[Windows Desktop] New local project cannot create first task: "Error creating task: Timeout" across Sol and Terra

Summary

The Windows ChatGPT/Codex desktop app can continue an existing local-project conversation, but cannot create the first task/conversation for a newly added local project. The failure is model-independent in the current reproduction: it occurs with both GPT-5.6 Sol and GPT-5.6 Terra.

Environment

• Surface: ChatGPT/Codex desktop app on Windows
• App build: 26.707.72221 (“Powered by Codex & OWL”, released 2026-07-14)
• Project target: Local
• Permission mode: Full access
• First observed: 2026-07-15, approximately 30 minutes before the initial report
• Regression: the workflow had previously worked

Actual behavior

For a newly added local project, submitting the first prompt either:

1. remains on “Thinking” indefinitely; or
2. fails with a visible toast:

Error creating task
Timeout

After signing out and back in, the pending prompt disappears, indicating that the new task/turn was not persisted successfully.

The failure reproduces with both:

• GPT-5.6 Sol, Extra High reasoning, Fast mode, using a longer project prompt; and
• GPT-5.6 Terra, Light reasoning, using this minimal prompt:

Initialize this project conversation. Do not modify any files. Reply only READY.

Control case

In the same app session and network environment, an existing conversation under an older local project works normally with GPT-5.6 Terra Light: it replies and continues editing files.

Therefore, basic authentication, model access, filesystem access, and total network connectivity are functioning. The failing boundary appears to be creation/persistence of a new project task/conversation.

Project checks already performed

The new project was independently verified and re-added:

• moved to a short ASCII path;
• Git root resolves to the project directory;
• repository has a valid initial commit / HEAD;
• git status is clean;
• app and computer were restarted;
• account was signed out and back in.

These checks did not resolve the timeout.

Steps to reproduce

1. Open ChatGPT/Codex desktop app on Windows.
2. Add a new local project folder.
3. Select Local target and Full access.
4. Choose either GPT-5.6 Terra Light or GPT-5.6 Sol.
5. Submit a minimal first prompt.
6. Observe indefinite “Thinking” or Error creating task: Timeout.
7. Sign out/in; the pending prompt may disappear.
8. Open an existing project conversation and submit a Terra Light turn; it completes successfully.

Expected behavior

The first project task should be created and persisted, then begin normally. If creation fails, the app should expose the failing endpoint/state and offer a retry that does not leave empty placeholder tasks.

Relationship to existing reports

This may be adjacent to #32762, but the reproduction differs in two important ways:

• the project/task is created manually in the desktop UI, not by another agent; and
• the failure also reproduces with Terra Light and appears to occur during task creation/persistence, before any first-turn reasoning or tool execution.

Project prompt contents, local username, and private paths are intentionally omitted.