Hover sidebar opens unexpectedly when ChatGPT is not the active window

No source file or test is named in the report. Begin by reproducing the hover-sidebar behavior while the Codex window is inactive or behind another app, then trace the desktop app's hover activation entry point. Done means inactive-window hover does not open or intercept clicks, with the reported reproduction steps covered by a regression test.

What version of the Codex App are you using (From “About Codex” dialog)?

26.721.41059 (5848)

What subscription do you have?

Plus

What platform is your computer?

Darwin 25.5.0 arm64 arm

What issue are you seeing?

The hover sidebar is not a minor annoyance; it seriously disrupts normal multitasking and causes unintended actions.

The sidebar can open simply because the cursor moves over or near the Codex/ChatGPT window, including while the app is behind another application and is not the active window. The activation area appears to extend outside the app's usable window area.

Once triggered, the sidebar takes up a large portion of the window, stays open, and captures the next click. While quickly switching between apps to copy information, this has repeatedly caused me to open the wrong conversation or accidentally pin or archive a chat. Recovering an unintentionally archived chat then creates even more unnecessary work.

A background or inactive app should never expose an interactive panel merely because the cursor passes nearby.

What steps can reproduce the bug?

1. Open the Codex/ChatGPT desktop app on macOS and collapse the sidebar.
2. Place another app, such as Safari or Word, in front of or partially over the Codex window.
3. Work in the other app, then move the cursor toward or across the Codex window while switching apps.
4. The sidebar opens immediately without a click, sometimes while Codex is still not the active app.
5. The sidebar remains open and intercepts the next click, which can land on a conversation or its pin/archive controls.

The issue also occurs with all conversations closed and from the app's home screen.

What is the expected behavior?

The sidebar should open only after an intentional action, such as clicking the sidebar button or using a keyboard shortcut.

At minimum:

• Hover activation must never run while the Codex/ChatGPT window is inactive or behind another app.
• There should be a setting to completely disable hover activation.
• If hover activation remains, it should require a deliberate delay and close automatically when the cursor leaves.
• An unintended hover must not expose controls that can switch, pin, or archive conversations.

Additional information

Please prioritize this. For people who constantly switch between several apps, this behavior makes the desktop app interfere with unrelated work throughout the day. The combination of an oversized activation zone, immediate opening, persistent display, and click interception is especially harmful.

Codex App version: 26.721.41059 (build 5848)
Subscription: Plus
Platform: Darwin 25.5.0 arm64 arm