Remote Connection re-auth requires password for Sign in with Apple accounts with no social-login fallback

What version of the Codex/ChatGPT App are you using?

Desktop client version observed in logs: 26.818.61809

What subscription do you have?

ChatGPT Pro

What platform are you using?

• macOS desktop host
• ChatGPT mobile app on iPhone for Remote Connection

What issue are you seeing?

The Remote Connection setup flow requires password re-authentication, but my ChatGPT account was originally created/used with Sign in with Apple.

When the Remote Connection flow opens auth.openai.com, it shows only a password verification page:

Please verify it's you
Enter the current password for your account

There is no "Continue with Apple" / social-login fallback on this verification page.

This creates a bad product path for social-login users:

1. The account normally authenticates through Sign in with Apple.
2. Remote Connection requires password verification.
3. The verification page provides only a password field and no Apple/social-login option.
4. A user who does not already have a ChatGPT password is effectively forced to create/set one in Account security settings to continue.

In my case, doing exactly that was followed immediately by a separate Desktop OAuth failure (refresh_token_invalidated) and an infinite login loop. That related auth issue is documented in #40267, including the reproduction and recovery details.

After fully signing out and restoring a clean web session using the account's original Sign in with Apple flow, Desktop became usable again. However, attempting Remote Connection again still returns to this password-only verification page, so I cannot safely complete the Remote Connection setup without re-entering the authentication path that triggered the earlier failure.

Steps to reproduce

1. Use a ChatGPT account whose normal/original authentication method is Sign in with Apple.
2. On macOS, open ChatGPT/Codex Desktop and start configuring Remote Connection for use from the ChatGPT mobile app.
3. Continue until the identity re-verification step opens on auth.openai.com.
4. Observe that the page asks for the account's current password.
5. Observe that there is no Continue with Apple or other social-login re-authentication option.

Expected behavior

For an account authenticated through Sign in with Apple, Remote Connection re-authentication should support the account's existing authentication method.

At minimum, the verification page should provide one of these:

• Continue with Apple / original identity-provider re-authentication, or
• a clear explanation that a local ChatGPT password is required and why, without forcing users into an ambiguous password-reset/setup path.

Remote Connection onboarding should not require a social-login user to add/change their authentication method just to complete identity verification.

Actual behavior

Remote Connection presents a password-only verification page with no Apple/social-login fallback, blocking the setup for a social-login account unless the user creates/sets a ChatGPT password.

Related

• #40267 — Desktop refresh-token invalidation/login loop observed immediately after setting a ChatGPT password while trying to satisfy this Remote Connection password requirement.

I can provide a screenshot of the password-only auth.openai.com verification screen if needed. Email/account identifiers are intentionally omitted from this report.

Start by reproducing the Remote Connection setup on macOS with an account created through Sign in with Apple, then inspect the re-authentication entry point at auth.openai.com. Done means the flow offers the original identity-provider re-authentication or clearly explains the password requirement without blocking social-login users.