Windows: Alt+P is globally intercepted by Codex and closes the app, blocking Unreal Engine Play

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

OpenAI.Codex package version: 26.831.2377.0 Desktop app build: 26.831.21537

What subscription do you have?

Plus

What platform is your computer?

Windows 11 x64, OS build 26200. I use Unreal Engine 5.7.

What issue are you seeing?

Alt+P is being intercepted globally by the Codex desktop app.

This happens even when Codex is not focused, minimized, or on another monitor. I can be focused in Unreal Engine or any other application. When I press Alt+P, Unreal Engine does not receive the shortcut, and Codex immediately closes or disappears.

In Unreal Engine, Alt+P is a critical shortcut used to start Play In Editor and test the current game level. Because Codex captures it globally, I cannot start my level with the shortcut while Codex is running.

I checked all visible Codex settings and keyboard shortcut settings. Alt+P is not assigned anywhere, and there is no visible setting to remove or change this binding.

This appears related to the hidden "Focus floating quick chat" command. There is already a report that this command can occupy a shortcut while having no visible keyboard-shortcut setting:
https://github.com/openai/codex/issues/41554

What steps can reproduce the bug?

1. Start the Codex desktop app on Windows.
2. Open Unreal Engine and focus its main window.
3. Make sure Codex is not focused. It may be on another monitor.
4. Press Alt+P.
5. Unreal Engine does not start Play In Editor.
6. Codex closes or disappears.

What is the expected behavior?

Codex must not intercept Alt+P globally unless the user explicitly configured it.

Unreal Engine should receive Alt+P normally when it has focus.

If Codex has a global "Focus floating quick chat" shortcut, it must be visible and removable in Settings > Keyboard Shortcuts.

Additional information

This is critical because it blocks a standard Unreal Engine testing workflow and can cause loss of work when Codex closes unexpectedly.

I reproduced this several times.

The problem happens both when the ChatGPT/Codex app is focused and when it is not focused.

While the ChatGPT/Codex Windows app is running:

• In Unreal Engine 5.7, pressing Alt+P produces no Play In Editor action.
• At the same time, the ChatGPT/Codex app closes or disappears.

I then fully quit the ChatGPT/Codex app using Ctrl+Q / File > Quit and confirmed that no ChatGPT or Codex processes remained running.

Without changing anything in Unreal Engine, I returned to the same Unreal project and pressed Alt+P again. Play In Editor started correctly.

This confirms that the issue is caused specifically by the running ChatGPT desktop app in Codex view on Windows. When the app is fully closed, Unreal Engine receives Alt+P normally.

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⚠️ Quick workaround

Disable/clear the default Show pet shortcut (Win+Alt+P) in Codex settings, this stops Codex from intercepting plain Alt+P until the underlying bug is fixed.

Start by reproducing the Windows Alt+P conflict with Codex running and Unreal Engine focused, then trace the hidden “Focus floating quick chat” and default “Show pet” shortcut behavior in Settings > Keyboard Shortcuts. Use issue 41554 for related context; done means Alt+P reaches Unreal Engine normally unless explicitly configured, and any global shortcut is visible and removable.