macOS Chrome Computer Use fails to load browser request-header policy

Summary

Chrome Computer Use is detected by Codex Desktop on macOS, but external Chrome control repeatedly fails during browser request-header policy initialization. The built-in Codex browser is available, but Chrome cannot be controlled.

Environment

• Platform: macOS
• ChatGPT Desktop version: 26.908.40834
• Model tested: GPT-5.6 Sol
• macOS Accessibility permission: enabled
• Screen Recording permission: enabled
• ChatGPT Chrome extension: installed and enabled
• Chrome Computer Use integration: enabled
• OpenAI feedback ID: no-active-thread-01a09463-fbd9-7642-acbb-f7439488a50c

Observed errors

Initial attempts reported that Chrome was not exposed to the session and only the Codex in-app browser was available.

After reconnecting the Chrome extension, Codex detected Chrome integration, but control failed with:

Chrome's browser-control policy did not initialize on two attempts.

Then:

Chrome control is hitting a temporary browser-policy loading error.

Final reproducible error:

Chrome control repeatedly failed to load its browser request-header policy, even after resetting and retrying. No Chrome tab was opened.

Steps to reproduce

1. Enable ChatGPT in macOS Accessibility and Screen Recording permissions.
2. Enable Google Chrome under ChatGPT Settings → Computer Use.
3. Confirm the ChatGPT Chrome extension is installed and enabled.
4. Open Chrome.
5. Start a fresh Codex thread using GPT-5.6 Sol.
6. Ask Codex: Use Chrome to open apple.com.
7. Chrome integration is detected, but browser control fails while loading the browser request-header policy.

Troubleshooting already completed

• Restarted ChatGPT Desktop.
• Restarted Chrome.
• Disabled and re-enabled the ChatGPT Chrome extension.
• Reconnected Chrome integration.
• Created a fresh Codex session.
• Retried after control-session reset.
• Confirmed ChatGPT Desktop updater reports 26.908.40834 as the latest available version.

The issue persists.

Expected behavior

Codex should be able to open and control Chrome through the installed ChatGPT Chrome integration.

Related issues

The same request-header-policy failure appears in existing reports on other platforms, including #44112, #44140, #44169, and #44761. This report documents the same class of failure on macOS with Desktop version 26.908.40834.

Start by reproducing the failure using the listed macOS permissions, ChatGPT Chrome extension, Chrome integration, and the request to open apple.com. Compare the request-header-policy errors with related issues #44112, #44140, #44169, and #44761; done means Chrome control initializes and opens a tab instead of reporting the policy-loading failure.