Codex CLI Hangs Indefinitely — No Response on Any Prompt

What this error means

Codex CLI hangs indefinitely on all prompts, no response generated is a Codex CLI failure pattern reported for developers trying to fix codex cli hanging forever without generating any response. Based on the imported evidence, treat this as a tool-specific troubleshooting page rather than a generic API error.

Why this happens

79 reactions, 131 comments. Reproduced on VS Code extension v26.311.21342 with Business subscription. Multiple users report same behavior — CLI accepts input but never produces output. No error displayed.

Common causes

• Codex CLI on Business plan stops responding to all prompts — hangs indefinitely with no error message or timeout. Users must force-kill the process. Affects paid Business tier subscribers on VS Code.
• 79 reactions, 131 comments. Reproduced on VS Code extension v26.311.21342 with Business subscription. Multiple users report same behavior — CLI accepts input but never produces output. No error displayed.

Quick fixes

1. Confirm the exact error signature matches Codex CLI hangs indefinitely on all prompts, no response generated.
2. Check the Codex CLI account, local tool state, and provider configuration involved in the failing workflow.
3. Reduce request pressure, check quota or plan limits, and retry with backoff instead of immediate repeated requests.

Platform/tool-specific checks

• Verify the command, editor, extension, or API client that produced the error.
• Compare local settings with CI, deployment, or editor-level settings when the error appears in only one environment.
• Avoid deleting credentials, local model data, or project settings until the failing scope is clear.

Step-by-step troubleshooting

1. Capture the exact error message and the command, editor action, or request that triggered it.
2. Check whether the failure is account/auth, quota/rate, model/provider, local runtime, or deployment configuration.
3. Review the source evidence below and compare it with your environment.
4. Apply one change at a time and rerun the smallest failing action.
5. Keep the working fix documented for the team or deployment environment.

How to prevent it

• Keep provider/tool configuration documented.
• Record non-secret diagnostics such as tool version, provider name, model name, and command path.
• Add a lightweight check before CI or production workflows depend on the tool.

Sources checked

• https://github.com/openai/codex/issues/14048

Evidence note: 79 reactions, 131 comments. Reproduced on VS Code extension v26.311.21342 with Business subscription. Multiple users report same behavior — CLI accepts input but never produces output. No error displayed.

Related errors

• Codex CLI burning tokens very fast
• Codex CLI context compaction hanging

FAQ

What should I check first?

Start with the exact Codex CLI hangs indefinitely on all prompts, no response generated text and the smallest action that reproduces it.

Can I ignore this error?

No. Treat it as a failed Codex CLI workflow until the root cause is understood.

Is this guaranteed to have one fix?

No. The imported evidence supports the troubleshooting path above, but tool behavior can vary by account, plan, version, provider, and local configuration.

How do I know the fix worked?

Rerun the same command, editor action, or request. The fix is working when that action completes without Codex CLI hangs indefinitely on all prompts, no response generated.