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Windows 11 ARM64: ChatGPT desktop app crashes immediately after automatic Codex migration (26.707.9981.0) #33516
Description
What version of the Codex App are you using (From “About Codex” dialog)?
26.707.9981.0
What subscription do you have?
Pro
What platform is your computer?
- Windows 11 ARM64
What issue are you seeing?
Platform:
- Windows 11 ARM64
- Microsoft Surface (ARM)
Subscription:
- ChatGPT Team
Version:
- ChatGPT desktop build 26.707.9981.0 (automatic migration from Codex)
Expected behaviour:
App opens normally and loads Codex.
Actual behaviour:
The previous standalone Codex app worked correctly until today.
It automatically migrated to the new ChatGPT desktop app (icon changed).
Since the update, the app opens for approximately 1–2 seconds, briefly shows ChatGPT then Codex, and exits without any error dialog.
Additional information:
This appears to match reports from other Windows ARM64 users experiencing crashes after the Codex → ChatGPT migration.
What steps can reproduce the bug?
Reproduction:
100% reproducible.
Troubleshooting already attempted:
- Rebooted Windows
- Uninstalled and reinstalled from https://chatgpt.com/download
- Removed local Codex configuration
- No Application Error in Event Viewer
- App recreates .codex state successfully before exiting
What is the expected behavior?
No response
Additional information
No response
Activity
github-actions commentedon Jul 16, 2026
Potential duplicates detected. Please review them and close your issue if it is a duplicate.
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MarkMasiak commentedon Jul 16, 2026
can reproduce a very similar issue on:
Surface Pro 11 (Snapdragon X Elite)
Windows 11 Insider Beta Build 26220.8764
ARM64
Microsoft Store ChatGPT desktop app (automatic Codex → ChatGPT migration)
Symptoms:
Previous Codex app worked.
After migration to ChatGPT, the app displays the "What's New" screen for a few seconds and then exits.
Reinstalling, Reset, Repair, clearing LocalState and reinstalling do not help.
Browser ChatGPT works normally.
I have an OpenAI support case open with videos and diagnostics.
MarkMasiak commentedon Jul 16, 2026
Possible workaround (worked for me on ARM64)
I wanted to share what finally resolved this for me in case it helps someone else.
Environment
Surface Pro 11 (Snapdragon X Elite)
Windows 11 Insider Beta 26220.8764 (ARM64)
Microsoft Store version of ChatGPT
Existing Codex installation migrated to ChatGPT
Symptoms
Codex worked previously.
After the migration to ChatGPT, the app would either:
display the "What's New"/onboarding screen for a few seconds and exit, or
exit immediately after launch.
Browser ChatGPT worked normally.
During troubleshooting I also noticed Microsoft Store crashing, although I'm not certain whether that was related.
What finally fixed it
A normal uninstall/reinstall was not enough.
The important difference was completely removing all remaining user data.
I manually deleted every remaining OpenAI/Codex folder I could find, including:
%USERPROFILE%.codex
%USERPROFILE%.cache
%USERPROFILE%.agents
%LOCALAPPDATA%\OpenAI
Any remaining OpenAI/Codex folders under %LOCALAPPDATA%
Any remaining OpenAI package data I could locate
Only after removing all of the above did I reinstall ChatGPT.
The key observation
Every previous reinstall preserved my login and immediately returned to the existing state.
After deleting all remaining folders, ChatGPT behaved like a completely fresh installation:
prompted me to sign in again
displayed the full first-run onboarding
requested Windows integration permissions
completed setup successfully
now launches normally
This makes me suspect that some migration/profile state survives uninstall and can prevent the new ChatGPT desktop app from starting correctly.
I can't say with certainty which folder contained the problematic state, but removing all remaining OpenAI/Codex user data before reinstalling resolved the issue for me.