Codex-Spark allowances show 100% remaining, but model is unavailable in Desktop and CLI

ChatGPT Bugs
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1

Environment

  • Surface: Codex desktop app and Codex CLI on Windows, using ChatGPT sign-in—not an API key.
  • Endpoint or feature: Model availability and Codex-Spark usage allowances.
  • Model: gpt-5.3-codex-spark
  • SDK and version: Desktop-bundled Codex CLI 0.154.0-alpha.6.2.
  • Subscription: Web profile displays PRO; CLI /status displays Pro Lite.

Bug

Both Codex-Spark allowance meters—five-hour and weekly—show 100% remaining, but Spark is missing from the desktop model picker and interactive CLI /model list.

Explicitly requesting Spark through the CLI is rejected by the server.

I expected either access to the model whose allowances are displayed, or a clear explanation that my subscription/client is not eligible. I’m unsure whether this is an entitlement problem or misleading usage reporting.

Signing out and back in did not change the desktop model list.

image
image834×815 31 KB

This is what available:

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image267×276 8.21 KB

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image774×247 13.4 KB

Reproduction

  1. Sign in to Codex using a ChatGPT account.
  2. Run /status in an interactive CLI session. Observe unused Spark allowances.
  3. Run /model. Available models are:
    • gpt-6-astra
    • gpt-5.6-sol
    • gpt-5.6-terra
    • gpt-5.6-luna
    • gpt-5.5
  4. Explicitly request Spark:
codex exec --ephemeral --ignore-user-config --skip-git-repo-check --sandbox read-only --model gpt-5.3-codex-spark -c model_reasoning_effort=medium --json "Do not use tools or inspect files. Reply exactly: SPARK_ACCESS_OK"
  1. The request fails before generating a response.

Diagnostics

  • Exact error and HTTP status: Server error event reports status 400, type invalid_request_error:
The 'gpt-5.3-codex-spark' model is not supported when using Codex with a ChatGPT account.
  • Additional CLI warning:
Model metadata for `gpt-5.3-codex-spark` not found.
Defaulting to fallback metadata; this can degrade performance and cause issues.
  • Request ID: No request ID was exposed in the captured output.
  • When: 15 September 2026, approximately 17:05 BST / 16:05 UTC.
  • Frequency: One explicit CLI generation test captured; Spark remained absent across desktop and interactive CLI checks. Desktop availability remained unchanged after signing out and back in.
  • Other checks: codex login status confirms ChatGPT authentication. codex doctor reports consistent installation, configured authentication, successful WebSocket connectivity and reachable provider endpoints. It also reports a TERM=dumb terminal-display limitation in the automated shell and a general Defender warning.
  • Support status: The issue has been escalated to a support specialist; investigation is pending.
2

Welcome to the community @mail.adammozes,

There has been an announcement on X, that GPT-5.3 Codex Spark will be retired.

You can even check out related topics for this same issue: