Windows: Chrome, Browser, and Computer Use mentions recognized but callable tools are not attached (26.707.12708.0)

Open 💬 1 comment Opened Jul 16, 2026 by pablobackend

Summary

On Windows, the bundled @Chrome, @Browser, and @Computer Use plugin mentions are recognized by Codex Desktop, but the corresponding callable tools are not attached to the active task.

This persists after a clean Codex Desktop reinstall and after reinstalling the official plugins and Chrome extension.

Environment

  • OS: Windows x64
  • Codex Desktop: 26.707.12708.0
  • Bundled Chrome / Browser / Computer Use plugins: 26.707.91948
  • Codex Chrome extension: 1.2.27203.26575
  • Browser: Google Chrome Stable

Verified local state

  • Chrome extension popup shows Connected.
  • Chrome plugin is installed and enabled.
  • Browser plugin is installed and enabled.
  • Computer Use plugin is installed and enabled.
  • Native Messaging registry entry exists at:

HKCU\Software\Google\Chrome\NativeMessagingHosts\com.openai.codexextension

  • Native host manifest exists at:

C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\OpenAI\extension\com.openai.codexextension.json

  • extension-host.exe is running.
  • The plugin mention is inserted from the UI and arrives in the task as a real plugin capability, not plain text.

Steps to reproduce

  1. Start a new Codex Desktop task on Windows.
  2. Select the real Chrome plugin mention from the @ menu.
  3. Send a minimal request such as:

@Chrome Open a new tab and tell me the page title.

  1. Observe that the Chrome capability/instructions are recognized, but the task does not receive a callable Chrome control tool.
  2. Repeat in fresh tasks with @Browser and @Computer Use.

Actual behavior

All three mentions are recognized, but none of the executable browser/Windows-control tools are exposed to the agent. The agent can use normal local shell tools, but cannot open or control Chrome, the in-app browser, or Windows applications.

The failure occurs before accessing any target website and reproduces with an innocuous new-tab request.

Expected behavior

  • @Chrome should expose the extension-backed Chrome control tool.
  • @Browser should expose the in-app browser control tool.
  • @Computer Use should expose the Windows UI control tool.
  • If a tool cannot be attached, the UI should report that before allowing the mention to be sent.

Troubleshooting already completed

  • Restarted Chrome and Codex Desktop.
  • Started multiple fresh tasks.
  • Selected each plugin from the @ menu.
  • Reinstalled Codex Desktop.
  • Reinstalled/enabled the official Chrome, Browser, and Computer Use plugins.
  • Reinstalled the official Chrome extension.
  • Confirmed the extension is connected, Native Messaging is registered, the manifest exists, and extension-host.exe is active.
  • Did not manually modify the registry or native host manifest.

Related issues

  • #21791
  • #23805
  • #24838
  • #25809

The important additional data point here is that this reproduces on the newer 26.707.12708.0 Windows build and affects all three bundled control surfaces in fresh tasks.

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