VS Code extension: clicking file links in chat opens external browser (`vscode-resource.vscode-cdn.net`) instead of navigating to local file/line
Resolved 💬 7 comments Opened Mar 6, 2026 by igl76 Closed Mar 6, 2026
💡 Likely answer: A maintainer (github-actions[bot], contributor)
responded on this thread — see the highlighted reply below.
What version of the IDE extension are you using?
openai.chatgpt-26.304.20706-win32-x64
What subscription do you have?
Pro
Which IDE are you using?
VS Code
What platform is your computer?
Windows 10
What issue are you seeing?
Summary
Markdown file links in assistant responses are rendered as clickable blue links, but clicking them does not open the file in VS Code.
Instead, VS Code webview rewrites the path into a URL like:
https://file+.vscode-resource.vscode-cdn.net/c%3A/Users/hp/.vscode/extensions/openai.chatgpt-26.304.20706-win32-x64/webview/...
That URL is then opened in Chrome and fails to resolve.
Actual Behavior
- External browser (Chrome) opens.
- Browser navigates to a
file+.vscode-resource.vscode-cdn.netURL and fails. - No editor navigation occurs.
Impact
- Breaks normal review workflow for line-level findings.
- Makes assistant file references cumbersome to use.
- Creates confusion because links appear like editor-navigation links but behave like broken web URLs.
Notes
- As a workaround, non-clickable plain references (e.g.,
main.c:33) are usable with manual jump (Ctrl+G). - This looks like a webview link-routing/URI-conversion issue for Windows absolute paths.
What steps can reproduce the bug?
- Open VS Code with the Codex extension enabled.
- In chat, ask for a code review that includes file/line references.
- Click a rendered blue link to a local file line (example in response:
main.c:33). - Observe behavior.
What is the expected behavior?
- Click should navigate inside VS Code to the local file and line (or at minimum open file in editor).
- No external browser launch for local workspace file references.
Additional information
_No response_
7 Comments
Potential duplicates detected. Please review them and close your issue if it is a duplicate.
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Can confirm. Same issue here.
I have same issue. Also, even when I provide it direct instructions on how to send the link, within 1-2 responses it reverts to links that open in the browser and not in VS Code (if it even follows the instruction, which it doesn't maybe 30% of the time).
codex in cursor has same issue,and occasionally it works
btw,Chinese in the link will be trans to %AE%3C%7U like
Same issue, it's driving me nuts.
Same here
Omg is this a codex isseue? Killing me.