Windows Desktop UI stutters on launch, new chat, first typing, and Settings

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

Version 26.616.81150 • Released 23 Jun 2026

Observed installed package:

OpenAI.Codex 26.616.10790.0
App server version in logs: 0.142.0

What subscription do you have?

5x Pro

What platform is your computer?

Microsoft Windows NT 10.0.26200.0 x64
Windows 11 Pro, build 26200
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X, 6 cores / 12 logical processors
GPU: AMD Radeon RX 7600
GPU driver: 32.0.31021.1015
Power plan: High performance

What issue are you seeing?

Codex Desktop repeatedly causes brief UI/cursor/input stutters during first-use interactions:

• On opening Codex, the cursor/UI stutters briefly, then becomes smooth.
• On opening a new chat, the same stutter happens, then becomes smooth.
• In a new chat, the first typed characters appear, then the UI freezes briefly, then typing is smooth.
• Opening Settings also causes a brief stutter, then becomes smooth.

This reproduces after a fresh reinstall and after deleting Codex data.

Local diagnostics suggest the stutter correlates with Codex Desktop process CPU and memory spikes, not disk, GPU, WMI, Defender, or WSL:

30 second diagnostic capture while reproducing:

Main Codex.exe process:
  CPU used: ~18.4 CPU seconds
  Peak working set: ~1.1 GB
  Peak private memory: ~1.9 GB

Codex app-server process:
  CPU used: ~5.05 CPU seconds

Renderer process:
  CPU used: ~4.61 CPU seconds

Counters:
  Codex process CPU peaked around 147.7% processor time
  Total system CPU peaked around 40.18%
  Physical disk time peaked around 5.23%
  WMI Provider Host CPU stayed low, max around 4.67%
  Codex GPU process GPU utilization stayed below 1%

Sanitized relevant Codex Desktop log excerpts:

initialize_handshake_result durationMs=69 outcome=success
window main frame finished load startupElapsedMs=95
window ready-to-show startupElapsedMs=111

[startup][renderer] app routes mounted after 4058ms

method=mcpServerStatus/list durationMs=1914
method=mcpServerStatus/list durationMs=1468

[git] [git-origins] worker-complete dirCount=6 elapsedMs=635
[git-repo-watcher] Starting git repo watcher

error [wsl] error retrieving eligible distro error="Error: Command failed: wsl.exe --status ..."

Note: WSL_DISTRO_NAME is unset in Process/User/Machine env. WSL is not installed, but wsl.exe --status completes locally in about 34ms, so this does not appear to explain the full stutter by itself.

What steps can reproduce the bug?

1. Start Codex Desktop on Windows.
2. Observe brief cursor/UI stutter after launch, followed by smooth behavior.
3. Open a new chat.
4. Observe another brief stutter, followed by smooth behavior.
5. Type a few characters in the new chat.
6. The first characters appear, then the UI briefly freezes/stutters, then typing is smooth.
7. Open Settings.
8. Observe another brief stutter, followed by smooth behavior.

This reproduces consistently on this machine and also reproduced immediately after a fresh reinstall with Codex data removed.

What is the expected behavior?

Codex Desktop should remain responsive during launch, new chat creation, first typing in a new chat, and opening Settings. Startup/background initialization should not block mouse/cursor movement or text input.

Additional information

Local mitigations tried without improvement:

• Fresh reinstall and deleting Codex data.
• Verified WSL_DISTRO_NAME is not set.
• Temporarily disabled plugins/MCP/notify via diagnostic minimal config.
• Temporarily disabled sidebar PR icons and removed a broad trusted home-directory project.
• Temporarily disabled/cleared desktop global state for global dictation hotkey, mobile connected state, Chrome extension sync management, saved workspace roots, project order, active workspace roots, and avatar overlay.
• Rotating session/log files was considered but is unlikely to be root cause because the issue reproduced immediately after fresh install.

Diagnostics were collected with a local PowerShell sampler that recorded process CPU/memory, Windows counters, GPU counters, WMI activity, and Codex Desktop logs. I can provide a further-sanitized subset if helpful, but I am not attaching raw logs because they may contain local paths, thread IDs, and prompt history.