Codex on Windows: “Setup Didn’t Finish” and the Endless “Retry Setup” Loop

Codex on Windows: “Setup Didn’t Finish” and the Endless “Retry Setup” Loop

September 23, 2026

I was using Codex to build a website with a local development server when I suddenly ran into this message:

Windows setup didn’t finish
Setup stopped
Retry setup

The message appeared in English on my computer, though it may appear in another language depending on your settings.

I closed the app and opened it again. This time, I saw:

Finish Windows setup to continue
Finish setup before continuing
Continue

But clicking Continue brought me back to the same setup error. Clicking Retry setup did the same thing. I was stuck in a loop.

At one point, the prompt box became available, but after I typed a message, the send button was disabled. I also tried troubleshooting through ChatGPT and making changes in PowerShell, but I still couldn’t use Codex.

What worked for me: Reinstalling Codex

In the end, I uninstalled the Codex app, removed its remaining local settings, and installed it again.

Step 1: Uninstall the app

1. Press Win + I to open Windows Settings.
2. Go to Apps → Installed apps.
3. Find Codex and select Uninstall.

Step 2: Remove remaining Codex settings

Check these folders carefully before deleting anything. The .codex folder may contain settings, session history, or other data you want to keep. If you are unsure, rename it or make a backup first.

1. Press Win + R, enter %USERPROFILE%, and press Enter.
2. Find the .codex folder. Back it up or rename it, such as to .codex-backup.
3. Press Win + R again, enter %appdata%, and press Enter.
4. If you find a Codex-related folder there, back it up or rename it as well.

This gave the app a fresh set of local settings when I reinstalled it.

Step 3: Install Codex again

Download the current installer from the official Codex download page, install the app, and sign in. Then open a project and check whether you can send a prompt.

After reinstalling, I selected my existing project folder again and resumed working.

Reinstalling the app did not delete the website files stored in my project folder on the PC. I had to reconnect that folder in Codex. Your local settings or conversation history may be affected if you remove the folders in Step 2, so check them before making changes.

What might have caused it?

I can’t confirm the cause. The problem appeared after I accidentally closed the Codex window while a task was running, so an interrupted setup or local app state may have played a part.

At the time, I had also submitted six tasks together. The run had been stuck for about two hours before I stopped it. Since getting the app working again, I’ve been creating smaller tasks and checking the results one at a time.

If you see “Windows setup didn’t finish” and “Retry setup” keeps returning to the same screen, reinstalling the app and resetting its local settings may be worth trying. This is what worked in my case; it does not establish the cause of every setup error.