If Codex can’t see a file or run a test, first confirm that you’re in the desktop app’s Codex workflow and have opened the correct local project folder. Then check whether your workspace permits Codex Local and whether the active permissions profile allows the action. A missing file, a blocked command, and a test that fails after starting are different problems, so match the fix to the exact symptom.
Start with the symptom
| What happens | First check | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Files are invisible | Codex view and selected local folder | Check Codex Local access and whether the file is inside the selected path |
| A test or shell command is blocked | Active permissions profile and approval prompt | Use an authorized profile that permits the needed workspace command |
| A Windows command starts but fails | Exact error text and project runtime | Check PowerShell policy, agent environment, and installed tools |
| Codex will not start | App or CLI version and configuration | Check for the retired approval-policy value described below |
Make sure Codex is looking at the right files
- In ChatGPT Desktop, choose Codex from the top-left menu.
- Start or open the project chat, then select the local folder or repository that contains the files.
- Check that the missing file is actually inside that selected folder. Opening a parent or different project will not make unrelated local files part of the workspace.
- Confirm where the task is running. A Codex Cloud task runs on an OpenAI-managed computer, not against the same filesystem as your local disk. See OpenAI’s ChatGPT Work and Codex guidance.
The desktop app’s local coding workflow and Codex Cloud are separate execution contexts. For an overview of the desktop workflow, see Using Codex with your ChatGPT plan.
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Check workspace access and the active permissions profile
Managed workspace access
If you use a managed ChatGPT workspace and Codex Local is unavailable or denied, ask the workspace owner or administrator to check your role’s Codex Local access. Codex Local and Codex Cloud have separate workspace controls, so permission for one does not establish permission for the other.
Read-only versus workspace-write
Use the permissions control beneath the composer to identify the active profile. A read-only profile can inspect files, but it blocks edits and ordinary commands unless approval is granted. Workspace-write permits routine local commands and file access within the workspace boundary; it does not grant unrestricted access to every directory or to the internet. Choose a profile authorized for the work, or approve the specific command if the profile requests approval. OpenAI explains these boundaries in its sandbox documentation.
#1 Best Overall
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- Transfer speeds up to 100MB/s: Based on internal testing, performance may vary depending upon the host device, interface, and usage conditions. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes
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For Windows: check the agent environment, shell, and tools
Windows-native agent or WSL
The Windows app defaults to a Windows-native agent. If your project is stored on the Windows filesystem and accessed from WSL, OpenAI says that arrangement is more reliable with the native agent than opening the project directly from the WSL filesystem. The native agent can also access projects opened from \wsl$. If you want the agent itself to run inside WSL2, change the agent environment in Settings and restart the app. The integrated terminal’s shell setting and the agent environment are separate settings; changing one does not necessarily change the other. See OpenAI’s Windows desktop app guidance.
PowerShell says scripts are disabled
If the exact error says npm.ps1 cannot be loaded because running scripts is disabled on this system, PowerShell’s execution policy may be blocking the script. OpenAI documents RemoteSigned as a common adjustment, but changing execution policy affects script execution on your system. Read Microsoft’s Set-ExecutionPolicy documentation and understand the scope before changing it. This branch applies to that kind of PowerShell error, not to every failed test.
Rank #2
- 2 in 1: USB C + USB 3.0, 32GB usb c flash drive has dual ports, usb 3.0 port is applied to all devices which have usb 3.0 interface and usb c port is widely used in all Android smartphones with OTG function
- High Speed USB 3.0: Read speed up to 90 MB/s, Write speed up to 30 MB/s, the speed of USB 3.0 interface is faster than USB 2.0, save time to wait, increases work productivity. Note: Speed will be limited if you use the USB key in the USB 2.0 interface
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Check the project’s prerequisites
A command may be permitted and still fail because the project’s runtime or tool is missing. Check the project instructions and the test runner’s requirements; depending on the project, that might mean Node.js, Python, or the .NET SDK. OpenAI also lists Git and GitHub CLI among useful developer tools, and native Git is required for some desktop app Git features. The app cannot supply a project dependency that is not installed locally.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallIf Codex does not start, check for a retired approval setting
This is a version-specific startup issue, not the first fix to try for a missing file or failed test. OpenAI says to remove approval_policy = "untrusted" from applicable configuration for Codex CLI 0.149.0 and later, the desktop app 26.818.31338 and later on macOS, Windows, and Linux, and the VS Code extension 26.818.31338 and later. Check active profiles and organization-managed settings for the value as well, then restart. Do not confuse that retired approval policy with project-level trust_level = "untrusted", which remains supported. Details are in OpenAI’s Codex plan and configuration guidance.
Rank #3
- USB-C 2-in-1 storage OTG: The Lexar JumpDrive Dual Drive D40E features USB Type-A and Type-C connectors in a slim, portable form factor for easy device compatibility
- Transfer speeds up to 100MB/s: Based on internal testing, performance may vary depending upon the host device, interface, and usage conditions. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes
- Plug and Play: Widely compatible with USB Type-C smartphones, tablets, laptops, Macs, and traditional Type-A devices, no software installation required. The 360° swivel design allows for easy switching between connectors without the hassle of losing a cap
- Durable & Compact: The Lexar D40E USB memory stick features a metal enclosure, withstands temperatures from 0° to 50° C (32°F to 122°F), and is lightweight at 26g with dimensions of 70.4 x 16.9 x 11.7mm
- Security & Warranty: Securely protects files using an advanced security software solution with 256-bit AES encryption. Backed by a Lexar 3-year limited warranty
Platform-specific limits
- Windows: OpenAI provides specific guidance for WSL, PowerShell execution policy, and developer tools.
- Linux: OpenAI describes its desktop app as a preview and lists Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, and Arch desktop distributions as supported. The reviewed Linux guidance does not provide an equivalent file-access repair procedure; do not apply Windows WSL steps to Linux. See ChatGPT desktop app for Linux.
- macOS: The available guidance does not establish a specific macOS file-permission repair. If selecting the correct folder, checking workspace access, and reviewing the permissions profile do not resolve the problem, use the platform troubleshooting route below.
When to contact support
If the problem persists, use OpenAI’s platform troubleshooting guide or contact OpenAI Support. Include your operating system, Codex app version, whether the task is local or cloud-based, the active permissions profile, the affected file path or exact command, and the complete error text. Those details help distinguish an access restriction from a shell or project-toolchain failure.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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Rank #4
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