Codex app won't start

Resolved 💬 8 comments Opened Jun 13, 2026 by kendonB Closed Jul 13, 2026
💡 Likely answer: A maintainer (github-actions[bot], contributor) responded on this thread — see the highlighted reply below.

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

Unsure but near latest

What subscription do you have?

Pro

What platform is your computer?

Windows 11

What issue are you seeing?

<img width="550" height="155" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/e1527725-a576-4e5e-a0d9-f004fdec54e6" />

Codex app won't start at all and this persists even after an uninstall reinstall

What steps can reproduce the bug?

Open codex

What is the expected behavior?

_No response_

Additional information

_No response_

View original on GitHub ↗

8 Comments

github-actions[bot] contributor · 1 month ago

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

  • #28046
  • #27849
  • #27806
  • #27658
  • #27979

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kendonB · 1 month ago

I did successfully get codex cli in WSL to just fix this, but seems like this should recover on its own

Zanepin · 1 month ago

same

Zanepin · 1 month ago
I did successfully get codex cli in WSL to just fix this, but seems like this should recover on its own

I'm fairly certain this issue appeared with the new Windows 11 version 26.609.4994.0 released today (2026/6/13) in the Microsoft Store, or with codex-cli 0.140.0-alpha.2. After the update, it seems the current Store installation package is missing the resources required by WSL. A temporary workaround is to change the user-level CODEX_CLI_PATH to that cached Linux CLI, while keeping both the WSL Agent and WSL Terminal configurations enabled.

lejmer · 1 month ago

Same. Started 10-12 hours ago. I _almost_ got it working in Windows native mode, but the old sessions are gone from the left side-panel, only accessible via the recent sessions via the systems tray icon, but once opened, they fail because the working directory for them is the WSL path, apply_path doesn't work since it cannot access the path, but I have to approve every tool call even though I have Full access on, which is very annoying.

grezniczek · 1 month ago

Same here. Restarted PC this morning, Store updated Codex App. I am using WSL as well. Same CODEX_CLI_PATH error on startup. Totalyl fresh install (wiped .codex): As soon as I switch to WSL in Settings -> same error. So the current version is broken.
I had managed earlier to migrate my WSL sessions over to Windows native, but this is unworkable because each and every write will ask for manual approval. Please get this fixed asap.

SocialK · 1 month ago

The worst in this situation that you are paying 200 usd to Open AI and even can not open the app, I have simmilar issue but without mistake, after a launch it does not open and that's it

lejmer · 1 month ago
The worst in this situation that you are paying 200 usd to Open AI and even can not open the app, I have simmilar issue but without mistake, after a launch it does not open and that's it

It works when using Windows native though. Backup your config.toml, AGENTS.md, sqlite folder etc, i.e. anything in .codex/ that you want to save. Then make sure no codex processes are running and delete that stuff and start the app. This way at least you can get back into the app and start working again. I dont have any of my sessions anymore though (but they are still available via the recent chats from the systems tray icon, or in the Codex tab on the app on mobile). So it is only a workaround, but at least this way you can still use it, even if it requires a bit of reconfiguration and reauth (and old chats are only available with approval for every tool call).