Codex app doesn't restart after update

Resolved 💬 17 comments Opened Jun 24, 2026 by kendonB Closed Aug 4, 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)?

Version 26.616.81150

What subscription do you have?

Pro

What platform is your computer?

Windows 11 x64

What issue are you seeing?

Click blue button. Codex closes and never reopens.

What steps can reproduce the bug?

Click blue update button.

What is the expected behavior?

It opens again.

Additional information

This has never worked. How has no one reported this yet? No uses Codex app on Windows bc so buggy?

View original on GitHub ↗

17 Comments

github-actions[bot] contributor · 2 months ago

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

  • #28521
  • #29706

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neonglobe · 2 months ago

i confirm, was about to report this as i am tired of it updating and nto starting back up
the image says "installing update, codex will restart when installation finishes"
terrible ux, this should be fixed

squadjot · 2 months ago

Same..

  1. clicking the update button
  2. Seeing status bar telling me that codex will restart after the update.
  3. Program shuts down (to update)
  4. Nothing.
kendonB · 1 month ago

Still not fixed updating to 26.623.141536

kendonB · 1 month ago

This worked a few updates ago, then again today updating to 26.707.51957. Seems still intermittent so I will wait a few more before closing.

kendonB · 1 month ago

No restart updating to 26.707.62119

kendonB · 1 month ago

No restart updating to 26.707.71524

micesoft · 1 month ago

I can reproduce this on the Windows Codex app as well.

Environment:

  • Codex app: 26.707.9564.0
  • Windows 11 Pro, build 26200, x64

Observed behavior: after applying the latest in-app update, Codex closed but did not relaunch automatically. I had to start it manually. Manual relaunch succeeded.

Expected behavior: after the update is applied, the app should reopen automatically; if relaunch fails, it should show an actionable error.

kendonB · 1 month ago

Not fixed updating to 26.707.72221

VirgilMing · 1 month ago

Additional evidence for the Windows Store update loop:

  • Current running package: OpenAI.Codex_26.707.9564.0_x64__2p2nqsd0c76g0.
  • The app detects manifest build 26.707.9981.0; its update check completes with hasUpdate=true.
  • Clicking the in-app update button causes an automatic restart; it was not manually closed.

The Windows AppX Deployment Server log shows that OpenAI.Codex_26.707.9981.0 stages successfully, but the deployment/register step fails:

Error 0x80070005: Cannot install because the following apps need to be closed: OpenAI.Codex_2p2nqsd0c76g0!App.

The deployment reached StageUserDataProcessed but failed before PackagesInUseClosed; another event says the package was not updated because the affected app was still running.

So this does not look like a download or verification failure. The update is downloaded and staged, but Codex is relaunched while its package is still in use (or before the updater confirms a complete shutdown and successful registration). It comes back on 26.707.9564.0 and immediately offers the same update again.

Could the Windows Store updater wait for package-app termination and successful register/promotion before relaunching, and surface the deployment failure if that step fails?

claell · 1 month ago

This appears to duplicate #24047. Both reports describe the Windows app closing after the blue in-app update button is clicked, the package update completing, and Codex failing to relaunch until it is started manually.

I have also opened #33321 for the unattended variant, where no update button is clicked and a background Microsoft Store/AppX update silently removes a running tray instance. That variant has a different trigger and user-visible symptom, even though it likely reaches the same post-update relaunch failure.

kendonB · 23 days ago

may be fixed

Frulfump · 23 days ago
may be fixed

Not for me

I was on

Version 26.727.51351

Released 31 Jul 2026

And updated to

Version 26.730.61639

Released 5 Aug 2026

I waited 5 minutes and it did not restart. Which version were you on where it presumably worked?

kendonB · 23 days ago

Also didn't work for me today

Frulfump · 17 days ago
Also didn't work for me today

Yeah didn't work for me with the update to

Version 26.803.81509

Released 11 Aug 2026

Is there any other issue you could comment on seems like this one is older https://github.com/openai/codex/issues/24047

Frulfump · 13 days ago

It worked now for me now :o

Version 26.810.41047

Released 13 Aug 2026

EDIT: And now it didn't.....

Version 26.810.52044

Released 15 Aug 2026

It also keeps requesting firewall access as the Windows Store stores it in a new version dependent location each time...

kendonB · 8 days ago

Worked for me today