Claude Code v2.1.233 gpt-5.6-terra with medium effort · API Usage Billing /Users/user ▎ Using gpt-5.6-terra (from .claude/settings.json) · /model
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Codex for macOS
Crash investigation · August 2026
❯ `codex` 52044 has a fatal bug that crashes my mac. see https://github.com/openai/codex/issues/38841 and 38760, 38769, 38771, 38720 please read all the issues. any workarounds? some talk about disabling computer use which isn't acceptable for me. any way I can downgrade both the cli and the chatgpt.app desktop app to before 52044? I cannot wait for this to be fixed and a new version shipped. I have to do important work today only use traditional web search during this task, running any `codex` cli commands will crash this machine.
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⏺ Web Search("site:github.com/openai/codex/issues/38841 "52044"")
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⏺ Web Search("site:github.com/openai/codex/issues/38760 "52044"")
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⏺ Web Search("site:github.com/openai/codex/issues/38769 "52044"")
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⏺ Web Search("site:github.com/openai/codex/issues/38771 "52044"")
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⏺ Web Search("site:github.com/openai/codex/issues/38720 "52044"")
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⏺ Web Search("OpenAI Codex CLI downgrade previous version npm Homebrew macOS official documentation")
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⏺ Web Search("Codex 52044 macOS crash computer use workaround")
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⏺ Fetch(https://github.com/openai/codex/issues/38841)
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⏺ Web Search(""38841" "SkyComputerUseService"")
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⏺ Web Search(""38760" "SkyComputerUseService"")
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⏺ Web Search("site:github.com/openai/codex/releases Codex CLI 0.XXX 2026 version history")
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⏺ Web Search("ChatGPT macOS 26.810.50856 download downgrade 6644")
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⏺ Web Search("OpenAI ChatGPT Classic install macOS download official 2026")
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⏺ Web Search("OpenAI Codex CLI npm package install version pin automatic update 2026")
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⏺ Web Search("github openai codex issue 38841")
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⏺ Web Search("site:github.com/openai/codex/issues "52044" "38841" OR "38760" OR "38769" OR "38771" OR "38720"")
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⏺ Web Search("Codex CLI does computer use SkyComputerUseService macOS app distinction")
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⏺ Web Search("site:help.openai.com Codex CLI computer use macOS app ChatGPT desktop")
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⏺ Web Search("ChatGPT Classic Codex computer use feature availability macOS 2026")
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⏺ Web Search("OpenAI official ChatGPT Classic download direct installer macOS exact older version archive")
Did 2 searches in 14s Finding 52044 = ChatGPT/Codex macOS desktop build 26.810.52044 / build 6662. Not Codex CLI version. All five reports describe same failure class: - Desktop app launches SkyComputerUseService repeatedly while idle. - Failed helper handshake triggers another launch. - Processes, threads, RAM, and CPU climb until app aborts. - Severe cases exhaust launchservicesd, trigger WindowServer watchdog failure, then kernel panic/reboot. - Reproduces even when Computer Use disabled in app settings. Settings do not reliably stop startup path. - No maintainer response, linked PR, fixed build, milestone, or supported rollback path visible. Issue-by-issue
| Issue | Key evidence | Workaround retaining Computer Use? |
|---|---|---|
| #38841 | 26.810.52044; unbounded helper respawn; app crashes in roughly two minutes | No |
| #38760 | 5–8 helpers/sec; 500+ helpers; app OOM, WindowServer watchdog, reported reboots | No |
| #38769 | Computer Use and Remote Connections disabled; still hits ~149 helpers in 23 sec, then OOM crash | No |
| #38771 | Idle startup crash in ~70–150 sec; ~199 helpers / 12.5 GB RSS reported | No |
| #38720 | Same idle spawn behavior already present in 26.810.50856 / build 6644 | No |
Workarounds No reported workaround both: 1. prevents the respawn storm, and 2. preserves native macOS Computer Use. Reported effective mitigations all block or disable Codex Computer Use.app, then sacrifice Computer Use. Do not use them if Computer Use required. Killing helpers also not viable. They respawn. Downgrade answer Desktop app Downgrade to 50856 / build 6644: do not bother. #38720 reports this same bug there. #38760 reports it as far back as 26.810.41047 / build 6570. Only plausible rollback target: build before 6570. Problem: - OpenAI publishes current installers, not a selectable historical desktop-build archive. - No official setting found to pin the desktop app to an older build or disable its auto-update behavior. - Third-party DMG archives exist, but unsafe for an app with account access and macOS automation permissions. - ChatGPT Classic is official, but does not include new Work/Codex/Computer Use features. It cannot replace native Codex Computer Use. Possible only if already available locally: - Time Machine snapshot from before build 6570. - Old .app copy from before build 6570. - Managed-device software repository holding a signed pre-6570 build. Even then: no evidence that a pre-6570 build remains compatible with current service/backend behavior. Treat as a limited emergency test, not confirmed fix. Codex CLI Yes, npm-installed CLI can be pinned to an exact version: npm install -g "@openai/codex@<exact-version>" Do not run codex to inspect or update it on this machine. But CLI downgrade probably does not solve this desktop crash: - 52044 is not a CLI package version. - SkyComputerUseService belongs to native macOS Computer Use runtime. - Native Computer Use is tied to the signed desktop app/helper process chain. - Standalone CLI Computer Use has separate signing and launch-constraint failures in reports. CLI pinning helps only if current CLI itself has a separate regression. It does not repair the desktop helper respawn loop. npm global installs do not normally auto-update merely because a new version exists. Exact pin remains until an explicit npm update/reinstall. Use only @openai/codex, not unrelated codex npm package. Best path for important work today 1. Do not launch 52044 desktop app. Reports include actual OS-level instability and reboot, not merely app crash. 2. Use Codex web client for work needing browser/cloud Computer Use, if that meets requirement. Issue reporters identify web client as current safe route. This does not prove it can control local Mac apps. 3. Use existing CLI only for non-Computer-Use work, if its current invocation is safe. Do not launch it merely to test. 4. If native local-Mac Computer Use mandatory: no verified safe path from these reports today. Only potential route: known-good pre-6570 app bundle from own backup, with no official way to reliably pin it afterward. No fix release found. No safe 52044 configuration change found that leaves native Computer Use enabled. Sources - OpenAI Codex issue #38841 - OpenAI Codex issue #38760 - OpenAI Codex issue #38769 - OpenAI Codex issue #38771 - OpenAI Codex issue #38720 - Official Codex CLI releases - Official @openai/codex npm package - Official ChatGPT download page - OpenAI: Moving to new ChatGPT desktop app
✻ Worked for 3m 8s ※ recap: Research complete: 52044 desktop app crash has no verified workaround preserving native Mac Computer Use. Next action: avoid launching it; use web Codex today, or restore only a pre-6570 app backup if one exists. (disable recaps in /config)
❯ can you find any timemachine snapshots of the app pre yesterday at 9pm
Searched for 2 patterns, listed 3 directories, ran 10 shell commands
Found. No restore performed. Newest snapshot before yesterday 9:00 PM: 2026-08-16-172018 /Volumes/com.apple.TimeMachine.localsnapshots/Backups.backupdb/nick mbp (2)/2026-08-16-172018/Data/Applications/ChatGPT.app Version inside snapshot: 26.803.61601 Pre-9 PM snapshots available from 01:25 through 17:20. Every readable one contains 26.803.61601. Current installed app: 26.810.52044 Snapshot 21:05 exists but post-cutoff. It still contains 26.803.61601. Next step: restore snapshot app to separate folder first. Inspect/signature/version. Then replace current app only after confirmation.
✻ Churned for 1m 21s
❯ restore 2026-08-16-172018 /Volumes/com.apple.TimeMachine.localsnapshots/Backups.backupdb/nick mbp (2)/2026-08-16-172018/Data/Applications/ChatGPT.app I will test if this fixes it.
Restored snapshot copy to /Users/user/Applications/ChatGPT 26.803.61601.app Verified version, code signature, and Gatekeeper status.
Restored separate copy. Current app untouched. /Users/user/Applications/ChatGPT 26.803.61601.app Verified: - Version: 26.803.61601 - Signature: valid, designated requirement satisfied - Gatekeeper: accepted, notarized Developer ID Test this copy directly. Do not launch /Applications/ChatGPT.app; that remains 26.810.52044. Potential issue: both apps share bundle ID com.openai.codex. Launch older app from Finder using exact path.
✻ Cogitated for 42s ※ recap: Goal: run a pre-52044 ChatGPT/Codex app safely. Restored verified `26.803.61601` separately at `/Users/user/Applications/ChatGPT 26.803.61601.app`; next action: launch that exact copy, not `/Applications/ChatGPT.app`. (disable recaps in /config)