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If Codex CLI login is not working on macOS, first identify where the sign-in stops: browser authentication, the local callback to your Mac, or the token exchange back to Codex. OpenAI documents a browser-based sign-in route, but the available reports do not establish one confirmed macOS fix for every failure. The best next step depends on the exact error and stage—not a blanket reinstall or security change.

Start with OpenAI’s documented sign-in route

OpenAI’s Codex CLI and Sign in with ChatGPT instructions say to install the CLI, run codex --login, choose “Sign in with ChatGPT,” and finish the browser flow. The article explains that this connects a ChatGPT identity to an API account and stores credentials locally. OpenAI’s current plan guidance likewise directs users to launch Codex CLI and follow the sign-in steps it displays.

macOS is an officially supported platform, alongside Linux, according to OpenAI’s Codex CLI getting-started guidance. That establishes platform support; it does not mean every sign-in error has the same cause or a documented macOS-specific repair.

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Pinpoint where the login stops

Write down the command you ran, the CLI version, whether you are signing in with ChatGPT or another supported method, and the exact error text. Then match what you see to the stage below. “Sign-in failed,” “Token exchange failed,” and “error sending request” are reported phrases, but the wording alone may not identify the cause.

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The browser does not complete authentication

Check that the browser is signing in to the intended account and that you selected the intended sign-in method in Codex. OpenAI’s documented route is codex --login followed by “Sign in with ChatGPT.” If the browser itself reports an authentication or account problem, note that message and resolve that step before troubleshooting the callback or token exchange.

The browser succeeds, but Codex does not resume

This points to a possible local callback problem: the browser has authenticated, but the result has not made it back to the CLI. In GitHub issue #10989, a report involving Safari describes a warning blocking an HTTP localhost callback. The discussion includes a contributor note that systems configured to block localhost connections need a different authentication technique and points to device-code authentication documentation.

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Treat this as a Safari-related report, not proof that changing Safari settings will fix all Codex CLI logins. The issue also includes Xcode Codex context, so it should not be generalized to every CLI installation. If the browser displays a warning, record its exact wording and check whether your setup blocks localhost connections before changing a setting.

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The callback appears to finish, then token exchange fails

A macOS report in GitHub issue #41434 describes browser authentication and the localhost callback succeeding, followed by a failure when the CLI attempted the token-exchange request. The reporter said they used Clash Verge Rev in TUN mode and that curl could reach the endpoint. That is one environment-specific report, not an official root-cause finding or a guaranteed workaround.

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If your error says “Token exchange failed” or “error sending request,” preserve the full message and identify any proxy, VPN, or network-routing setup that could affect the CLI. A successful browser login—or a separate successful curl request—does not by itself establish that the CLI’s token-exchange request is working.

Choose a troubleshooting action that matches the evidence

What you observe What to check next Evidence and limits
Browser authentication fails Confirm the account and sign-in method; capture the browser’s exact error. OpenAI documents the ChatGPT browser sign-in flow, not a universal repair for account or browser errors.
Browser succeeds but CLI does not return Check whether the local callback is blocked; consider device-code authentication if your setup prevents localhost connections. Safari and localhost behavior is described in an individual issue report, not a general fix for all CLI users.
Callback completes but token exchange fails Capture the CLI error and note proxy, VPN, or routing configuration relevant to the CLI process. A macOS issue report describes one TUN-mode environment; it does not confirm a universal cause or workaround.

Prefer a narrow, reversible check tied to the stage that failed. The reports do not justify telling every reader to disable security controls, delete local credentials, change network settings, or reinstall the CLI. Make one change at a time, retry the documented flow, and note whether the failure moved to another stage.

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What to include when reporting a persistent failure

If the failure remains, provide enough detail for someone to distinguish the stages rather than reporting only “login is broken.” Include:

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  • The macOS version and Codex CLI version.
  • The command used and selected sign-in method.
  • The exact error text and whether the browser authenticated.
  • Whether the CLI received the localhost callback before failing.
  • Relevant proxy, VPN, or network-routing configuration.

Do not include passwords, access tokens, or other credentials in a public issue or support request.

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