codex-mac-windows-migration-handoff

Troubleshooting Codex Mac-to-Windows Migration

This page lists common issues when migrating OpenAI Codex Desktop from Mac to Windows.

Socket Or IPC File Copy Failure

Some live Codex or Git cache folders can contain socket or IPC files. The Mac package script excludes *.ipc, *.sock, runtime folders, and process manager state by default.

vendor_imports Or Git Object Permission Denied

Some cached Git objects under runtime or vendor import folders may be unreadable. Standard mode excludes vendor_imports, .git, node_modules, .venv, venv, and __pycache__.

Package Is Too Large

Codex session history can be large. If the package is too large, inspect:

• ~/.codex/sessions
• generated images
• project outputs and artifacts
• selected project folders passed with --project

Avoid including node_modules, virtual environments, and Git object stores.

Windows Codex Requires Login Again

This is expected. Standard and full modes do not migrate browser login state, cookies, auth tokens, or private keys.

Old Conversations Reference Mac Paths

Old threads may contain paths like /Users/<name>/Documents/.... On Windows, restore or move the project folder, then reopen it from Codex. Avoid direct JSONL path rewrites unless you have a verified backup and a parser-safe migration tool.

Chrome Plugin Or Native Host Is Disconnected

Codex Chrome integration may need Windows-side setup. Reinstall or repair the Chrome plugin from Codex on Windows and confirm the Codex Chrome extension is installed and enabled in the same Chrome profile.

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