Windows Codex Desktop: project chats disappear from sidebar after startup/settings, but remain searchable

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

Codex Desktop for Windows, version: 26.608.12217 - Released 9. 6. 2026

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?

I am using Codex Desktop on Windows 11, installed from Microsoft Store. The Microsoft Store reports that I have the latest version installed.

After an accidental shutdown/restart while Codex was open, almost all project chats disappeared from the sidebar. I have around 7 projects, but most of them now show "No chats" in the left sidebar. Only a few chats remain visible.

The chats are not deleted. They can still be found through the in-app Search. When I search for an old chat and open it, the chat content loads correctly and the chat temporarily appears again under the correct project in the sidebar.

However, as soon as I open Settings and then return back, the restored chat disappears from the sidebar again. The same thing happens after restarting the app: the old chats briefly flash in the sidebar during startup, then disappear and the projects show "No chats" again.

This looks like a sidebar/project chat index or cache issue. The underlying chat data still exists because Search can find and open the conversations.

What steps can reproduce the bug?

1. Open Codex Desktop on Windows 11.
2. During startup, the old project chats briefly flash in the left sidebar.
3. After the app finishes loading, most project chats disappear and the projects show "No chats".
4. Use the in-app Search to find one of the missing chats.
5. Open the chat from Search.
6. The chat content loads correctly and the chat appears again under the correct project in the sidebar.
7. Open Settings.
8. Return back from Settings.
9. The chat disappears from the project sidebar again.
10. Restart the app.
11. The same issue happens again: chats briefly flash in the sidebar and then disappear.

What is the expected behavior?

Project chats should remain visible in the sidebar after startup, after opening Settings, and after restarting the app.
If a chat exists and can be found through Search, it should also remain visible under the correct project in the sidebar.

Additional information

• This started after the computer/app was accidentally shut down while Codex was open.
• Reinstalling/updating does not help because Microsoft Store already reports that the latest version is installed.
• I already tried signing out and signing in again with my ChatGPT/Google account. The issue still happens.
• The chats are not lost because Search can still find and open them. The problem seems to be only with the project sidebar or local chat index/cache.
• I have backed up my local .codex folder before doing further troubleshooting.
• I can provide screenshots and logs if needed.