Windows Codex app: codex: protocol deep link is passed as Electron app path after update

Resolved 💬 2 comments Opened May 30, 2026 by LizhToGo Closed May 30, 2026

Windows Codex app: codex: protocol deep link is passed as Electron app path after update

Summary

On Windows, launching Codex through a codex: deep link consistently opens an Electron error dialog. The deep link query string appears to be appended to the Electron app path instead of being handled as a protocol/deep-link argument.

The app was working earlier the same day and started failing suddenly later, likely after an update.

Environment

  • OS: Windows
  • Codex package: OpenAI.Codex_26.527.3686.0_x64__2p2nqsd0c76g0
  • Install path: C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\OpenAI.Codex_26.527.3686.0_x64__2p2nqsd0c76g0

Reproduction

From PowerShell:

Start-Process 'codex:?type=action&action=0&tag=test'

This also happens when Codex is launched through notification/action-style entry points that generate similar codex: URLs.

Actual Result

An Electron error dialog appears:

Error launching app

Unable to find Electron app at:
C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\OpenAI.Codex_...\?type=action&action=0&tag=test

Cannot find module:
C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\OpenAI.Codex_...\?type=action&action=0&tag=test

Expected Result

The codex: URL should be handled as a deep-link/protocol argument. The query string should not be appended to the Electron app path.

Troubleshooting Already Tried

  • Windows app repair
  • Windows app reset
  • Re-registering the MSIX package with:
Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\OpenAI.Codex_26.527.3686.0_x64__2p2nqsd0c76g0\AppxManifest.xml"

The issue still reproduces after triggering:

Start-Process 'codex:?type=action&action=0&tag=codex-retest-after-reinstall-check'

Related Public Issues

Possibly related to Windows desktop/MSIX update issues such as:

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