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codex - 💡(How to fix) Fix Windows sandbox: setup helper launch fails with "orchestrator_helper_launch_canceled: ShellExecuteExW failed to launch setup helper: 1223" [1 comments, 2 participants]

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openai/codex#18845•Fetched 2026-04-22 07:51:35
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Error Message

On Windows, Codex fails before the requested command runs, with this error: execution error: Io(Custom { kind: Other, error: "windows sandbox: orchestrator_helper_launch_canceled: ShellExecuteExW failed to launch setup helper: 1223" }) fail with the error above. The current error is too low-level and does not make clear whether the problem is:

RAW_BUFFERClick to expand / collapse

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

26.417.5275.0

What subscription do you have?

ChatGPT Pro

What platform is your computer?

Microsoft Windows NT 10.0.26200.0 x64

What issue are you seeing?

On Windows, Codex fails before the requested command runs, with this error:

execution error: Io(Custom { kind: Other, error: "windows sandbox: orchestrator_helper_launch_canceled: ShellExecuteExW failed to launch setup helper: 1223" }) This appears to happen while launching the Windows sandbox setup helper, not while running the actual shell command itself.

In my case, even simple commands such as:

  • Get-ChildItem -Force fail with the error above.

What steps can reproduce the bug?

What steps can reproduce the bug?

  1. Run Codex on native Windows with Windows sandbox enabled.
  2. Ask Codex to run a simple shell command such as:
    • Get-ChildItem -Force
    • Get-Location
  3. Observe that the command does not execute.
  4. Codex returns: windows sandbox: orchestrator_helper_launch_canceled: ShellExecuteExW failed to launch setup helper: 1223

What is the expected behavior?

Codex should either:

  1. successfully launch the Windows sandbox setup helper and run the requested command, or
  2. fail with a clear actionable message explaining why the helper launch was canceled and how to recover.

The current error is too low-level and does not make clear whether the problem is:

  • UAC / elevation cancellation,
  • missing helper binary,
  • helper path resolution,
  • ShellExecute launch failure,
  • or a Windows policy / permission issue.

Additional information

No response

extent analysis

TL;DR

The issue is likely due to a failure in launching the Windows sandbox setup helper, and checking Windows policy or permission settings may help resolve the problem.

Guidance

  • Verify that the Windows sandbox setup helper is properly installed and configured, and its path is correctly resolved.
  • Check Windows policy and permission settings to ensure that the helper can be launched without issues, such as UAC or elevation cancellations.
  • Investigate the error code 1223 from ShellExecuteExW to determine the specific cause of the launch failure.
  • Consider disabling Windows sandbox temporarily to see if the issue persists, which can help isolate the problem.

Notes

The issue seems to be related to the Windows sandbox setup helper launch failure, but the exact cause is unclear. Further investigation into Windows policy, permission settings, and the helper configuration is needed to determine the root cause.

Recommendation

Apply workaround: Temporarily disable Windows sandbox to see if the issue persists, and then investigate Windows policy and permission settings to resolve the launch failure. This can help isolate the problem and potentially resolve the issue.

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codex - 💡(How to fix) Fix Windows sandbox: setup helper launch fails with "orchestrator_helper_launch_canceled: ShellExecuteExW failed to launch setup helper: 1223" [1 comments, 2 participants]