Windows workspace dependencies install fixed by setting [features] apps = true and running once as Administrator

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

26.506.31421

What subscription do you have?

ChatGPT Plus

What platform is your computer?

Windows 11 x64

What issue are you seeing?

Workspace dependencies would not install in the Windows Codex App.

In Settings → Configuration → Workspace dependencies, the status stayed as not installed. Both Diagnose and Reinstall failed repeatedly. The app did not give me an actionable error that explained what config value was missing.

The issue was resolved only after adding apps = true under [features] in config.toml, then launching Codex once as Administrator and retrying the workspace dependency install.

Important detail: running as Administrator alone did not fix the issue. I had already tried that before. Setting apps = true alone also did not immediately fix it. The install succeeded only after both conditions were true at the same time.

What steps can reproduce the bug?

1. Use the Codex App on Windows 11 x64.
2. Open Settings → Configuration.
3. Go to Workspace dependencies.
4. Workspace dependencies show as not installed.
5. Click Diagnose or Reinstall.
6. The dependency installation fails repeatedly.
7. Launch Codex as Administrator and retry.
8. The dependency installation still fails.
9. Add apps = true under [features] in config.toml.
10. Launch Codex once as Administrator.
11. Retry the workspace dependency installation.
12. The install succeeds immediately.
13. Close Codex.
14. Reopen Codex normally without Administrator.
15. Workspace dependencies remain installed and continue working.

What is the expected behavior?

Workspace dependency installation should succeed from Settings → Configuration without requiring the user to manually discover and add apps = true to config.toml.

If apps = true is required for workspace dependencies to install or initialize, the Codex App should either enable it automatically or show an actionable error message explaining that this config value is missing.

If a one-time Administrator launch is required on Windows to complete initialization, the app should clearly say that instead of silently failing through Diagnose/Reinstall.

Additional information

This may be related to other Windows Codex App workspace dependency install failures.

The key finding is that Administrator alone was not enough, and apps = true alone was not enough. The successful sequence was specifically:

1. Add apps = true under [features]
2. Launch Codex once as Administrator
3. Retry workspace dependency installation
4. Reopen normally afterward

After that, my setup worked normally without Administrator privileges.

Related issue: #22009