codex - 💡(How to fix) Fix Fixed: share how to fix, Codex GUI failed to launch because it could not initialize its local SQLite state DB.

What version of the Codex App are you using (From “About Codex” dialog)?

26.519.2081.0_x64

What subscription do you have?

chatgpt pro

What platform is your computer?

Windows 10 Enterprise

What issue are you seeing?

Summary

Codex GUI failed to launch because it could not initialize its local SQLite state DB.

Screenshot error:

Codex cannot access its local database. Database path: /mnt/c/Users/<user>/.codex/state_5.sqlite migration 1 was previously applied but has been modified

<img width="546" height="301" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/381b10b6-aa45-4ce4-bb19-f899b09b1a8a" />

Environment

• OS: Windows 10 Enterprise 10.0.26100.4652
• Build lab: 26100.1.amd64fre.ge_release.240331-1435
• Codex app: OpenAI.Codex_26.519.2081.0_x64__2p2nqsd0c76g0
• WSL: 2.7.3.0
• WSL kernel: 6.6.114.1-1
• WSLg: 1.0.73

Likely Cause

Codex GUI had WSL mode enabled:

• runCodexInWindowsSubsystemForLinux = true
• active workspace root was under \\wsl$\NixOS\...

Because of that, the Windows Codex home:

C:\Users\<user>\.codex

was accessed from WSL as:

/mnt/c/Users/<user>/.codex

The SQLite state DB then hit a migration mismatch:

migration 1 was previously applied but has been modified

Workaround That Fixed It

1. Backed up .codex settings.
2. Disabled GUI WSL mode:
   • runCodexInWindowsSubsystemForLinux = false
   • integratedTerminalShell = powershell
   • active workspace root reset to C:\Users\<user>
3. Moved these SQLite files out of .codex:
   • state_5.sqlite*
   • logs_2.sqlite*
4. Restarted Codex GUI.

Codex regenerated the SQLite DBs and launched successfully.

Notes

Please do not ask users to attach full .codex contents, since it may contain auth data and conversation history.

What steps can reproduce the bug?

as above

What is the expected behavior?

No response

Additional information

No response