Windows 11: Codex in ChatGPT desktop app crashes repeatedly after recent update during long-running tasks #42323

Summary

After the recent ChatGPT/Codex desktop app update on Windows 11, Codex has become significantly less stable. During long-running coding tasks, the Codex view/app can crash/close unexpectedly. After the crash, reopening Codex from the new ChatGPT desktop app may immediately crash again.

Environment

• Windows 11 Pro, x64
• ChatGPT desktop app with integrated Codex
• Current/latest app update available as of 2026-09-02
• Local Git repository / PostgreSQL-backed development project
• Exact app version was not captured before the crash because Codex became inaccessible

Actual behavior

1. Start or continue a long-running Codex task in the ChatGPT desktop app.
2. Codex works for some time, then the app/Codex view closes or crashes unexpectedly.
3. Attempt to reopen Codex from the ChatGPT desktop app.
4. Codex may crash again instead of restoring the previous task/session.
5. This creates uncertainty about how far the task progressed before the crash and forces a manual repository recovery/read-only status check before work can safely resume.

The local project itself appears to remain intact (Git commits, worktree files and database persisted), so this report concerns desktop-app/Codex session stability rather than project data loss.

Expected behavior

Codex should remain stable during long-running tasks. If the renderer/app process fails, reopening Codex should recover the task/session or at minimum reopen reliably without repeated crashing.

Frequency

Repeatedly observed since the recent desktop app update. The user reports noticeably more crashes/problems after the update than before it.

Troubleshooting / safety steps

• Fully closed and reopened the ChatGPT desktop app.
• Avoided deleting Codex state/cache or reinstalling while a large local WIP was present.
• Verified project state independently through Git/checkpoints after crashes.

Impact

High for long coding sessions: a crash does not appear to destroy the repository, but it interrupts active work and makes the exact task state uncertain, requiring manual post-crash verification before continuing.

Related

Potentially related Windows desktop instability report: #37105, though that report is Windows 10/RDP and fails at launch, while this case is Windows 11 and often occurs during/after active Codex work.

Request

Please investigate recent Windows desktop app regressions affecting Codex stability and task/session recovery after crashes. Guidance on a supported workaround or recommended logs to collect would also be helpful.