diff --git a/backend/app/api/activity.py b/backend/app/api/activity.py
index af68199..dca3c96 100644
--- a/backend/app/api/activity.py
+++ b/backend/app/api/activity.py
@@ -404,38 +404,52 @@ def _extract_claude_ticker_items(path: Path, cutoff: datetime) -> list[ActivityT
         tool_blocks = [b for b in content if isinstance(b, dict) and b.get("type") == "tool_use"]
         text_blocks  = [b for b in content if isinstance(b, dict) and b.get("type") == "text"]
 
-        if tool_blocks:
-            # Emit one ticker item per tool call (most informative for live activity)
-            for block in tool_blocks:
-                tool_name = str(block.get("name") or "")
-                inp = block.get("input") or {}
-                if not isinstance(inp, dict):
-                    inp = {}
-                label = _format_tool_status(tool_name, inp)
-                items.append(ActivityTickerItem(
-                    id=uuid4(),
-                    source="Claude Code",
-                    message=label,
-                    created_at=ts,
-                ))
-        elif text_blocks:
-            # Text-only turn (no tools used) — show the response text
-            text = " ".join(
-                b.get("text", "").strip() for b in text_blocks if b.get("text", "").strip()
-            ).strip()
-            if text:
-                items.append(ActivityTickerItem(
-                    id=uuid4(),
-                    source="Claude Code",
-                    message=text[:200],
-                    created_at=ts,
-                ))
+        for block in tool_blocks:
+            tool_name = str(block.get("name") or "")
+            inp = block.get("input") or {}
+            if not isinstance(inp, dict):
+                inp = {}
+            label = _format_tool_status(tool_name, inp)
+            items.append(ActivityTickerItem(
+                id=uuid4(),
+                source="Claude Code",
+                message=label,
+                created_at=ts,
+            ))
     return items
 
 
+def _format_codex_tool(payload: dict[str, Any]) -> str | None:
+    """Return a human-readable label for a Codex tool call record, or None to skip."""
+    ptype = payload.get("type")
+    name = str(payload.get("name") or "")
+
+    if ptype == "function_call":
+        raw_args = payload.get("arguments") or "{}"
+        try:
+            args = json.loads(raw_args) if isinstance(raw_args, str) else raw_args
+        except json.JSONDecodeError:
+            args = {}
+        if name == "exec_command":
+            cmd = str(args.get("cmd", "")).strip()
+            if not cmd:
+                return None
+            return f"Running: {cmd[:_BASH_CMD_MAX]}…" if len(cmd) > _BASH_CMD_MAX else f"Running: {cmd}"
+        if name in ("write_stdin", "read_stdout", "create_session", "delete_session"):
+            return None  # internal plumbing, not meaningful
+        return f"Using {name}"
+
+    if ptype == "custom_tool_call":
+        if name == "apply_patch":
+            return "Applying code patch"
+        return f"Using {name}"
+
+    return None
+
+
 def _extract_codex_ticker_items(path: Path, cutoff: datetime) -> list[ActivityTickerItem]:
     items: list[ActivityTickerItem] = []
-    seen_turn_ids: set[str] = set()
+    seen_call_ids: set[str] = set()
     for line in _tail_lines(path):
         if not line.strip():
             continue
@@ -443,40 +457,26 @@ def _extract_codex_ticker_items(path: Path, cutoff: datetime) -> list[ActivityTi
             rec = json.loads(line)
         except json.JSONDecodeError:
             continue
+        if rec.get("type") != "response_item":
+            continue
         ts = _parse_ts(rec.get("timestamp"))
         if ts is None or ts < cutoff:
             continue
         payload = rec.get("payload") or {}
-        rec_type = rec.get("type")
-
-        if rec_type == "event_msg" and payload.get("type") == "task_complete":
-            turn_id = payload.get("turn_id") or ""
-            if turn_id and turn_id in seen_turn_ids:
+        call_id = str(payload.get("call_id") or "")
+        if call_id:
+            if call_id in seen_call_ids:
                 continue
-            if turn_id:
-                seen_turn_ids.add(turn_id)
-            text = (payload.get("last_agent_message") or "").strip()
-            if text:
-                items.append(ActivityTickerItem(
-                    id=uuid4(),
-                    source="Codex",
-                    message=text[:200],
-                    created_at=ts,
-                ))
-        elif rec_type == "response_item" and payload.get("role") == "assistant":
-            content = payload.get("content") or []
-            text = " ".join(
-                b.get("text", "").strip()
-                for b in content
-                if isinstance(b, dict) and b.get("type") == "output_text" and b.get("text", "").strip()
-            ).strip()
-            if text:
-                items.append(ActivityTickerItem(
-                    id=uuid4(),
-                    source="Codex",
-                    message=text[:200],
-                    created_at=ts,
-                ))
+            seen_call_ids.add(call_id)
+        label = _format_codex_tool(payload)
+        if not label:
+            continue
+        items.append(ActivityTickerItem(
+            id=uuid4(),
+            source="Codex",
+            message=label,
+            created_at=ts,
+        ))
     return items