Windows desktop gets stuck in ChatGPT Work after "Loading workspace policy" and Codex cannot be opened

Description

The ChatGPT/Codex Windows desktop app gets stuck in ChatGPT Work even though my account does not have access to Work.

When the app starts, the normal ChatGPT UI sometimes appears briefly. Then "Loading workspace policy..." appears, and the application automatically switches to Work.

Work displays:
"You don't have access to Work."

The top-left menu shows:

• ChatGPT Work
• Codex

However, clicking Codex does nothing. There is no loading screen or UI change, and the checkmark remains on ChatGPT Work.

Because the app is stuck in Work, I also cannot access the normal Chat composer or use /feedback to obtain a session ID.

Expected behavior

The personal ChatGPT interface should remain available, and selecting Codex from the top-left menu should open the Codex desktop view independently of Work access.

Account / Codex access

• Personal ChatGPT Pro account
• Codex Web/Cloud works correctly with the same account
• Codex CLI works correctly with the same account
• Codex CLI authentication mode: ChatGPT
• API key is not used
• I have never knowingly joined or merged a Business/Enterprise/Edu workspace

Environment

• Windows 11 Pro 64-bit
• Personal PC, not organization/MDM managed
• AzureAdJoined: NO
• EnterpriseJoined: NO
• DomainJoined: NO
• WorkplaceJoined: NO
• PolicyEnabled: NO

Windows package:
OpenAI.Codex_2p2nqsd0c76g0

Desktop version tested:
26.911.7940.0

Codex CLI:
0.154.0

Diagnostics

codex doctor:
22 ok
1 idle
1 notes
1 warn
0 fail

Authentication is configured and ChatGPT tokens are present.
WebSocket connection to ChatGPT succeeds.
OpenAI endpoints are reachable.

Windows successfully launches:

• ChatGPT.exe
• codex.exe app-server

Get-AppxPackage reports Status: Ok.

Troubleshooting already attempted

• Check for updates
• Microsoft Store update
• Windows Repair
• Windows Reset
• Clean reinstall
• PC reboot
• Reinstalled the new ChatGPT app using:
  winget install --id 9PLM9XGG6VKS -s msstore
• Renamed/recreated the desktop web profile
• Temporarily renamed ~/.codex/auth.json to force auth recreation
• Verified Windows AppModel runtime
• Verified that Codex CLI works
• Verified that Codex Web/Cloud works

The issue persists after a clean installation.

Reproduction steps

1. Launch ChatGPT desktop on Windows.
2. Normal ChatGPT UI may appear briefly.
3. "Loading workspace policy..." appears.
4. App switches automatically to ChatGPT Work.
5. Work reports that the account does not have access.
6. Open the top-left menu.
7. Click Codex.
8. Nothing happens; the app remains in Work.
9. This behavior persists after uninstalling the app, rebooting Windows, and reinstalling ChatGPT from the Microsoft Store.

Session ID

Unavailable because the application does not provide access to a composer, so /feedback cannot be used.

Start by reproducing the Windows desktop startup sequence and inspect the ChatGPT.exe to codex.exe app-server handoff around "Loading workspace policy" and the Codex menu action. Run codex doctor and verify the fix preserves the personal ChatGPT view and opens Codex for accounts without Work access.