Codex failed to start. EPERM: operation not permitted, mkdir 'C:\Users\MyNameSur name\.codex\sqlite'
Resolved 💬 5 comments Opened Mar 13, 2026 by TomiLemonsoft Closed Apr 16, 2026
💡 Likely answer: A maintainer (github-actions[bot], contributor)
responded on this thread — see the highlighted reply below.
What version of the Codex App are you using (From “About Codex” dialog)?
Latest from Microsoft Store 2026-03-13
What subscription do you have?
business
What platform is your computer?
Windows
What issue are you seeing?
When staring codex, it wont start. and give error dialog.
Starting codes does not support unicode characters in file that contain person name like Tom Leppä.
Like scandic characters ä, ö, å etc.
C:\Users\ÄijöÄyräpää\.codex\sqlite'
THE ERROR
[Window Title]
Codex
[Main Instruction]
Codex failed to start.
[Content]
EPERM: operation not permitted, mkdir 'C:\Users\MyNameSur name\.codex\sqlite'
[Quit]
What steps can reproduce the bug?
Wihndows user having ä, ö etc. in username start Codex and it won't start.
What is the expected behavior?
_No response_
Additional information
_No response_
5 Comments
Potential duplicates detected. Please review them and close your issue if it is a duplicate.
Powered by Codex Action
I have the same question
add CODEX_HOME=other_location
https://github.com/openai/codex/issues/13553
Same issue here
#16268 and this issue may be related and the same fix in code may apply, but the mentioned workaround does not work.