[macOS] Restore the thread list and thread switching in the menu bar item

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

Currently rolled back to 26.803.81509 (last known good). Confirmed affected: 26.810.41047; the regression is still present in newer builds tested on 2026-08-29.

What subscription do you have?

Signed-in ChatGPT account; exact plan not checked

What platform is your computer?

Darwin 25.5.0 arm64 arm (macOS 26.5.1)

What issue are you seeing?

The macOS menu bar status item lost its full thread browser and switcher after version 26.803.81509.

In 26.803.81509, clicking the menu bar icon shows recent threads and a More submenu that lists additional threads. Selecting a thread opens or switches to it directly, without first bringing the full app to the foreground and finding it in the sidebar.

In 26.810.41047, the same menu is reduced to Computer Use and Quit ChatGPT. Newer builds tested on 2026-08-29 still do not restore the previous complete thread list/switching workflow. The threads themselves are still available in the desktop app; the regression is specific to the menu bar surface.

What steps can reproduce the bug?

1. Have multiple Codex threads in the macOS desktop app.
2. On version 26.803.81509, click the Codex/ChatGPT menu bar icon.
3. Observe Recent threads and the More submenu; select any listed thread and confirm that the app switches to it.
4. Upgrade to 26.810.41047 or a newer affected build.
5. Click the same menu bar icon.
6. Observe that the full thread list and direct thread switching are gone (the confirmed 26.810.41047 menu shows only Computer Use and Quit ChatGPT).
7. Downgrade to 26.803.81509 and confirm that the thread list/switcher returns.

What is the expected behavior?

Keep the newer Computer Use entry, but restore the previous menu bar thread workflow:

• show recent threads;
• provide access to the remaining threads (for example via the previous More submenu);
• allow selecting any listed thread to open/switch to it directly.

The menu bar should remain a fast thread-navigation surface, not only a Computer Use launcher.

Additional information

This is a clear version regression with a practical workaround, but the workaround requires repeatedly downgrading to 26.803.81509.

Duplicate check: this is distinct from #17914 (the in-app top-right launcher disappears) and #24197 (local/CLI sessions missing from the desktop sidebar). This report concerns the macOS system menu bar status item.

Disclosure: this issue is being submitted by the user's Codex assistant at the user's explicit request and on their behalf. No private logs, credentials, browsing history, or account data are included.

Screenshots

Expected: full thread list and direct switching from the menu bar

Last known good version: 26.803.81509

Affected version: 26.810.41047 — thread list missing

Start by locating the macOS menu bar status-item implementation and the code path that builds its menu; reproduce the regression on an affected build and compare it with 26.803.81509. Done means the menu retains Computer Use, lists recent and additional threads, and switches directly to a selected thread.