26.527.3686.0 introduces invisible/transparent UI composition bug

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• #25217
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Bump I also have this issue i cant use codex anymore

Bump I also have this issue i cant use codex anymore

There is a work around i figured out which is in the description.

Is to use that older version, use Admin Powershell to remove the newer updated one, fall back to that specific one before the break in the desktop compositor.

You might need to temp disable store from updating and updates for codex too; until we all get an updated version of codex that fixes the regression.

You can use this powershell script to turn off updating for codex, and (if installed manually) store from checking or downloading the updates. (this does it to all MS store apps).

#requires -version 5.1
<#
    Lock Codex MSIX / Microsoft Store Updates

    Purpose:
    - Disables Microsoft Store automatic app updates by policy.
    - Optionally blocks Microsoft Store UI access.
    - Pauses App Installer auto-updates for OpenAI.Codex if supported.
    - Records current Codex package version.
    - Does NOT remove Microsoft Store.
    - Does NOT disable Windows Update globally.

    Run as Administrator:
    powershell.exe -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "C:\Users\USER\Desktop\lock_codex_updates.ps1"
#>

$ErrorActionPreference = "Continue"

# Set this to $true if you want to block opening Microsoft Store itself.
# I recommend TRUE while Codex 26.527+ is broken.
$BlockMicrosoftStoreUI = $true

# Set this to $true only if Store still forces updates after the policy.
# This disables the Microsoft Store Install Service. More aggressive.
$DisableStoreInstallService = $false

$Stamp = Get-Date -Format "yyyyMMdd_HHmmss"
$ReportRoot = "$env:USERPROFILE\Desktop\Codex_Update_Lock_$Stamp"
New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $ReportRoot -Force | Out-Null

function Test-IsAdministrator {
    $Identity = [Security.Principal.WindowsIdentity]::GetCurrent()
    $Principal = New-Object Security.Principal.WindowsPrincipal($Identity)
    return $Principal.IsInRole([Security.Principal.WindowsBuiltInRole]::Administrator)
}

if (-not (Test-IsAdministrator)) {
    Write-Host "ERROR: Run this script as Administrator." -ForegroundColor Red
    exit 1
}

Write-Host "Stopping Codex..." -ForegroundColor Cyan
Get-Process "codex" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Stop-Process -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
Start-Sleep -Seconds 2

Write-Host "Recording installed Codex package..." -ForegroundColor Cyan

$CodexPackage = Get-AppxPackage -Name "OpenAI.Codex" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

if ($CodexPackage) {
    $CodexPackage |
        Select-Object Name, Version, PackageFamilyName, PackageFullName, InstallLocation |
        Format-List |
        Tee-Object -FilePath "$ReportRoot\codex_package_before_lock.txt"

    Write-Host ""
    Write-Host "Current Codex version:" -ForegroundColor Green
    Write-Host $CodexPackage.Version
} else {
    Write-Host "WARNING: OpenAI.Codex is not currently installed." -ForegroundColor Yellow
}

Write-Host ""
Write-Host "Backing up Windows Store policy registry key..." -ForegroundColor Cyan

$PolicyKey = "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsStore"
$RegBackup = "$ReportRoot\WindowsStore_policy_backup.reg"

if (Test-Path $PolicyKey) {
    reg.exe export "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsStore" $RegBackup /y | Out-Null
} else {
    New-Item -Path $PolicyKey -Force | Out-Null
}

Write-Host "Applying Microsoft Store automatic update lockdown..." -ForegroundColor Cyan

# AutoDownload = 2 means the policy "Turn off Automatic Download and Install of updates" is enabled.
New-Item -Path $PolicyKey -Force | Out-Null
New-ItemProperty -Path $PolicyKey -Name "AutoDownload" -PropertyType DWord -Value 2 -Force | Out-Null

if ($BlockMicrosoftStoreUI) {
    # RemoveWindowsStore = 1 corresponds to "Turn off the Store application".
    # This blocks Store UI access. Use the unlock script later when you want Store back.
    New-ItemProperty -Path $PolicyKey -Name "RemoveWindowsStore" -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null
    Write-Host "Microsoft Store UI access policy: BLOCKED" -ForegroundColor Yellow
} else {
    Remove-ItemProperty -Path $PolicyKey -Name "RemoveWindowsStore" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    Write-Host "Microsoft Store UI access policy: ALLOWED" -ForegroundColor Green
}

Write-Host ""
Write-Host "Pausing App Installer auto-updates for Codex where supported..." -ForegroundColor Cyan

if ($CodexPackage) {
    $PFN = $CodexPackage.PackageFamilyName

    if (Get-Command Set-AppxPackageAutoUpdateSettings -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue) {
        try {
            # 4320 hours = 180 days.
            # Rerun this script every few months if needed.
            Set-AppxPackageAutoUpdateSettings `
                -PackageFamilyName $PFN `
                -PauseUpdates `
                -HoursToPause 4320 `
                -ErrorAction Stop

            Write-Host "Paused App Installer auto-updates for: $PFN" -ForegroundColor Green
        } catch {
            Write-Host "Could not pause App Installer updates for Codex. This may be normal if Codex was not installed through App Installer metadata." -ForegroundColor Yellow
            Write-Host $_.Exception.Message -ForegroundColor DarkYellow
        }
    } else {
        Write-Host "Set-AppxPackageAutoUpdateSettings cmdlet not available on this Windows build." -ForegroundColor Yellow
    }
}

if ($DisableStoreInstallService) {
    Write-Host ""
    Write-Host "Disabling Microsoft Store Install Service..." -ForegroundColor Yellow

    Stop-Service -Name "InstallService" -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    Set-Service -Name "InstallService" -StartupType Disabled -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
} else {
    Write-Host ""
    Write-Host "Microsoft Store Install Service left alone." -ForegroundColor Green
}

Write-Host ""
Write-Host "Forcing Group Policy refresh..." -ForegroundColor Cyan
gpupdate /force | Out-Null

Write-Host ""
Write-Host "Current Windows Store policy values:" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Get-ItemProperty $PolicyKey |
    Select-Object AutoDownload, RemoveWindowsStore |
    Format-List |
    Tee-Object -FilePath "$ReportRoot\WindowsStore_policy_after_lock.txt"

Write-Host ""
Write-Host "Lockdown complete." -ForegroundColor Green
Write-Host "Report folder:"
Write-Host $ReportRoot -ForegroundColor Green

Write-Host ""
Write-Host "Recommended next step: reboot Windows before launching Codex again." -ForegroundColor Yellow

> Bump I also have this issue i cant use codex anymore There is a work around i figured out which is in the description. Is to use that older version, use Admin Powershell to remove the newer updated one, fall back to that specific one before the break in the desktop compositor. You might need to temp disable store from updating and updates for codex too; until we all get an updated version of codex that fixes the regression. You can use this powershell script to turn off updating for codex, and (if installed manually) store from checking or downloading the updates. (this does it to all MS store apps). `` #requires -version 5.1 <# Lock Codex MSIX / Microsoft Store Updates Purpose: - Disables Microsoft Store automatic app updates by policy. - Optionally blocks Microsoft Store UI access. - Pauses App Installer auto-updates for OpenAI.Codex if supported. - Records current Codex package version. - Does NOT remove Microsoft Store. - Does NOT disable Windows Update globally. Run as Administrator: powershell.exe -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "C:\Users\USER\Desktop\lock_codex_updates.ps1" #> $ErrorActionPreference = "Continue" # Set this to $true if you want to block opening Microsoft Store itself. # I recommend TRUE while Codex 26.527+ is broken. $BlockMicrosoftStoreUI = $true # Set this to $true only if Store still forces updates after the policy. # This disables the Microsoft Store Install Service. More aggressive. $DisableStoreInstallService = $false $Stamp = Get-Date -Format "yyyyMMdd_HHmmss" $ReportRoot = "$env:USERPROFILE\Desktop\Codex_Update_Lock_$Stamp" New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $ReportRoot -Force | Out-Null function Test-IsAdministrator { $Identity = [Security.Principal.WindowsIdentity]::GetCurrent() $Principal = New-Object Security.Principal.WindowsPrincipal($Identity) return $Principal.IsInRole([Security.Principal.WindowsBuiltInRole]::Administrator) } if (-not (Test-IsAdministrator)) { Write-Host "ERROR: Run this script as Administrator." -ForegroundColor Red exit 1 } Write-Host "Stopping Codex..." -ForegroundColor Cyan Get-Process "codex" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Stop-Process -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue Start-Sleep -Seconds 2 Write-Host "Recording installed Codex package..." -ForegroundColor Cyan $CodexPackage = Get-AppxPackage -Name "OpenAI.Codex" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue if ($CodexPackage) { $CodexPackage | Select-Object Name, Version, PackageFamilyName, PackageFullName, InstallLocation | Format-List | Tee-Object -FilePath "$ReportRoot\codex_package_before_lock.txt" Write-Host "" Write-Host "Current Codex version:" -ForegroundColor Green Write-Host $CodexPackage.Version } else { Write-Host "WARNING: OpenAI.Codex is not currently installed." -ForegroundColor Yellow } Write-Host "" Write-Host "Backing up Windows Store policy registry key..." -ForegroundColor Cyan $PolicyKey = "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsStore" $RegBackup = "$ReportRoot\WindowsStore_policy_backup.reg" if (Test-Path $PolicyKey) { reg.exe export "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsStore" $RegBackup /y | Out-Null } else { New-Item -Path $PolicyKey -Force | Out-Null } Write-Host "Applying Microsoft Store automatic update lockdown..." -ForegroundColor Cyan # AutoDownload = 2 means the policy "Turn off Automatic Download and Install of updates" is enabled. New-Item -Path $PolicyKey -Force | Out-Null New-ItemProperty -Path $PolicyKey -Name "AutoDownload" -PropertyType DWord -Value 2 -Force | Out-Null if ($BlockMicrosoftStoreUI) { # RemoveWindowsStore = 1 corresponds to "Turn off the Store application". # This blocks Store UI access. Use the unlock script later when you want Store back. New-ItemProperty -Path $PolicyKey -Name "RemoveWindowsStore" -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null Write-Host "Microsoft Store UI access policy: BLOCKED" -ForegroundColor Yellow } else { Remove-ItemProperty -Path $PolicyKey -Name "RemoveWindowsStore" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue Write-Host "Microsoft Store UI access policy: ALLOWED" -ForegroundColor Green } Write-Host "" Write-Host "Pausing App Installer auto-updates for Codex where supported..." -ForegroundColor Cyan if ($CodexPackage) { $PFN = $CodexPackage.PackageFamilyName if (Get-Command Set-AppxPackageAutoUpdateSettings -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue) { try { # 4320 hours = 180 days. # Rerun this script every few months if needed. Set-AppxPackageAutoUpdateSettings -PackageFamilyName $PFN -PauseUpdates -HoursToPause 4320 -ErrorAction Stop Write-Host "Paused App Installer auto-updates for: $PFN" -ForegroundColor Green } catch { Write-Host "Could not pause App Installer updates for Codex. This may be normal if Codex was not installed through App Installer metadata." -ForegroundColor Yellow Write-Host $_.Exception.Message -ForegroundColor DarkYellow } } else { Write-Host "Set-AppxPackageAutoUpdateSettings cmdlet not available on this Windows build." -ForegroundColor Yellow } } if ($DisableStoreInstallService) { Write-Host "" Write-Host "Disabling Microsoft Store Install Service..." -ForegroundColor Yellow Stop-Service -Name "InstallService" -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue Set-Service -Name "InstallService" -StartupType Disabled -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue } else { Write-Host "" Write-Host "Microsoft Store Install Service left alone." -ForegroundColor Green } Write-Host "" Write-Host "Forcing Group Policy refresh..." -ForegroundColor Cyan gpupdate /force | Out-Null Write-Host "" Write-Host "Current Windows Store policy values:" -ForegroundColor Cyan Get-ItemProperty $PolicyKey | Select-Object AutoDownload, RemoveWindowsStore | Format-List | Tee-Object -FilePath "$ReportRoot\WindowsStore_policy_after_lock.txt" Write-Host "" Write-Host "Lockdown complete." -ForegroundColor Green Write-Host "Report folder:" Write-Host $ReportRoot -ForegroundColor Green Write-Host "" Write-Host "Recommended next step: reboot Windows before launching Codex again." -ForegroundColor Yellow ``

it doesn't work

> > Bump I also have this issue i cant use codex anymore > > > There is a work around i figured out which is in the description. > Is to use that older version, use Admin Powershell to remove the newer updated one, fall back to that specific one before the break in the desktop compositor. > You might need to temp disable store from updating and updates for codex too; until we all get an updated version of codex that fixes the regression. > You can use this powershell script to turn off updating for codex, and (if installed manually) store from checking or downloading the updates. (this does it to all MS store apps). > `` > #requires -version 5.1 > <# > Lock Codex MSIX / Microsoft Store Updates > > Purpose: > - Disables Microsoft Store automatic app updates by policy. > - Optionally blocks Microsoft Store UI access. > - Pauses App Installer auto-updates for OpenAI.Codex if supported. > - Records current Codex package version. > - Does NOT remove Microsoft Store. > - Does NOT disable Windows Update globally. > > Run as Administrator: > powershell.exe -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "C:\Users\USER\Desktop\lock_codex_updates.ps1" > #> > > $ErrorActionPreference = "Continue" > > # Set this to $true if you want to block opening Microsoft Store itself. > # I recommend TRUE while Codex 26.527+ is broken. > $BlockMicrosoftStoreUI = $true > > # Set this to $true only if Store still forces updates after the policy. > # This disables the Microsoft Store Install Service. More aggressive. > $DisableStoreInstallService = $false > > $Stamp = Get-Date -Format "yyyyMMdd_HHmmss" > $ReportRoot = "$env:USERPROFILE\Desktop\Codex_Update_Lock_$Stamp" > New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $ReportRoot -Force | Out-Null > > function Test-IsAdministrator { > $Identity = [Security.Principal.WindowsIdentity]::GetCurrent() > $Principal = New-Object Security.Principal.WindowsPrincipal($Identity) > return $Principal.IsInRole([Security.Principal.WindowsBuiltInRole]::Administrator) > } > > if (-not (Test-IsAdministrator)) { > Write-Host "ERROR: Run this script as Administrator." -ForegroundColor Red > exit 1 > } > > Write-Host "Stopping Codex..." -ForegroundColor Cyan > Get-Process "codex" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Stop-Process -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue > Start-Sleep -Seconds 2 > > Write-Host "Recording installed Codex package..." -ForegroundColor Cyan > > $CodexPackage = Get-AppxPackage -Name "OpenAI.Codex" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue > > if ($CodexPackage) { > $CodexPackage | > Select-Object Name, Version, PackageFamilyName, PackageFullName, InstallLocation | > Format-List | > Tee-Object -FilePath "$ReportRoot\codex_package_before_lock.txt" > > Write-Host "" > Write-Host "Current Codex version:" -ForegroundColor Green > Write-Host $CodexPackage.Version > } else { > Write-Host "WARNING: OpenAI.Codex is not currently installed." -ForegroundColor Yellow > } > > Write-Host "" > Write-Host "Backing up Windows Store policy registry key..." -ForegroundColor Cyan > > $PolicyKey = "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsStore" > $RegBackup = "$ReportRoot\WindowsStore_policy_backup.reg" > > if (Test-Path $PolicyKey) { > reg.exe export "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsStore" $RegBackup /y | Out-Null > } else { > New-Item -Path $PolicyKey -Force | Out-Null > } > > Write-Host "Applying Microsoft Store automatic update lockdown..." -ForegroundColor Cyan > > # AutoDownload = 2 means the policy "Turn off Automatic Download and Install of updates" is enabled. > New-Item -Path $PolicyKey -Force | Out-Null > New-ItemProperty -Path $PolicyKey -Name "AutoDownload" -PropertyType DWord -Value 2 -Force | Out-Null > > if ($BlockMicrosoftStoreUI) { > # RemoveWindowsStore = 1 corresponds to "Turn off the Store application". > # This blocks Store UI access. Use the unlock script later when you want Store back. > New-ItemProperty -Path $PolicyKey -Name "RemoveWindowsStore" -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null > Write-Host "Microsoft Store UI access policy: BLOCKED" -ForegroundColor Yellow > } else { > Remove-ItemProperty -Path $PolicyKey -Name "RemoveWindowsStore" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue > Write-Host "Microsoft Store UI access policy: ALLOWED" -ForegroundColor Green > } > > Write-Host "" > Write-Host "Pausing App Installer auto-updates for Codex where supported..." -ForegroundColor Cyan > > if ($CodexPackage) { > $PFN = $CodexPackage.PackageFamilyName > > if (Get-Command Set-AppxPackageAutoUpdateSettings -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue) { > try { > # 4320 hours = 180 days. > # Rerun this script every few months if needed. > Set-AppxPackageAutoUpdateSettings > -PackageFamilyName $PFN > -PauseUpdates > -HoursToPause 4320 > -ErrorAction Stop > > Write-Host "Paused App Installer auto-updates for: $PFN" -ForegroundColor Green > } catch { > Write-Host "Could not pause App Installer updates for Codex. This may be normal if Codex was not installed through App Installer metadata." -ForegroundColor Yellow > Write-Host $_.Exception.Message -ForegroundColor DarkYellow > } > } else { > Write-Host "Set-AppxPackageAutoUpdateSettings cmdlet not available on this Windows build." -ForegroundColor Yellow > } > } > > if ($DisableStoreInstallService) { > Write-Host "" > Write-Host "Disabling Microsoft Store Install Service..." -ForegroundColor Yellow > > Stop-Service -Name "InstallService" -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue > Set-Service -Name "InstallService" -StartupType Disabled -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue > } else { > Write-Host "" > Write-Host "Microsoft Store Install Service left alone." -ForegroundColor Green > } > > Write-Host "" > Write-Host "Forcing Group Policy refresh..." -ForegroundColor Cyan > gpupdate /force | Out-Null > > Write-Host "" > Write-Host "Current Windows Store policy values:" -ForegroundColor Cyan > Get-ItemProperty $PolicyKey | > Select-Object AutoDownload, RemoveWindowsStore | > Format-List | > Tee-Object -FilePath "$ReportRoot\WindowsStore_policy_after_lock.txt" > > Write-Host "" > Write-Host "Lockdown complete." -ForegroundColor Green > Write-Host "Report folder:" > Write-Host $ReportRoot -ForegroundColor Green > > Write-Host "" > Write-Host "Recommended next step: reboot Windows before launching Codex again." -ForegroundColor Yellow > `` it doesn't work

Could you let me know exactly what's not working for the workaround script for you?.

You need the older version .msix package. Which package are you using?

I am using Codex > 26.519.11010.0
Auto updates disabled until the bug is fixed in later versions.

Have you followed the instructions in the bug description first?

You should do that first, before you run the powershell comment i gave you.