Node REPL kernel fails to start: CreateProcessAsUserW failed: 5

Potential duplicates detected. Please review them and close your issue if it is a duplicate.

• #26803
• #26186
• #26896
• #26644
• #26266

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English translation:

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

Codex version: 0.138.0-alpha.7

What subscription do you have?

None

What platform is your computer?

win11

What issue are you seeing?

Environment

• OS: Windows 11 26200 (zh-CN)
• Codex version: 0.138.0-alpha.7

Issue

Codex's Node REPL kernel consistently fails to start, preventing control of the Chrome browser and the in-app browser. Error message:

windows sandbox failed: runner error: CreateProcessAsUserW failed: 5

Attempted fixes (none worked)

• Ran Codex as administrator
• Disabled Windows Defender real-time protection
• Disabled Memory Integrity (Core Isolation)
• Restarted Codex / restarted the computer
• Chrome extension is installed and enabled (v1.1.5)
• Local communication bridge is configured correctly

Notes

• codex doctor shows that the network also cannot connect
• Regular Shell commands run normally
• Only the MCP / Node REPL kernel fails to start

What steps can reproduce the bug?

Environment

• OS: Windows 11 26200 (zh-CN)
• Codex version: 0.138.0-alpha.7

Issue

Codex's Node REPL kernel consistently fails to start, preventing control of the Chrome browser and the in-app browser. Error message:

windows sandbox failed: runner error: CreateProcessAsUserW failed: 5

Attempted fixes (none worked)

• Ran Codex as administrator
• Disabled Windows Defender real-time protection
• Disabled Memory Integrity (Core Isolation)
• Restarted Codex / restarted the computer
• Chrome extension is installed and enabled (v1.1.5)
• Local communication bridge is configured correctly

Notes

• codex doctor shows that the network also cannot connect
• Regular Shell commands run normally
• Only the MCP / Node REPL kernel fails to start

What is the expected behavior?

I should be able to control my browser normally to perform other actions

Additional information

_No response_

<!-- codex-issue-translator -->

I’m seeing what appears to be the same issue on Windows Codex Desktop.

Chrome plugin and Computer Use are installed/enabled, and the Chrome extension reports as connected, but both Chrome control and Computer Use fail before startup with this error:

node_repl kernel exited unexpectedly
windows sandbox failed: runner error: CreateProcessAsUserW failed: 5

This happens when trying to initialize the Chrome extension runtime and also when trying to initialize Computer Use. Normal shell/file operations in Codex work, and OneDrive write escalation now works, so this seems specific to the Node/browser/Computer Use helper startup path rather than general local command execution.

Environment:

• Windows: Windows 11 Home, Version 25H2, OS Build 26200.8457, Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.26100.304.0
• Codex Desktop: 26.609.30741
• Chrome extension: installed and connected
• Plugins: Chrome and Computer Use installed/enabled

I am seeing the same failure pattern on Windows Codex Desktop and filed a related report here: https://github.com/openai/codex/issues/27792

My case is specifically the Chrome plugin path:

• Chrome plugin / Codex Chrome Extension installed and enabled
• Chrome extension version: 1.1.5_0
• Selected Chrome profile: Default
• Native Messaging Host manifest and registry checks pass (correct: true)
• Chrome itself is installed and running
• @chrome fails before it can list or access current Chrome tabs

Observed error:

node_repl kernel exited unexpectedly
windows sandbox failed: runner error: CreateProcessAsUserW failed: 5

Additional local signal: running codex --version from the Codex workspace PowerShell also failed with Access denied, so this looks like the same Windows sandbox / Node helper startup path rather than a Chrome extension installation problem.

I am seeing the same failure pattern on Windows Codex Desktop and filed a related report here: https://github.com/openai/codex/issues/27792

My case is specifically the Chrome plugin path:

• Chrome plugin / Codex Chrome Extension installed and enabled
• Chrome extension version: 1.1.5_0
• Selected Chrome profile: Default
• Native Messaging Host manifest and registry checks pass (correct: true)
• Chrome itself is installed and running
• @chrome fails before it can list or access current Chrome tabs

Observed error:

node_repl kernel exited unexpectedly
windows sandbox failed: runner error: CreateProcessAsUserW failed: 5

Additional local signal: running codex --version from the Codex workspace PowerShell also failed with Access denied, so this looks like the same Windows sandbox / Node helper startup path rather than a Chrome extension installation problem.

I am seeing the same failure pattern on Windows Codex Desktop and filed a related report here: https://github.com/openai/codex/issues/27792

My case is specifically the Chrome plugin path:

• Chrome plugin / Codex Chrome Extension installed and enabled
• Chrome extension version: 1.1.5_0
• Selected Chrome profile: Default
• Native Messaging Host manifest and registry checks pass (correct: true)
• Chrome itself is installed and running
• @chrome fails before it can list or access current Chrome tabs

Observed error:

node_repl kernel exited unexpectedly
windows sandbox failed: runner error: CreateProcessAsUserW failed: 5

Additional local signal: running codex --version from the Codex workspace PowerShell also failed with Access denied, so this looks like the same Windows sandbox / Node helper startup path rather than a Chrome extension installation problem.