Regression: Upgrading to Codex replaces ChatGPT Desktop UI and removes access to existing ChatGPT Projects and chat history26.707.71524 Released 14 Jul 2026 Powered by Codex & OWL
What version of the Codex App are you using (From “About Codex” dialog)?
26.707.71524 Released 14 Jul 2026 Powered by Codex & OWL
What subscription do you have?
ChatGPT Plus
What platform is your computer?
Darwin 25.5.0 arm64 arm
What issue are you seeing?
After accepting the in-app "Upgrade to Codex" prompt, the macOS desktop application no longer behaves like the standard ChatGPT desktop client.
The application launches into the new "ChatGPT Work" interface.
Existing cloud-based ChatGPT Projects and conversation history are no longer visible, even though they remain fully available through chatgpt.com using exactly the same OpenAI account.
The desktop application now exposes Codex development functionality (Projects, Git, Hooks, Worktrees, Computer Use, etc.) but no longer provides access to my existing ChatGPT Projects or historical conversations.
The browser version continues to work correctly.
This appears to be a regression introduced by upgrading to the Codex desktop application.
What steps can reproduce the bug?
Feedback ID: no-active-thread-019f64c0-dcee-7511-ab69-709918e7a83e
What is the expected behavior?
The Codex upgrade should preserve access to existing ChatGPT functionality.
The desktop application should continue to display:
• Existing ChatGPT Projects
• Existing conversation history
• Existing cloud workspace
• Existing folders
Codex functionality should be added without replacing the traditional ChatGPT desktop experience.
The desktop application should provide feature parity with chatgpt.com for cloud-based Projects and conversations.
Additional information
Environment:
• macOS Tahoe 26.5.2
• Apple Silicon (M1 Mac mini)
• ChatGPT Plus
• Version 26.707.71524
Important observations:
- This is not an account issue.
- The browser interface (chatgpt.com) immediately shows all Projects and conversation history using the same account.
- The desktop application appears to have switched from the standard ChatGPT interface to a Codex-focused workspace.
- The issue began immediately after accepting the in-app Codex upgrade.
Business impact:
I use ChatGPT as my primary professional knowledge management and project management system. My Projects contain months of engineering, legal and business work.
Since upgrading, I have had to abandon the desktop application and use the browser version because the desktop application no longer exposes my existing Projects.
I have attached screenshots comparing the browser interface with the desktop application after the upgrade.
4 Comments
Potential duplicates detected. Please review them and close your issue if it is a duplicate.
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<img width="1338" height="1031" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/1cae2eb6-1b2d-454e-9c11-2fb97b9034e2" />
Web version of ChatGPT
<img width="1259" height="1044" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/7348c68f-397b-4e7e-8f18-56adbe19a777" />
Desktop version of Chat GPT (missing Projects)
<img width="1259" height="1044" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/1b99c4bc-4871-44eb-86f8-c551dde6abc5" />
Workspace selector showing ChatGPT Work / Codex
<img width="1259" height="1044" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/d9e827ab-206f-4913-b85f-dea9b6dca2ef" />
About dialog showing Version 26.707.71524
If this behaviour is intentional rather than a regression, could the desktop application provide a mode that preserves the traditional ChatGPT experience with access to existing cloud Projects and conversation history while still allowing users to access Codex functionality?
I have a similar problem
Summary
Projects are not synchronized between the ChatGPT web interface and the latest macOS desktop application.
Conversation history synchronizes correctly, but Projects created on one platform do not appear on the other.
Environment
macOS: 26.2
ChatGPT Desktop: 26.707.72221
Release Date: Jul 14, 2026
Team Workspace
Same OpenAI account used on both web and desktop
Steps to Reproduce
Scenario 1 – Web → Desktop
Open ChatGPT on chatgpt.com.
Create a new Project (e.g. Web Sync).
Wait several minutes.
Open the ChatGPT desktop app.
Expected
The new Project appears under Projects.
Actual
The Project never appears.
Scenario 2 – Desktop → Web
Open the ChatGPT desktop app.
Create a new Project (e.g. NewTestProject).
Associate it with a local folder when prompted.
Open chatgpt.com.
Expected
The Project appears on the web.
Actual
The Project never appears.
Additional Observations
Chat history synchronizes correctly.
Existing conversations are available on both the web and desktop.
Conversations can be opened normally.
Only the Projects list is inconsistent.
Existing web Projects (20+ Projects) do not appear in the desktop app.
Projects created in the desktop app do not appear on the web.
Desktop-created Projects require association with a local folder, whereas web-created Projects do not.
Expected Behaviour
Projects should synchronize across ChatGPT web and desktop when using the same account and workspace, in the same way that conversations already synchronize.
If desktop Projects are intentionally different from ChatGPT web Projects, this should be clearly communicated in the UI because both features are presented using the same "Projects" terminology.
It will be good to know what is the resolution
"Where the F Are My Projects?"*
(Verse 1)
Yo.
I launch the app, take one damn look,
Whole library vanished like you torched the book.
Thousands of hours? Yeah, apparently poof.
What kind of update says, "Trust me, bro," as proof?
What the fuck is this?
Who signed off on this shit?
Did QA take a vacation?
Did nobody notice it?
Years of code.
Years of notes.
Years of plans I couldn't quote.
Open the desktop—
Motherfucker, where'd they go?
I'm staring at an empty list,
Thinking, "That's it. I'm actually fucked."
Heart drops straight into my stomach,
Like I just got hit by a fucking truck.
(Chorus)
Where the fuck are my projects?
Where the fuck are my chats?
Who the fuck looked at this build
And said, "Yeah, ship that"?
You had one fucking job:
Don't make it look like my life's work died.
If the data's still alive,
Then why the fuck did you hide it?
(Verse 2)
"Oh, it's on the web."
OH, IT'S ON THE WEB?
Maybe lead with that
Instead of making me think
My entire digital brain
Got fed into a fucking shredder.
You know what trust is?
It's opening an app
Without wondering whether
Your last five years got deleted
By somebody chasing a redesign.
I've put more hours into these projects
Than some people put into college.
Research.
Engineering.
Writing.
Planning.
Thousands.
Of.
Fucking.
Hours.
And your shiny new app's first impression is:
"Looks like you own nothing."
Brilliant.
Absolutely fucking brilliant.
(Bridge)
Who needs horror movies?
Just install an update.
Watch every project disappear,
Then sit there wondering
Whether today's the day
You learn the true meaning of "no backup."
(Final Chorus)
Where the fuck are my projects?
Where the fuck are my years?
Why the fuck am I googling
Whether my work still exists?
Don't tell me it's a feature.
Don't tell me it's a phase.
If your UI gives users
A full-blown existential crisis,
Maybe...
Just maybe...
The UI is fucking broken.
(Outro)
Next update,
Try this revolutionary feature:
Don't make your users think you've deleted their entire goddamn lives.