Codex Windows crashed with WSL - WSL config location

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• ##13658

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It looks like once WSL is chosen, you are locked forever with this bug.
Simple instruction on how to reset/install fresh version of the Codex app (or at least which file to edit to switch back from WSL to regular PowerShell) would be very helpful. Now, even though I am on an enterprise plan, I am totally blocked from using the Windows app.
Reinstalling won't work, and I don't want to manually remove every folder named codex as I don't want to break CLI version

second this, i tried resetting the configs etc. the cli and extensions work but not the app in combination with WSL.

edit: updating to thew newest version on WSL/extension and app (foce update via check updates in ms store) fixed it. @kamiljozwik

✅ The most recent version of Windows Subsystem for Linux is already installed
✅ Codex cli updated in both Windows and WSL (Ubuntu)
✅ Code Windows app updated 5 minutes ago

❌ Codex crashed with the following error: Most recent error: /usr/bin/bash: line 1: exec: /mnt/c/Program Files/WindowsApps/OpenAI.Codex_26.306.996.0_x64__2p2nqsd0c76g0/app/resources/codex: cannot execute: Permission denied

If it won't change soon, I don't see a reason to keep paying for Codex (and we have 50+ ChatGPT enterprise licenses), as half of our developers are stuck with this error, while these ones with Claude Code operate flawlessly...

Any update on this? Experiencing the exact same issue, but with different code...

ON IINIT

<img width="545" height="559" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/b469e6b0-99c8-424c-8709-4ee26f33a728" />

ON RELOAD

<img width="546" height="557" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/f413fed5-fca6-47a6-aa9f-9b45b88f9ef5" />

I encountered this issue as well, and I’ve already solved it.
The cause was that Codex was installed on the D drive instead of the C drive.
Reinstalling it on the C drive fixed the problem and it works normally now.

I also encountered this problem.
My solution is to open the file "C:\Users\<username>\.codex\.codex-global-state.json", and modify the two settings within it.

"runCodexInWindowsSubsystemForLinux": false,

"integratedTerminalShell": "powershell"

Then restart Codex, and it will return to the previous conversation state.

I think there are bugs in the current Windows Codex's compatibility with WSL, and it needs to be fixed by OpenAI.

I also encountered this problem. My solution is to open the file "C:\Users<username>.codex.codex-global-state.json", and modify the two settings within it. `` "runCodexInWindowsSubsystemForLinux": false, "integratedTerminalShell": "powershell" `` Then restart Codex, and it will return to the previous conversation state. I think there are bugs in the current Windows Codex's compatibility with WSL, and it needs to be fixed by OpenAI.

Please marry me 💖
It solved my issue, thank you so much! 🎈

Continue here for the problem unrelated to permission :) https://github.com/openai/codex/issues/14461

Same here with "permission denied" problem after switching to WSL:

  (code=126, signal=null).
Most recent error: /usr/bin/bash: line 1: exec: /mnt/c/Program Files/WindowsApps/OpenAI.Codex_26.313.5234.0_x64__2p2nqsd0c76g0/app/resources/codex: cannot execute: Permission denied

Steps:

1. Install Codex from Microsoft Store
2. Run it
3. Change settings to use WSL
4. Restart an app

<img width="560" height="560" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/d6aeb0b5-8213-47b7-89ff-989b2b680ef6" />

@Dahgoth and to everyone needing help with this issue.

First do in your terminal
wsl -l -v

That command will show the distros you currently have and it will mark the default one with "*".
I am not sure, however it seems that the go to is Ubuntu or any other Ubuntu based distro.

If you do not have any of the reccomended distros you can just do
wsl --install

That will install Ubuntu.

Then you need to set your distro as the default one, for Ubuntu you just do
wsl --setdefault Ubuntu

After this, you should be good to go, just restart codex application.
Hope this helps or at least gives some direction.

@Dahgoth and to everyone needing help with this issue. First do in your terminal wsl -l -v That command will show the distros you currently have and it will mark the default one with "*". I am not sure, however it seems that the go to is Ubuntu or any other Ubuntu based distro. If you do not have any of the reccomended distros you can just do wsl --install That will install Ubuntu. Then you need to set your distro as the default one, for Ubuntu you just do wsl --setdefault Ubuntu After this, you should be good to go, just restart codex application. Hope this helps or at least gives some direction.

It doesn't work. The fundamental bug is that the Codex Windows app cannot be configured to run the agent in WSL2.

> @Dahgoth and to everyone needing help with this issue. > First do in your terminal wsl -l -v > That command will show the distros you currently have and it will mark the default one with "*". I am not sure, however it seems that the go to is Ubuntu or any other Ubuntu based distro. > If you do not have any of the reccomended distros you can just do wsl --install > That will install Ubuntu. > Then you need to set your distro as the default one, for Ubuntu you just do wsl --setdefault Ubuntu > After this, you should be good to go, just restart codex application. Hope this helps or at least gives some direction. It doesn't work. The fundamental bug is that the Codex Windows app cannot be configured to run the agent in WSL2.

I need some more information to replicate this problem.
I am currently on windows, using the Codex Windows App. I've configured it to run on wsl 2. The ubuntu installation I mentioned is using wsl 2.

Am I missing something?

> > @Dahgoth and to everyone needing help with this issue. > > First do in your terminal wsl -l -v > > That command will show the distros you currently have and it will mark the default one with "*". I am not sure, however it seems that the go to is Ubuntu or any other Ubuntu based distro. > > If you do not have any of the reccomended distros you can just do wsl --install > > That will install Ubuntu. > > Then you need to set your distro as the default one, for Ubuntu you just do wsl --setdefault Ubuntu > > After this, you should be good to go, just restart codex application. Hope this helps or at least gives some direction. > > > It doesn't work. The fundamental bug is that the Codex Windows app cannot be configured to run the agent in WSL2. I need some more information to replicate this problem. I am currently on windows, using the Codex Windows App. I've configured it to run on wsl 2. The ubuntu installation I mentioned is using wsl 2. Am I missing something?

<img width="888" height="838" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/2f191fdf-b6fe-47c9-929d-f5cef031ffe8" />

<img width="572" height="85" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/3a7f5589-9aac-4db2-95fa-de1c17d90a87" />

.codex/config.toml----------
model = "gpt-5.4"
model_reasoning_effort = "high"
personality = "pragmatic"

[windows] -------------------
run_in_wsl = true

codex-global-state.json
"runCodexInWindowsSubsystemForLinux":true,"integratedTerminalShell":"powershell","localeOverride":"en-US"

.wslconfig--------------------
[wsl2]
networkingMode=mirrored

[experimental]
autoProxy=true
dnsTunneling=true
firewall=true

I also encountered this problem. My solution is to open the file "C:\Users<username>.codex.codex-global-state.json", and modify the two settings within it. `` "runCodexInWindowsSubsystemForLinux": false, "integratedTerminalShell": "powershell" `` Then restart Codex, and it will return to the previous conversation state. I think there are bugs in the current Windows Codex's compatibility with WSL, and it needs to be fixed by OpenAI.

you saved me.

Hello,

I ran into this issue on WSL2 and managed to fix it by granting execute permissions to the codex binary directly from PowerShell (as Administrator):

takeown /f "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\OpenAI.Codex_<version>_x64__2p2nqsd0c76g0\app\resources\codex"
icacls "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\OpenAI.Codex_<version>_x64__2p2nqsd0c76g0\app\resources\codex" /grant "*S-1-1-0:(RX)"

Note: use *S-1-1-0 instead of Everyone — on non-English Windows the group name is localized and icacls won't resolve it.

After this WSL correctly picks up the execute bit and the app works fine.

Hello, I ran into this issue on WSL2 and managed to fix it by granting execute permissions to the codex binary directly from PowerShell (as Administrator): takeown /f "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\OpenAI.Codex_<version>_x64__2p2nqsd0c76g0\app\resources\codex" icacls "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\OpenAI.Codex_<version>_x64__2p2nqsd0c76g0\app\resources\codex" /grant "*S-1-1-0:(RX)" Note: use *S-1-1-0 instead of Everyone — on non-English Windows the group name is localized and icacls won't resolve it. After this WSL correctly picks up the execute bit and the app works fine.

Thank you, I used your method and successfully solved my problem.