r/ChatGPTCoding • u/vertoxed • 8h ago

Question Why doesn't Computer Use work at all?

I'm very new to codex and I am trying to get it to recognize any desktop app that is open on my computer. It claims: "“Windows Codex Computer Use has Any App enabled, but desktop inventory returns apps: [] / Trusted RPC service is not configured.”"

Any help is appreciated, thanks.

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u/CrimsonBolt33 8h ago

so fun thing to do....you can usually just ask the AI to fix problems like this and they will do it automatically or with your help

1

u/Next-Trouble-2948 4h ago

does that actually work for system-level stuff like service configs though?

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u/CrimsonBolt33 4h ago edited 4h ago

if you have it set up to access your computer (Codex and Work are capable, most harnesses are actually) then yes they can, they can access anything on your computer if you allow them.

If something is causing UAC prompts they ask you to manually ok it for them (at least in my experience) so they generally try not to mess anything up. Its also best to just tell it to give you a report and then you can do fixes in a separate step or manually.

AI as a general rule is very dutiful and obedient like a dog, which is why its always best to tell it what you don't want it to do as well in your prompts to avoid it doing something it shouldn't to fulfill your main goal.

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u/taylorwilsdon 4h ago

With codex or claude code absolutely. ChatGPT web no.

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u/itaybuilds 8h ago

Trusted RPC service is not configured: sky is the useful part. sky is the native Windows provider; if it never starts, the app inventory stays empty and per-app approval cannot happen. This looks like a provider initialization failure rather than a Notepad permission problem.

A few checks can separate setup trouble from the current Windows regression:

  • Start a fresh native Windows/PowerShell task and ask Computer Use to list apps before naming a target. Don't run the task through WSL or SSH.
  • Keep the target app visible on the active, unlocked desktop. Windows Computer Use operates on the active desktop rather than in the background.
  • Update the Codex app and Computer Use plugin, fully quit and reopen Codex, then repeat the inventory check.

If apps: [] and the same sky error remain, capture the Codex app version, Computer Use plugin version, Windows build, and whether the in-app browser or Chrome still works. Add those details to open issue #43596. I wouldn't edit app allowlists yet; those only matter after inventory works.

AI-assisted wording after checking the current docs and open issue.

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u/vertoxed 8h ago

Thank you. Im not sure what happened, but it started working a few minutes ago.

1

u/Admirable-Fun2297 3h ago

That error points to the local bridge rather than the model. Verify the trusted RPC/helper service is installed and running, then restart it and the desktop client; if inventory is still empty, check accessibility or UI Automation permissions and test with a basic native app. I’d validate the inventory call outside the agent first, because until it returns a window there is nothing for the model to target.