Codex in VS Code ends long-running tasks prematurely after context handoff / tool calls

Codex
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Has anyone else seen Codex in VS Code stop mid-task even though the original request is still unfinished?

I give Codex a long, staged implementation task. It works for a while, reads files, and uses tools, then suddenly ends the turn with a generic status message such as “I’ve started analysing the next stage,” “the next step will be…,” or “I will start implementing…”. However, it then stops before actually implementing the work.

The task is not blocked:

  • No approval is pending.
  • No clarification is needed.
  • The workspace and tools are still available.
  • The agent simply stops after or before a checkpoint, context handoff, tool activity, or just before starting the planned implementation.

I then have to manually say “continue,” sometimes more than once, and it does not work everytime. This makes long-running implementation work unreliable because Codex can stop before making the actual change, running tests, or verifying the result.

This seems related to these open Codex issues:

  • Codex Desktop stops prematurely after context/task handoff instead of continuing work · Issue #33398 · openai/codex · GitHub
  • Regression (>=0.115): after `context_compacted` auto-compaction Codex outputs handoff/summary and stops (CLI + Windows App) · Issue #16042 · openai/codex · GitHub
  • Regression (>=0.115): after `context_compacted` auto-compaction Codex outputs handoff/summary and stops (CLI + Windows App) · Issue #16042 · openai/codex · GitHub
  • Codex Desktop turn lifecycle stalls across image and non-image sessions · Issue #21360 · openai/codex · GitHub
  • Codex Desktop turn lifecycle stalls across image and non-image sessions · Issue #21360 · openai/codex · GitHub
  • Codex Exits From Sessions Prematurely · Issue #36112 · openai/codex · GitHub

(Sorry, cant add links to a post.)

I am curious whether others see this specifically in the VS Code extension, especially after context compaction, a handoff-style summary, one or more tool calls, or immediately before implementing a task from a plan.

Does anyone have a reliable workaround? It is very frustrating to repeatedly prompt Codex to continue work it had already been asked to complete.

Environment:

  • VS Code extension enabled on: SSH remote workspace
  • Codex extension version: 26.5730.61639
  • Last updated: 1 day ago
  • Model: GPT-5.6 Terra High
  • Remote SSH host: Ubuntu 22.04.5 LTS, Linux kernel 5.15.0-177-generic, x86_64

Written with Codex :slight_smile: