There is no confirmed single fix for every case of Codex CLI login failing on macOS. OpenAI’s documented route is to run codex --login, choose “Sign in with ChatGPT,” and complete authentication in the browser. If the browser finishes but the CLI does not, identify whether the flow stopped at the browser, the localhost callback, or the token exchange before changing settings.
Start with OpenAI’s documented sign-in flow
- Install Codex CLI, then run
codex --login. - Select “Sign in with ChatGPT” and complete the browser-based sign-in using the account you intend to use.
- Return to the terminal and note whether the CLI completes login or displays an error.
OpenAI’s Help Center describes this route as connecting a ChatGPT identity to an API account and storing credentials locally. Its current plan guidance likewise directs users to launch Codex CLI and follow the sign-in steps shown. OpenAI lists macOS and Linux as supported platforms, so macOS itself is not an unsupported environment.
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Find the stage where sign-in stops
Record the exact error, CLI version, account type, command used, and what happened immediately before the failure. Messages reported in cases include “Sign-in failed,” “Token exchange failed,” and “error sending request,” but the wording alone does not establish the cause.
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Confirm that you are using the intended account and the documented ChatGPT sign-in option. Keep a copy of the full terminal message and CLI version. OpenAI’s instructions do not provide one macOS-specific repair sequence for every pre-browser failure, so avoid assuming that reinstalling or deleting local credentials is the answer.
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The browser authenticates, but the CLI never returns
This points to a possible problem with the local callback between the browser and the CLI, rather than necessarily a problem with the account password. In OpenAI Codex GitHub issue #10989, a Safari-related report describes a warning blocking an HTTP localhost callback. The discussion notes that systems configured to block localhost connections may need a different authentication technique and points to headless device authentication documentation. The issue also involves an Xcode Codex context, so it is an example of a possible callback failure—not proof that changing Safari settings fixes Codex CLI login generally.
If your flow matches that pattern, capture the browser warning and the point at which the terminal remains waiting. Do not disable browser or system security controls broadly based on this report.
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The callback appears to finish, then token exchange fails
A separate macOS report, OpenAI Codex GitHub issue #41434, describes browser authentication and the localhost callback succeeding before the CLI failed to send the token-exchange request. The reporter said they used Clash Verge Rev in TUN mode and that curl could reach the endpoint. That account is specific to one setup; it does not establish an official root cause or a guaranteed network workaround.
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If your error occurs after the callback and says “Token exchange failed” or “error sending request,” preserve the full error and note any proxy or network configuration that could affect the CLI process. A successful request from curl does not by itself prove that the CLI’s request uses the same route or settings. Change only a relevant setting you can identify, and make the change reversible.
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Choose troubleshooting steps by evidence
| Observed failure | What it may indicate | Evidence and next step |
|---|---|---|
| Failure before browser sign-in | Account choice, sign-in method, or another CLI-side issue | Follow OpenAI’s documented sign-in route; record the exact message and CLI version. No universal macOS fix is documented. |
| Browser sign-in succeeds, but CLI does not resume | Local callback handling may be involved | Issue #10989 is a Safari-related callback report, including an Xcode Codex context. Compare the actual warning and setup before considering a narrow change. |
| Callback completes, then token exchange fails | The CLI’s request to exchange the token may be failing | Issue #41434 describes this in one macOS environment using TUN mode. Treat it as a case report, not a general fix. |
What to include when asking for help
- The exact command, CLI version, and full error text.
- Whether the browser opened, authentication succeeded, and the browser returned to the CLI.
- Whether the failure occurred before or after the localhost callback.
- Your account/sign-in method and any relevant proxy or network setup.
These details help distinguish an account or CLI startup failure from a callback problem or a token-exchange request failure. The public reports describe different stages and environments; they do not confirm one fix that applies to all macOS users.
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