Feature Request: Bring Back the File Explorer Button in Codex
OpenAI Developer Community
May 7, 2026
I’m seeing the same issue on Codex Desktop for Windows.
In a previous version, I could browse the full project file tree directly inside Codex. In the current UI, the right-side panel only shows the Review / changed files tree, such as unstaged Git changes. Files that exist in the workspace but are not modified do not appear there.
This is a real blocker for documentation-heavy projects. For example, I have existing delivery documentation under:
D:\ideacode-yunxiao\chichneg2.0\docs\delivery-docs\factory-modeling
The files exist on disk, but I cannot browse to them from the Codex UI unless they are part of the current Git changes. Search can sometimes find specific files, but it does not replace a full project tree because I need to visually inspect the folder structure.
I also tried the workaround mentioned above: hovering near the upper-right area of the Codex window and looking for the floating file panel / folder icon. In my case, I still only see the Review / changed files panel, not the full workspace file explorer.
Please bring back an always-visible Project Files / Explorer panel, or provide a clear way to switch the right panel from “Review changes” to “All workspace files”.
Environment:
* OS: Windows
* Codex Desktop version: 26.429.61741
* Workspace: local project folder
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