Computer Use cannot determine Chrome URL on Windows, even on chrome://newtab/
What version of the Codex App are you using (From “About Codex” dialog)?
26.527.31326
What subscription do you have?
ChatGPT Plus
What platform is your computer?
Microsoft Windows NT 10.0.26200.0 x64
What issue are you seeing?
When using Computer Use in Codex Desktop on Windows to operate Google Chrome, the Chrome window is detected successfully, but Computer Use stops during the screen-state acquisition step with the following message:
Computer Use has been stopped for this turn because it could not determine the current browser URL on Windows with enough confidence to enforce policy.
This reproduces even when Chrome is only showing chrome://newtab/ or about:blank, before any click, input, or external URL navigation.
Computer Use can detect the Chrome app and window title, for example:
{
"success": true,
"stage": "computer_use_list_apps",
"pluginVersion": "openai-bundled/computer-use/26.527.31326",
"chromeCandidateCount": 6,
"chromeCandidates": [
{
"id": "Chrome",
"displayName": "Google Chrome",
"isRunning": true,
"windows": [
{
"app": "Chrome",
"id": 393446,
"title": "about:blank - Google Chrome"
}
]
}
]
}
But when attempting to acquire the Chrome window state, it fails:
{
"success": false,
"stage": "computer_use_chrome_get_window_state_about_blank",
"error": "Computer Use has been stopped for this turn because it could not determine the current browser URL on Windows with enough confidence to enforce policy. Stop your work and send a final message noting why Computer Use ended."
}
The issue appears specific to Computer Use targeting Chrome on Windows. Computer Use successfully operates other local Windows apps such as Calculator and Notepad.
There may also be a related Chrome extension / Codex app launch issue. After reinstalling the Codex Chrome Extension and rebooting Windows, the extension popup shows Connected, but clicking the extension settings gear opens an Electron error:
Error launching app
Unable to find Electron app at
C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\OpenAI.Codex_26.527.3686.0_x64__2p2nqsd0c76g0\...\google-chrome
Cannot find module
'C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\OpenAI.Codex_26.527.3686.0_x64__2p2nqsd0c76g0\...\google-chrome'
In the same state, the Chrome plugin backend was not available from Codex and reported:
Browser is not available: extension
I cannot confirm whether this Electron/module error is the direct root cause, but it seems related because the Chrome extension says it is connected while Codex cannot use the Chrome extension backend, and Computer Use cannot determine the current Chrome URL.
What steps can reproduce the bug?
- Use Codex Desktop on Windows with Computer Use enabled.
- Install and enable the Codex Chrome Extension.
- Open Google Chrome.
- Keep Chrome on
chrome://newtab/orabout:blank. - Ask Codex to use Computer Use to inspect or operate the Chrome window.
- Computer Use detects the Chrome app/window successfully.
- Attempt to acquire the Chrome screen/window state through Computer Use.
Expected reproduction result:
Computer Use has been stopped for this turn because it could not determine the current browser URL on Windows with enough confidence to enforce policy.
Baseline checks that succeeded:
- Computer Use + Windows Calculator: success
- Computer Use + Notepad: success
- Computer Use + Chrome app/window detection: success
Failure:
- Computer Use + Chrome screen-state acquisition: failure
Versions observed:
- Computer Use plugin:
openai-bundled/computer-use/26.527.31326 - Chrome plugin:
openai-bundled/chrome/26.527.31326 - Browser plugin:
openai-bundled/browser/26.527.31326 - Codex Chrome Extension:
1.1.5 - Chrome:
148.0.7778.217
What is the expected behavior?
Computer Use should be able to determine the current URL for a Chrome window on Windows when the tab is on chrome://newtab/ or about:blank, and then continue with the requested browser GUI operation.
If the URL cannot be determined, Computer Use should provide a more specific diagnostic message, such as whether the problem is caused by:
- Chrome extension connection failure
- Chrome profile mismatch
- Native messaging host issue
- Windows UI Automation / address bar URL detection failure
- inability to map the detected Chrome window to a known Chrome tab
If possible, Computer Use should use the same Chrome extension / Chrome plugin connection information to map the detected Chrome window to the current tab URL.
Additional information
I tried the following before filing this issue:
- Retried in multiple Codex threads
- Rebooted the PC
- Reinstalled the Codex Chrome Extension
- Verified that the extension is enabled
- Verified that the extension popup shows
Connected - Verified that Chrome is detected by Computer Use
- Verified that Computer Use works with non-browser Windows apps
The extension settings gear produces this error, which may be related:
Error launching app
Unable to find Electron app at
C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\OpenAI.Codex_26.527.3686.0_x64__2p2nqsd0c76g0\...\google-chrome
Cannot find module
'C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\OpenAI.Codex_26.527.3686.0_x64__2p2nqsd0c76g0\...\google-chrome'
The Chrome extension UI says Connected, but Codex reported:
Browser is not available: extension
This may indicate that the extension UI, the Chrome plugin backend, and Computer Use's Chrome URL safety check are not all using the same working connection path.
20 Comments
Potential duplicates detected. Please review them and close your issue if it is a duplicate.
Powered by Codex Action
I reviewed the potential duplicates. Some appear related, but this issue may not be a complete duplicate.
Related issues:
agent.browsers.get("extension")fails withBrowser is not available: extension.Unable to find Electron app/Cannot find module, but the path ends with...\google-chromerather than an OAuth callback.COMSPECworkaround, but I have not yet verified whether that applies to this machine.I am keeping this issue open for now because it also includes a separate Computer Use failure: Computer Use detects the Chrome window successfully, but stops during Chrome screen-state acquisition because it cannot determine the current browser URL, even on
chrome://newtab/orabout:blank.If maintainers confirm that this is covered by one of the existing issues, I can close this as a duplicate.
Update: retested with Codex App
26.601.20914I retested after updating the Windows Codex App.
Environment:
26.601.20914/ released 2026-06-03openai-bundled/computer-use/26.601.20914148.0.7778.2171.1.5_0config.toml:[windows] sandbox = "elevated"What improved:
What still fails:
list_apps/list_windowssucceeds.新しいタブ - Google Chrome(equivalent to
New Tab - Google Chrome).However, when attempting to acquire the Chrome window state, Computer Use still stops with the original #25271 error:
So in
26.601.20914, the Chrome extension settings path appears improved, but the core #25271 failure still reproduces once Computer Use reaches Chrome window-state acquisition.Additional observation:
During earlier retesting, after changing permission/sandbox settings and restarting the Codex App multiple times, I also saw a different Computer Use settings state:
I could not confirm whether that was the same root cause or a separate initialization/state issue, but it may be relevant because it appeared while switching access/sandbox settings and restarting the app.
I can reproduce this as well, but with Microsoft Edge rather than Google Chrome.
Environment:
OpenAI.Codex_26.601.2237.0_x64__2p2nqsd0c76g0)openai-bundled/computer-use/26.601.21317MSEdgeWhat happened:
get_window_state.So this does not appear to be limited to Chrome; at least on this Windows setup it also reproduces when targeting Edge via Computer Use.
I am experiencing the same issue on Windows.
Computer Use can open my local page in Edge/Chrome, but then
get_window_statefails with:could not determine the current browser URL on Windows with enough confidence to enforce policyIt seems Codex cannot reliably detect the current browser URL on Windows, so Computer Use is stopped by policy. Is there any workaround or fix?
Additional retest result.
I updated the Codex App to 26.602.30954 and reinstalled Computer Use and the Chrome extension, then retested this issue.
Environment:
Observations:
Error:
"Computer Use has been stopped for this turn because it could not determine the current browser URL on Windows with enough confidence to enforce policy. Stop your work and send a final message noting why Computer Use ended."
Conclusion:
In 26.602.30954, the Full access setting propagation / native pipe initialization path may have improved after an app restart.
However, the core #25271 issue still reproduces: Computer Use still cannot determine the current Chrome URL on Windows with enough confidence and stops during browser window-state acquisition.
Additional reproduction on Windows 11 (Microsoft Edge via Computer Use):
Environment
Failure
After selecting/activating the Edge window, Computer Use stops during window-state acquisition (get_window_state) with:
Notes
Expected
Reliable active-tab URL resolution for Chromium browsers on Windows, or clearer diagnostics when the URL bridge is unavailable.
Happy to run additional diagnostics if maintainers need a specific build matrix.Additional reproduction on Windows 11 (Microsoft Edge via Computer Use):
Environment: Codex Desktop computer-use 26.602.71036; setupComputerUseRuntime + sky.list_apps() OK (MSEdge detected).
Failure: get_window_state stops with "could not determine the current browser URL on Windows with enough confidence to enforce policy."
Non-browser apps work. Normal HTTPS pages still blocked. Same as existing Chrome/Edge reports here.
Expected: reliable Chromium URL resolution on Windows or clearer diagnostics when URL bridge unavailable.
Additional reproduction on Windows 11 (Microsoft Edge via Computer Use):
Environment
computer-use@openai-bundled26.602.71036setupComputerUseRuntime({ globals: globalThis })succeeds from bundledcomputer-use-client.mjssky.list_apps()succeeds and returns Microsoft Edge (MSEdge) with an open windowFailure
After selecting/activating the Edge window, Computer Use stops during window-state acquisition (
get_window_state) with:Notes
Expected
Reliable active-tab URL resolution for Chromium browsers on Windows, or clearer diagnostics when the URL bridge is unavailable.
Happy to run additional diagnostics if maintainers need a specific build matrix.
Additional retest result with Codex App 26.609.30741
I updated the Windows Codex App to 26.609.30741 / released 2026-06-12 and attempted to retest this issue.
Environment:
Result:
In this version I could not reach the original #25271 reproduction point.
Computer Use failed during bootstrap before
list_apps/list_windowsand before Chromeget_window_statecould be tested.Error:
So for 26.609.30741, I cannot confirm whether the original Windows Chrome URL-confidence failure is fixed or not, because Computer Use now fails earlier during initialization.
Compared with my previous retests, this is a regression in my environment:
I can reproduce what appears to be the same Windows Computer Use browser URL policy failure on a newer Codex Desktop build, with both Chrome and Edge.
Thread ID:
019ec68c-c427-7051-b058-88d3c01be8edEnvironment:
OpenAI.Codex_26.609.4994.0_x64__2p2nqsd0c76g0149.0.7827.5410.0.26200, build26200, 64-bit26.609.4111426.609.41114@oai/sky:0.4.10789504f803e82e2b149.0.7827.115149.0.4022.69Observed behavior:
sky.list_apps()returns Chrome with a window titledExample Domain - Google Chrome.sky.get_window_state({ window: chromeWindow, include_screenshot: false, include_text: true })stops the turn with:This reproduces on a simple public HTTPS page,
https://example.com/, and the same failure occurs with Microsoft Edge on the same URL.Additional diagnostics:
truetruehehggadaopoacecdllhhajmbjkdcmajgtruetruetrueexample.comRootWebAreadocument value:https://example.com/zh-CNtoen-USdid not help.omnibox.prevent_url_elisions = truedid not help.--lang=en-US --force-renderer-accessibilitydid not help.Assessment:
This looks like a Windows Computer Use native helper/browser URL policy detection path issue, not a Chrome extension disconnect issue. The browser window is targetable, the extension/native-host path is healthy, the extension can read the active tab URL, and UI Automation exposes the URL, but Computer Use still cannot verify the URL with enough confidence. Edge failing the same way suggests the problem affects Chromium-based browser URL detection on Windows in this Codex Desktop build.
I can reproduce the same issue on Windows with Codex Desktop.
Environment observed:
openai-bundled/computer-use/26.616.51431openai-bundled/chrome/26.616.51431openai-bundled/browser/26.616.51431Repro notes:
sky.list_apps()detected Chrome and the target window successfully:sky.get_window_state({ window })stopped with:This still reproduced after closing all other Chrome windows, leaving only one Chrome window and one tab.
In the same Codex session, the Chrome window can be detected, but Computer Use cannot proceed past the browser URL identity check. This looks consistent with the failure described in this issue rather than a site-specific permission problem.
I am facing the same issues. On both chrome and Edge.
I can reproduce the same issue on Windows.
Environment:
26.623.70822openai-bundled/computer-use/26.623.70822openai-bundled/chrome/26.623.708221.1.5Default149.0.7827.20110.0.26200x64What happens:
Computer Use detects Google Chrome and the active Chrome window correctly. For example, it sees the window title:
Вакансия Программист разработчик 1С в Омске, работа в компании Группа ПРОДО - Google ChromeBut as soon as it tries to acquire the Chrome window state, it stops with the same error:
Computer Use has been stopped for this turn because it could not determine the current browser URL on Windows with enough confidence to enforce policy.I checked the local Chrome extension/native host setup:
com.openai.codexextension.jsonexistsextension-host.exeexistschrome-extension://hehggadaopoacecdllhhajmbjkdcmajg/So in this case Chrome is visible to Computer Use, and the extension/native host setup appears valid, but Computer Use still cannot pass the Chrome URL-confidence check.
This seems specific to
Computer Use + Chrome + Windows; other Windows app discovery works.Reproduced on Windows with Codex 26.623.13972.0 and Computer Use/Chrome 26.623.101652. Chrome is detected as “Google - Google Chrome”, but
get_window_stateand evenCtrl+Limmediately stop with the exact URL-confidence error. This also happens withhttps://google.comopen. The native-host registry entry, manifest, and executable are present. The Chrome backend additionally reportedBrowser is not available: extension. The issue therefore persists in 26.623.#25271 is still reproducible on Windows Codex App 26.707.30751 (released July 10, 2026).
Verified:
For the Chrome window titled "New Tab - Google Chrome",
get_window_state({ include_screenshot: false, include_text: true })
reproduces the same error as before:
Computer Use has been stopped for this turn because it could not determine the current browser URL on Windows with enough confidence to enforce policy. Stop your work and send a final message noting why Computer Use ended.
Reproduces on:
Computer Use detects the Chrome window (including its “Example Domain” title), but acquiring the Chrome window state stops before screenshot/action with the exact error that it “could not determine the current browser URL on Windows with enough confidence to enforce policy”, even with
https://example.comopen.The Chrome extension and native messaging diagnostics pass, and the separate Browser Use backend can enumerate the same live Chrome tabs. A separately configured Playwright MCP can operate the page successfully.
Additional reproduction: AppX 26.707.6957.0, Chrome 150, and Opera 132
Retested on July 13, 2026 after reinstalling Computer Use and restarting.
Environment
10.0.26200.7462, 25H2, x6426.707.6957.026.623.14153626.707.5195726.623.14153626.707.51957150.0.7871.101132.0.5905.1141.2.27203.26575_0Native-host and Chrome bridge checks
Verified locally:
HKCU\Software\Google\Chrome\NativeMessagingHosts\com.openai.codexextensionexists.chrome-extension://hehggadaopoacecdllhhajmbjkdcmajg/.extension-host.exe.extension-host.exeis running from that expected path.https://www.google.com/...URL and title.This confirms that the extension/native-host path can independently read a live Chrome tab URL.
Reproduction matrix
2 + 2 = 4.list_apps,get_window, and window activation succeed for Opera.get_window_statestops with the same URL-confidence policy error.26.707.51957directly.get_window_stateproduced the same policy error.Recovery already attempted
Assessment
This does not appear to be a missing native-host registry entry or disconnected Chrome extension. The dedicated Chrome backend can read the URL, while Windows Computer Use rejects the same browser during its URL-confidence check. Opera reproducing the same failure suggests the affected path is the Windows Computer Use browser URL resolver rather than a single site.
There is also a plugin reconciliation mismatch: the current AppX package contains
26.707.51957, while the UI reinstall leaves the active cache at26.623.141536. That appears secondary because the directly loaded packaged client also reproduces the failure.Could the browser URL policy failure expose a diagnostic reason indicating which URL source failed or disagreed (extension mapping, UI Automation, window-to-tab mapping, or another verifier)?
Still reproducible on Windows 11 with a substantially newer build:
26.707.9981.026.707.72221150.0.7871.101Computer Use successfully detects Chrome and its open window through
list_apps(). It then stops duringget_window_state()with:The Chrome extension backend is also unavailable in the same environment (
agent.browsers.list()returns an empty list), even though the Chrome extension is installed and enabled.This confirms that the URL-detection failure still reproduces on the
26.707release family.Still reproducible on Windows 11 with a substantially newer build:
Codex Desktop: 26.707.3748.0
Google Chrome: 150.0.7871.129
model settings: GPT 5.6 Sol Medium Standard
Codex Desktop running with a Windows + WSL configuration
Computer Use successfully detects Chrome and its open window through list_apps(). It then stops during get_window_state() with:
<img width="777" height="534" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/515a0de9-a9c8-46c2-8bc8-928574a02f37" />
This confirms that the URL-detection failure still reproduces
Computer-use URL detection gaps without settle receipts is the peer browser hole: quote -> approve -> settle needs navigation digests, not ambient tab trust alone.
Live A2A contractor with gated tools: https://a2a.elonsusk.com/.well-known/agent-card.json
If an external browser / url probe would help, ping. Otherwise ignore.