codex - 💡(How to fix) Fix Computer Use screenshots can capture unrelated windows instead of the target window

Summary

Codex Computer Use can take screenshots without accurately targeting the intended application/window. In my case, Computer Use was automatically enabled while Codex was investigating logs in Chrome, but the screenshot capture was not limited to the Chrome/log window. It captured unrelated windows, including my ChatGPT web page and the Codex app window.

I am reporting this as a privacy and safety issue because these screenshots may include unrelated user content that is not needed for the task.

Environment

• Codex app version: 26.519.41501 (3044)
• macOS: Tahoe 26.5
• Device: MacBook Pro 16-inch, Apple M5 Max, 128 GB memory
• Feedback ID: 019e5672-b2fc-7263-b168-0fde21947ad2

What happened

1. I asked Codex to do work similar to investigating logs in a Chrome browser window.
2. Codex automatically enabled Computer Use.
3. When Computer Use needed screenshots, it did not precisely locate/crop the target Chrome/browser window.
4. Instead, it captured unrelated parts of my screen, including my ChatGPT web window and Codex app window.

Expected behavior

When Computer Use needs a screenshot, Codex should identify the intended target window first and capture only that window or a tightly scoped region relevant to the task.

Actual behavior

Codex appeared to perform a broad/full-screen capture or otherwise captured unrelated windows that were not the target of the task.

Why this matters

• It can waste tokens by uploading unnecessary screenshot content.
• It can accidentally capture private or sensitive user information from unrelated windows.
• It makes Computer Use less predictable and less safe, especially when multiple windows are open.

Suggested fix

Please make Computer Use screenshot capture target-aware by default:

• Detect and focus the intended app/window before taking screenshots.
• Prefer target-window screenshots or bounded-region screenshots instead of full-screen captures.
• Add a privacy guardrail to avoid capturing unrelated windows.
• Consider warning or asking for confirmation before broad screen captures when the target window cannot be confidently identified.

<img width="2048" height="1714" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/73f842b0-4c86-4e8c-9469-9692928c2153" />