App Error UI Trap / Soft-lock when accessing Settings during an active task (macOS Desktop App)

[bhanuvikram]

Description

While running a long-executing agent task in the macOS desktop app, opening the Settings menu triggers a full-screen “ChatGPT hit a snag” error screen (Something went wrong. Try again to continue).

This creates a complete soft-lock because the error screen overlays the entire application with no close button, back button, or navigation bar to return to the active chat session.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Start an active coding or agentic session.

2. While the agent is actively executing tasks or tools in the background, navigate to Settings.

3. The app crashes into the full-screen “ChatGPT hit a snag” error page.

Expected Behavior

• Settings should open in a modal overlay without crashing the active session view.

• If a setting pane fails to load, there should be an X (Close) or Back button to dismiss the error and return to the active task without interrupting the ongoing work.

Actual Behavior

• The error screen takes over the entire app window.

• There are only two buttons available: “Try again” and “Update ChatGPT”.

• Clicking “Try again” reloads into the same error screen or resets the UI, making it impossible to check if the background task is still running, paused, or terminated.

Environment Details

• OS: macOS (MacBook Pro)

• Application: ChatGPT macOS Desktop App

• Error Screen Text: “ChatGPT hit a snag. Something went wrong. Try again to continue”

[EricGT]

Did a quick search using ChatGPT of Codex issues and found none that I would note match your bug.

There are a few Discourse topics noted below in Related topics and this one may be of interest

ChatGPT macOS composer failure, ‘ChatGPT hit a snag,’ and duplicated Codex processes

I’m reporting two ChatGPT macOS issues that may be related to renderer or runtime lifecycle behavior. The normal main-chat composer disappears or becomes unusable. The floating mini-chat input remains visible but is constrained to the app’s inner perimeter and can cover the conversation, leaving no reliable place to type. The app intermittently switches to “ChatGPT hit a snag” with Restart and Send feedback controls, then returns to the prior view. The recording does not establish whether …

[bhanuvikram]

Thank you!

I restarted ChatGPT and the issue hasn’t recurred.

[Aeon888]

This has been going on ever since the update. Desktop app is crashing and resetting every 3-5 minutes or so. Re-installing doesnt fix it. Web App is a disorganized mess.

This is pushing back production for us substantially-- it’s enough to consider switching all projects to Anthropic exclusively. Exhausting.