codex - 💡(How to fix) Fix Codex Desktop file tree / remote file picker entry point disappeared [2 comments, 2 participants]

Summary

In the current Codex Desktop app, the file tree / file explorer UI appears to have disappeared, and the expected remote-file picker entry point is no longer visible.

This makes remote projects much harder to use because there is no obvious way to browse the remote workspace or attach/select files from the remote filesystem.

Environment

• App: Codex Desktop
• Version: 26.429.30905
• Build: 2345
• Platform: macOS
• Remote connections enabled in local config:

[features]
remote_connections = true

Remote connections themselves are active: the app can connect to configured SSH hosts and show remote projects/chats.

What Happened

After updating Codex Desktop, the file explorer/file tree option is no longer visible in the app.

I expected to find one of the following:

• a persistent project file tree / explorer panel;
• an option in the project/thread UI to open the workspace file tree;
• a composer + menu option such as Add remote files;
• a remote file picker for browsing/selecting files from the remote workspace.

However, in the current UI:

• the file explorer/file tree option is not visible;
• the composer + menu does not show Add remote files;
• remote projects/chats are visible, but there is no obvious route to browse or select files from the remote workspace.

Expected Behavior

For a remote project, Codex Desktop should provide a discoverable way to browse or select files from the remote workspace.

At minimum, one of these should be available:

• a file tree/explorer panel;
• a project/thread action to browse files;
• + in the composer -> Add remote files;
• @ file search that clearly searches the remote workspace.

Actual Behavior

Remote project/chats are visible, but the file tree / file explorer entry point is missing. The composer + menu also does not expose Add remote files.

This leaves the user without an obvious way to inspect or attach remote workspace files from the UI.

Why This Matters

Remote connections are most useful when the remote filesystem is the source of truth. Without a visible file explorer or remote file picker, remote workflows regress to asking Codex to inspect paths manually, which is slower and less reliable than selecting/browsing files directly.

This is especially painful for large remote repos or remote data/project directories where the user does not already know every relevant path.

Notes From Local Inspection

The installed app bundle still appears to contain strings related to file-tree and remote-file UI, including labels like:

composer.addRemoteFiles
composer.remoteFilePicker.title
thread.fileTreePanel.noMatchingFiles
thread.fileCommandMenu.searchFiles
pullRequestsPage.codeReview.showFileTree
pullRequestsPage.codeReview.hideFileTree

So this may be a UI gating/regression issue rather than the code being fully removed from the bundle.

Requested Fix

Please restore a visible, discoverable file explorer / remote file picker entry point for remote projects.

If the file tree was intentionally removed or moved, the UI should expose the replacement path clearly, especially in remote chats where local filesystem assumptions do not apply.