Stuck in the "Authorize this phone" loop?

This applies to ChatGPT for Android when pairing with Codex on a computer through Codex Remote ("Connect computer" in the app). The computer can run Windows, macOS or Linux.

Typical symptoms

• You scan the pairing QR code, sign in, and confirm your account on the "Confirm this is the ChatGPT account you want to use with Codex Remote" page.
• The app shows "Pairing..", then "Allow this phone to access ChatGPT on your computer?" with an Authorize this phone button.
• Tapping it sends you back to the sign-in page, and the whole thing repeats.
• No error message appears on the phone or on the computer. The computer never lists the phone.

1. Check your ChatGPT version

On the phone: ChatGPT → Settings → About. Or, with the phone connected over USB debugging:

adb shell dumpsys package com.openai.chatgpt | findstr versionName

(grep instead of findstr on macOS and Linux.) If it says 1.2026.265, you are most likely hitting this bug.

2. Install the fixed build

1. Open the Google Play Store and go to the ChatGPT listing.
2. Scroll down to the beta section and join the beta. It may look stuck. Give it a few minutes; Play confirms enrollment separately.
3. Come back to the listing and tap Update. Joining the beta does nothing until you install the update.
4. Confirm the version is 1.2026.272 or newer.

Once a regular (non-beta) release at 1.2026.272 or newer reaches your phone, a normal Play Store update should do the same job.

Don't install ChatGPT APK files from third-party sites.

3. Pair again with a fresh code

1. On the computer, close the pairing dialog and open it again, so it shows a new QR code.
2. Keep the computer's ChatGPT window open.
3. On the phone, open ChatGPT → Codex → Connect computer → Start pairing, scan, sign in, and tap Authorize this phone once.
4. Wait about ten seconds. The phone should show the computer as connected.

Still looping on 1.2026.272 or newer?

Try these one at a time, each with a fresh QR code:

• Check that the computer and the phone are signed into the same ChatGPT account and workspace.
• If the computer's ChatGPT app was recently switched to a different ChatGPT account, see openai/codex#48555.
• On the computer, turn remote connections off and on again, then generate a new code.
• If you use a VPN or ad blocker on the phone, pause it while you pair.

Then add your phone model, Android version, ChatGPT version and computer to the tracking issue or to openai/codex#48777. Don't post email addresses, account IDs or pairing codes.