codex - 💡(How to fix) Fix Browser Use cannot upload files because file chooser / setInputFiles is not exposed in Codex Desktop IAB [1 participants]

What variant of Codex are you using?

App (Desktop)

What happened?

Codex Desktop Browser Use can inspect real <input type="file"> controls in the in-app browser, but it cannot attach local files to them.

In a Drupal content form, Browser Use could see three file inputs:

• files[field_image_hero_0][], accept="image/*"
• files[field_image_title_card_0][], accept="image/*"
• files[field_image_portrait_0], accept="image/*"

The site rendered the expected upload controls and file constraints, but Browser Use could not upload files.

Expected behavior

Browser Use should support file upload automation for real file inputs, equivalent to upstream Playwright's locator.setInputFiles(...).

Actual behavior

The Codex Browser Use PlaywrightLocator runtime does not expose setInputFiles.

A live capability check returned:

typeof tab.playwright.locator("input[type=file]").setInputFiles
// "undefined"

The bundled Browser Use skill documents a limited Playwright subset, and setInputFiles is not listed in the exposed locator API.

Why this matters

This blocks realistic browser QA and smoke testing for common workflows such as:

• CMS image/file upload fields
• media library forms
• attachment workflows
• any app that requires local file selection before save/submit

The workaround is manual handoff to the native file picker, which prevents fully automated validation.

Notes

This appears Codex-specific, not a general Playwright limitation. Upstream Playwright supports file uploads through locator.setInputFiles() for <input type="file">.

Related but not duplicate:

• #20642: external/detachable Browser Use support