Codex terminal image_gen output is visible/generated but no downloadable URL, artifact id, or local file path is exposed

What version of Codex CLI is running?

OpenAI Codex (v0.141.0)

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Codex terminal image_gen output is visible/generated but no downloadable URL, artifact id, or local file path is exposed ## Problem I am using Codex in a terminal session on Windows. When I call the built-in image_gen / $imagegen tool to generate images, the tool appears to successfully generate the image in the conversation, but Codex does not expose any usable output handle. Specifically, after image generation succeeds, Codex does not provide: 1. a downloadable image URL; 2. a local file path; 3. an artifact id; 4. a method to save or copy the generated image into the current workspace. As a result, terminal users cannot reliably download, save, validate, or continue processing the generated image. ## Expected behavior After image_gen succeeds in a Codex terminal session, Codex should provide at least one of the following: 1. a downloadable URL; 2. a local file path accessible from the terminal; 3. an artifact id plus a documented method to save it to the workspace; 4. automatic saving to the current workspace or to $CODEX_HOME/generated_images. For project workflows, Codex should be able to copy the generated image into a path such as: ``text D:\CODEX 项目\LS IP\测试稿\assets\测试-illustrations\ ` or: `text D:\CODEX 项目\outputs\final.png ` ## Actual behavior image_gen appears to succeed and the generated image may be visible in the Codex conversation, but no URL, artifact id, or local file path is exposed. Codex reports messages similar to: `text image artifact visible, but no saved file path exposed. ` or: `text 当前 image_gen 没有暴露可直接复制的本地 PNG 文件，所以暂时没有落盘到 assets/测试-illustrations/ ` I checked the local workspace and Codex image directories, including: `text D:\CODEX 项目\LS IP\测试稿 D:\CODEX 项目\outputs C:\Users\tsr\.codex\generated_images C:\Users\tsr\.codex ` No image file corresponding to the current generation was found. The directory C:\Users\tsr\.codex\generated_images contains historical generated image folders from previous successful runs, but no new folder or image file is created for the current generation. ## Environment * Client: Codex terminal conversation * OS: Windows * Shell: PowerShell * CODEX_HOME: C:\Users\tsr\.codex * Workspace path: D:\CODEX 项目\LS IP\测试稿 * Date observed: 2026-06-18 * Task: use a custom xiaohei illustration skill to generate article illustrations * Codex was uninstalled and reinstalled, but the issue persisted * The local filesystem is writable; creating text files and binary PNG files in the workspace succeeds ## Minimal reproduction `powershell cd "D:\CODEX 项目" New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force ".\outputs" | Out-Null codex exec --skip-git-repo-check --cd "D:\CODEX 项目" '$imagegen Generate a minimal test image: a red circle centered on a plain white background. Save the real generated image to D:\CODEX 项目\outputs\final.png and report the saved path and file size. Do not use Python, PowerShell, PIL, System.Drawing, SVG, HTML, or any script-based fallback.' ` ## Actual result from reproduction Codex reports that the image was generated or visible, but no saved file path is exposed. No file is created at: `text D:\CODEX 项目\outputs\final.png ` No new image is found under: `text C:\Users\tsr\.codex\generated_images ` ## Impact This makes image_gen` difficult or impossible to use in terminal-based Codex workflows where the generated image must be saved into a project directory. The image generation itself appears to succeed, but the output cannot be accessed, downloaded, copied, validated, or committed as a project asset. ## Suggested category Bug / Tools / image_gen / Terminal artifact handling / Windows

Which model were you using?

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What platform is your computer?

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What terminal emulator and version are you using (if applicable)?

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Codex doctor report

What issue are you seeing?

bug
CLI
skills
windows-os

What steps can reproduce the bug?

Codex terminal image_gen output is visible/generated but no downloadable URL, artifact id, or local file path is exposed

Problem

I am using Codex in a terminal session on Windows. When I call the built-in image_gen / $imagegen tool to generate images, the tool appears to successfully generate the image in the conversation, but Codex does not expose any usable output handle.

Specifically, after image generation succeeds, Codex does not provide:

1. a downloadable image URL;
2. a local file path;
3. an artifact id;
4. a method to save or copy the generated image into the current workspace.

As a result, terminal users cannot reliably download, save, validate, or continue processing the generated image.

Expected behavior

After image_gen succeeds in a Codex terminal session, Codex should provide at least one of the following:

1. a downloadable URL;
2. a local file path accessible from the terminal;
3. an artifact id plus a documented method to save it to the workspace;
4. automatic saving to the current workspace or to $CODEX_HOME/generated_images.

For project workflows, Codex should be able to copy the generated image into a path such as:

D:\CODEX 项目\LS IP\测试稿\assets\测试-illustrations\

or:

D:\CODEX 项目\outputs\final.png

Actual behavior

image_gen appears to succeed and the generated image may be visible in the Codex conversation, but no URL, artifact id, or local file path is exposed.

Codex reports messages similar to:

image artifact visible, but no saved file path exposed.

or:

当前 image_gen 没有暴露可直接复制的本地 PNG 文件，所以暂时没有落盘到 assets/测试-illustrations/

I checked the local workspace and Codex image directories, including:

D:\CODEX 项目\LS IP\测试稿
D:\CODEX 项目\outputs
C:\Users\tsr\.codex\generated_images
C:\Users\tsr\.codex

No image file corresponding to the current generation was found.

The directory C:\Users\tsr\.codex\generated_images contains historical generated image folders from previous successful runs, but no new folder or image file is created for the current generation.

Environment

• Client: Codex terminal conversation
• OS: Windows
• Shell: PowerShell
• CODEX_HOME: C:\Users\tsr\.codex
• Workspace path: D:\CODEX 项目\LS IP\测试稿
• Date observed: 2026-06-18
• Task: use a custom xiaohei illustration skill to generate article illustrations
• Codex was uninstalled and reinstalled, but the issue persisted
• The local filesystem is writable; creating text files and binary PNG files in the workspace succeeds

Minimal reproduction

cd "D:\CODEX 项目"
New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force ".\outputs" | Out-Null

codex exec --skip-git-repo-check --cd "D:\CODEX 项目" '$imagegen Generate a minimal test image: a red circle centered on a plain white background. Save the real generated image to D:\CODEX 项目\outputs\final.png and report the saved path and file size. Do not use Python, PowerShell, PIL, System.Drawing, SVG, HTML, or any script-based fallback.'

Actual result from reproduction

Codex reports that the image was generated or visible, but no saved file path is exposed.

No file is created at:

D:\CODEX 项目\outputs\final.png

No new image is found under:

C:\Users\tsr\.codex\generated_images

Impact

This makes image_gen difficult or impossible to use in terminal-based Codex workflows where the generated image must be saved into a project directory.

The image generation itself appears to succeed, but the output cannot be accessed, downloaded, copied, validated, or committed as a project asset.

Suggested category

Bug / Tools / image_gen / Terminal artifact handling / Windows

What is the expected behavior?

_No response_

Additional information

_No response_