Unable to use ChatGPT app on my laptop

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

26.803.41515 (6321)

What subscription do you have?

Pro

What platform is your computer?

Mac - Darwin 25.5.0 arm64 arm

What issue are you seeing?

Analysis from Claude Code

ChatGPT Desktop Crash Investigation — Summary

Date: August 9, 2026
Machine: Zane-Perry-MacBook-Pro (Mac16,1, macOS 26.5.2)

The Problem

ChatGPT desktop app (version 26.803.41515) crashes within ~5 seconds of every launch. Cannot be opened at all.

Root Cause

This is a bug in OpenAI's own shipped code, not related to Claude Desktop, the Brain (MCP), or anything on this machine that we control.

• Crash type: EXC_BREAKPOINT (SIGTRAP) — a deliberate breakpoint instruction (brk 0) hit inside OpenAI's own binary.
• Where: Inside Codex Framework.framework (version 151.0.7922.76), OpenAI's bundled Chromium/V8/Node engine — specifically in node::StringDecoder::DecodeData → v8::Isolate::Enter().
• Confirmed identical across 3 separate crash attempts, including after:
  • A full uninstall/reinstall (same build downloaded each time — no update available)
  • Clearing ChatGPT's cache (~/Library/Caches/com.openai.chat)
  • Wiping the entire app data directory (~/Library/Application Support/com.openai.codex) and launching with a completely fresh profile
• Since it crashes identically even on a brand-new empty profile, this is not a corrupted local file, config, or account state — it's a defect baked into the binary itself on this OS/hardware combination (macOS 26.5.2, Apple M4 / Mac16,1).

What Was Ruled Out

• Claude Brain / MCP: Checked the actual supervisor code (brain-mcp/supervisor.mjs, src/infra.js). The brain's automation only ever starts brain services when Claude Desktop is running — it never automatically closes or kills ChatGPT. A closeChatGptDesktop() function does exist in the code, but it only fires from a manual "Close Claude and Brain" action, never automatically.
• Shared Codex config file (~/.codex/config.toml, used by both ChatGPT Desktop and Codex CLI): inspected and found well-formed, no duplicate/corrupted entries (a similar-sounding issue happened on the Windows machine on Aug 7, but was unrelated and already fixed in a prior brain version).
• A misfiring scheduled brain job ("Daily Brain Issues Improvement") was found firing repeatedly around the same time as the first crash — investigated and ruled out; it's a text-only git/GitHub task with no interaction with ChatGPT or its files. It's a separate bug worth fixing on its own, unrelated to this crash.
• No silent background update occurred between "worked fine this morning" and "crashing tonight" — same build the whole time.

This Matches a Known Public Issue

The same crash signature is reported by other users on GitHub:

• https://github.com/openai/codex/issues/32676
• https://github.com/openai/codex/issues/30005
• https://github.com/openai/codex/issues/30553
• https://github.com/openai/codex/issues/34084
• OpenAI Developer Community: https://community.openai.com/t/chatgpt-mac-app-crashes-on-startup/1022024

Context: OpenAI merged Codex into the ChatGPT desktop app around July 9, 2026 in a rollout widely described as rough (9to5Mac called it "inexplicably botched"), with a partial walk-back about a week later. This crash is part of the fallout.

What Was NOT Fixable Locally

Every local remedy was tried and failed to change the outcome:

1. Uninstall / reinstall — no effect (same build)
2. Clear cache — no effect
3. Wipe entire app data directory to a fresh profile — no effect, identical crash

Recommended Next Steps (Zane's call)

1. Downgrade to an older ChatGPT build if one is available, until OpenAI patches this.
2. File/comment on the OpenAI GitHub issue with this crash log — adds signal for a fix.
3. Wait for OpenAI's next release — this is their bug to fix, not something further local troubleshooting can resolve.

Side Note

A backup of the original ChatGPT app data was made before the data-wipe test:
~/Library/Application Support/com.openai.codex.bak-1786328797
A fresh (also-crashing) copy was recreated by the app on relaunch at ~/Library/Application Support/com.openai.codex. To restore your original chat history/settings once ChatGPT is working again:

rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/com.openai.codex
mv ~/Library/Application\ Support/com.openai.codex.bak-1786328797 ~/Library/Application\ Support/com.openai.codex

What steps can reproduce the bug?

Open the app, wait 5 seconds for it to crash

What is the expected behavior?

Not to crash

Additional information

This is preventing me from using my subscription. Please direct me towards where to get a refund for wasted time while your team works to resolve this issue.

Start by comparing the reported EXC_BREAKPOINT signature in Codex Framework.framework with the linked issues 32676, 30005, 30553, and 34084. Reproduce by launching the app on macOS 26.5.2 with Apple M4 hardware; done means the ChatGPT desktop app no longer crashes within five seconds of launch.