codex - 💡(How to fix) Fix Windows Desktop 26.506.31421: Toggle File Tree does not show file tree after reinstall

What happened

On Codex Desktop for Windows, the file tree no longer appears even though the menu item is present.

The user can see View > Toggle File Tree in the application menu, with shortcut Ctrl+Shift+E, but using it does not show the repository file tree. The left sidebar continues to show project/chat navigation, not the workspace file tree.

This used to work previously on the same machine: the user could see the file tree and open files directly inside Codex.

Environment

• OS: Windows
• Codex Desktop version: 26.506.31421
• Install source: Codex Desktop app
• Workspace: local project/repository on Windows filesystem

Troubleshooting already tried

• Confirmed View > Toggle File Tree exists in the app menu.
• Tried the file tree shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+E.
• Restarted/reopened Codex.
• Backed up local Codex state/history.
• Uninstalled Codex.
• Reinstalled Codex.
• Reopened Codex after reinstall.

After reinstalling, the file tree still does not appear.

Expected behavior

View > Toggle File Tree / Ctrl+Shift+E should reveal the workspace file tree so files in the current repo can be opened directly inside Codex.

Actual behavior

The file tree is not shown. The app remains in the project/chat navigation view, and there is no visible repository explorer/file tree despite the menu command being present.

Related issue

This may be related to earlier Windows Desktop workspace UI state reports, especially:

• #21505

That report was on an older 26.429.x build and described inconsistent workspace UI state where some conversations/projects showed file tree and terminal/workspace controls while others did not. This report is for 26.506.31421 and still reproduces after uninstall/reinstall.