Desktop app cannot switch models unless a project is selected

What version of the Codex App are you using (From “About Codex” dialog)?

Version 26.422.30944 (2080)

What subscription do you have?

Pro

What platform is your computer?

macOS, Codex Desktop app

What issue are you seeing?

The model selector appears to be unable to switch models when no project is selected.

When I open the Codex Desktop app on the initial screen without selecting a project, the model menu shows GPT-5.5 as selected. If I try to switch to another model, such as GPT-5.4, the selection does not take effect / appears to stay on GPT-5.5.

However, once I select a project, model selection starts working again. For example, after selecting my RaspberryPi project, the selector can show a different model such as 5.3-Codex-Spark Extra High.

This makes the no-project mode effectively locked to GPT-5.5, even though the UI shows the model-selection menu.

What steps can reproduce the bug?

1. Open the Codex Desktop app.
2. Stay on the initial prompt screen and do not select any project. The lower project area still shows Work in a project.
3. Open the model selector.
4. Try to switch from GPT-5.5 to GPT-5.4 or another available model.
5. Observe that the model does not switch / remains on GPT-5.5.
6. Select a project, for example RaspberryPi.
7. Open the model selector again.
8. Observe that model switching works when a project is selected.

What is the expected behavior?

The model selector should work consistently whether or not a project is selected.

If no project is selected, choosing GPT-5.4 or another available model should immediately update the active model and the visible selector state, just as it does after selecting a project.

Actual behavior

Without a selected project, model switching appears blocked or ignored. With a selected project, model switching works.

Additional information

Screenshots from the reporter show:

1. The no-project initial screen with the model menu open, where GPT-5.5 remains selected and GPT-5.4 is visible as another option.
2. The About dialog showing Codex version 26.422.30944 (2080).
3. The same app after selecting the RaspberryPi project, where the selector shows 5.3-Codex-Spark Extra High.

This may be related to the Desktop app's project/session initialization state: the model selector may be waiting for project-scoped state before applying model changes.

<img width="2048" height="1597" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/4916055f-e3a1-4943-9baf-809feae48185" />

<img width="1952" height="980" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/cdc74c9d-293f-48a8-b947-4f732ad137c2" />

<img width="568" height="382" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/9d993fa5-e136-4a55-a44d-02b851876597" />