Notion MCP stuck after refresh token invalid_grant; Codex Desktop doesn't prompt re-auth
Summary
Notion MCP in Codex Desktop is configured and enabled, but MCP startup fails with OAuth token refresh failed: invalid_grant: Invalid refresh token. Codex Desktop does not trigger a re-auth flow or clearly prompt the user to reconnect Notion, leaving the integration configured but unusable.
Expected behavior
When the refresh token is invalid (revoked/rotated/expired), Codex Desktop should automatically prompt the user to re-authorize Notion (or provide a clear UI to reconnect) so the MCP can start successfully.
Observed behavior
Codex Desktop silently fails during MCP startup with the invalid refresh token error, and Notion remains shown as configured/enabled with no obvious way to reconnect.
Steps to reproduce
- Set up Notion MCP in Codex Desktop and authorize the integration.
- Allow the Notion OAuth refresh token to become invalid (revoked/rotated, etc.).
- Start Codex Desktop.
- Observe MCP initialize failure with
invalid_grant: Invalid refresh tokenand no re-auth prompt.
Environment
- Codex Desktop: (version not captured)
- Platform: macOS
- Date observed: 2026-03-08
Notes
This is a usability issue: even though the fix is likely "reconnect/re-auth", the UI doesn't surface it. A prompt or a "Reconnect Notion" action would prevent the integration from getting stuck.
3 Comments
Potential duplicates detected. Please review them and close your issue if it is a duplicate.
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Temporary fix:
npm install -g @openai/codexcodex mcp login notion. Complete the authentication.codex mcp get notion. If it shows then check your Codex Desktop Appcheck notion2026-04-02 report from Jiefeng Xu: Notion MCP startup fails again every few days with
invalid_grant: Invalid refresh token, and removing/re-adding the Notion plugin in Codex App no longer recovers it. Slack [permalink](<https://openai.enterprise.slack.com/archives/C09NZ54M4KY/p1775148786457079>).This appears to be the same Notion refresh-token re-auth gap.