review the inbox and give me a clear list or table with:
- Sender
- Category
- Why I seem to receive it
- Rough value: high, medium, low, or unknown
- Recommendation: keep, unsubscribe, or unsure
- Reason for the recommendation
- Any action you would take if I approve

Then give me your proposed action plan before doing anything.
Wait for me to confirm the plan or give edits.

After I confirm, execute only the items I approved.
If I approve a small batch, do only that batch.
If I approve the full plan, follow the plan exactly.
Stop immediately if a page asks for a password, payment change, paid cancellation, account deletion, or anything beyond a normal newsletter or email preference.

When finished, give me a final report with what changed, what you skipped, links that failed, and anything that still needs manual review.

Next 5-minute action