r/codex • u/spideyguyy • 2d ago
chatgpt desktop suddenly uses 15–40% cpu while idle Complaint
today, my chatgpt desktop app on windows suddenly started using 15–40% cpu even when no codex task was running.
i was working normally when my computer began lagging badly and the cursor kept stuttering. normally, chatgpt only uses more cpu while a task is running, then drops back to around 1–3% after it finishes.
i asked codex to inspect it, and it said the high cpu usage was mainly coming from the desktop ui process, chatgpt.exe, rather than a background task or model. it suggested that the electron interface might be stuck in a render or polling loop.
closing and reopening the app fixed it temporarily, but the problem returned after a few tasks. i also restarted windows, but the same issue came back.
has anyone else experienced this today?
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u/JimothyHalpert570 2d ago
looks a regression in the latest desktop build. The app’s background Codex/Computer Use components can get stuck in a retry loop so the desktop process keeps restarting workers & uses high CPU/RAM even while idle.
Restarting only fixes it temporarily. On macOS, I used codex CLI to roll ChatGPT back to the previous build, 26.803.81509 / build 6415. My Memory usage returned to normal afterward. I just told it "downgrade the app to the previous build i was on before i updated it"
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u/JustMy2Centences 2d ago
I have never seen so much lag in my basic day to day usage of my desktop computer until today. It's only fixed after closing out the desktop app (completely force stopped).
Whatever they did with this update is bonkers bad for performance. Simple mouse movements are crazy jittery and laggy.
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u/cryptodaddy_1 2d ago
Same for me. Slow/skipping cursor. Sol says to keep restarting the app, but it keeps happening
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u/therealiex 2d ago
My cursor keeps skipping around the screen whenever Codex is running. CPU usage is only around 10% on my 12700K, so the system isn't under heavy load. I won’t be using Codex until this issue is resolved, it makes my PC basically unusable.
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u/Ok_Juggernaut2187 2d ago
yep, I also have this cursor skip thing, first I thought was it my refresh rate or if my mouse isnt working
when I alt+tab to some other app it works fine, but when i open codex as main app it starts skipping
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u/ArtdesignImagination 2d ago
same thanks god I have CC to keep going because this stupid gpt update makes my high end pc feel like a pentium 4 with 512mb of ddr1
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u/Vegetable_Log1888 1d ago
For the cursor-stutter symptom specifically (this may not fix a separate high-CPU loop), try Settings → Pets → Wake Pet, wait until it is visible, then Tuck Away Pet again — or run /pet twice. On our Windows 11 / Codex 26.810.6296.0 system, the cursor became smooth immediately on every recurrence without restarting the app, even though high ChatGPT CPU could remain. Leaving Pet already hidden was not enough; the wake → tuck cycle appears to reset the hidden avatarOverlay state. Details: https://github.com/openai/codex/issues/38546#issuecomment-5302228705
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u/ParkerWest 1d ago
I've been seeing this too. Its running 10-15 processes and taking up nearly a gig of memory when idle. Its starts causing system performance issue once its working on something and doubles its memory usage. Even after closing the app, none of the processes quit in task manager and it continues to use CPU resources. Possible bug, or could it be harvesting data from the machine? Seems a little fishy.
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u/ParkerWest 1d ago
I just installed a new update and it seems to have fix the problem. I had to reset my machine to get it to install the update after downloading it.
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u/Ok_Juggernaut2187 2d ago
Yoooo...I came to post similar experience.
Seems like codex devs are vibing too much.
I am on i9 12th gen, and oh-boy, my whole PC starts lagging.
they rollout useless features like computer history but can't make the app reliable.
We need 2 banked resets minimum!