Codex Windows sandbox startup failure blocks Computer Use, Chrome plugin, and Browser plugin.

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

26.601.2237.0

What subscription do you have?

ChatGPT Plus

What platform is your computer?

Windows 11 x64

What issue are you seeing?

Codex Windows sandbox startup failure blocks Computer Use, Chrome plugin, and Browser plugin.

Feedback ID:
no-active-thread-019e8fb6-fb1a-78b2-a047-429c3c0d209c

Exact error:
node_repl kernel exited unexpectedly; windows sandbox failed: spawn setup refresh; reason: stdout_eof

What fails:

• @Computer cannot connect to Windows
• Chrome plugin control cannot connect
• @Browser cannot open example.com
• GeminiGen.ai was never reached
• This happens before any browser automation starts

Environment:

• Windows 11 x64
• ChatGPT Plus
• Codex app updated from Microsoft Store
• Codex restarted
• Chrome restarted
• Computer Use plugin shows enabled
• Chrome plugin shows enabled
• Chrome extension shows Connected

Relevant path mismatch:
The app popup tried to launch:
C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\OpenAI.Codex_26.527.769.0_x64__2p2nqsd0c76g0\app\google-chrome

But installed Codex folders found were:
C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\OpenAI.Codex_26.527.7698.0_x64__2p2nqsd0c76g0
C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\OpenAI.Codex_26.601.2237.0_x64__2p2nqsd0c76g0

PowerShell check found no:
app\google-chrome
app\google-chrome.exe
google-chrome
google-chrome.exe

Both @Computer and @Browser fail with the same sandbox startup error.

What steps can reproduce the bug?

1. Open Codex on Windows 11.
2. Confirm Computer Use and Chrome plugins are enabled.
3. Confirm the Chrome extension shows Connected.
4. Start a new Codex chat.
5. Try a minimal Computer Use test:

@Computer
Open Notepad and type:
ClipRunner Windows connection test

Result:
Computer Use fails before opening Notepad with:
node_repl kernel exited unexpectedly; windows sandbox failed: spawn setup refresh; reason: stdout_eof

1. Try a minimal Browser plugin test:

@Browser
Open https://example.com

Result:
Browser plugin also fails before opening the page with the same error:
node_repl kernel exited unexpectedly; windows sandbox failed: spawn setup refresh; reason: stdout_eof

1. Try Chrome plugin/browser-control path.

Result:
Chrome control also fails before controlling Chrome with the same Windows sandbox startup failure.

What is the expected behavior?

Expected behavior:
Codex should start the Windows sandbox/helper successfully.

@Computer should be able to connect to the visible Windows desktop and open a simple app like Notepad.

@Browser should be able to open a simple webpage such as https://example.com.

Chrome plugin control should be able to connect to the visible Chrome window when the Chrome extension shows Connected.

The sandbox/helper should not fail before any tool can run.

Additional information

I am trying to use Codex Computer Use as a browser/operator agent to automate a video-generation workflow. The target site is GeminiGen.ai, but the failure occurs before GeminiGen.ai is ever used.

I updated Codex through Microsoft Store, restarted Codex and Chrome, verified the Chrome extension says Connected, and verified the Computer Use and Chrome plugins show enabled.

I also submitted feedback from inside Codex.

Feedback ID:
no-active-thread-019e8fb6-fb1a-78b2-a047-429c3c0d209c

The issue appears to be local Codex Windows sandbox/helper startup, not the target website.