Bug type

Regression (worked before, now fails)

Beta release blocker

No

Summary

After switching from openai-codex/gpt-5.4 to openai-codex/gpt-5.5, OpenClaw accepts UI messages, shows typing / starts an embedded run, but never returns a reply. The run fails with:

401 Unauthorized: Missing bearer or basic authentication in header

This persists even after re-running the OpenAI Codex OAuth login successfully.

Steps to reproduce

Configure OpenAI Codex OAuth auth.
Set default model:
openclaw models set openai-codex/gpt-5.5
Confirm model/auth status:
openclaw models status
Start gateway in foreground:
openclaw gateway --port 18789
Open Control UI and send any message.
Observe that the UI shows activity/typing but no assistant reply.
Check logs:
grep -Ei 'embedded|lane task|model_fallback|401|unauthorized|responses|reply|stream|completion' /tmp/openclaw/openclaw-2026-04-28.log | tail -n 160
Relevant logs

Expected behavior

Messages sent through the Control UI should complete using the configured OpenAI Codex OAuth profile, as they did previously with gpt-5.4.

Actual behavior

The UI appears to start the request, but the assistant never replies. Logs show the OpenAI Responses API request is made without an auth header:

OpenClaw version

2026.4.26

Operating system

macOS 26.4.1

Install method

npm

Model

openai-codex/gpt-5.5

Provider / routing chain

OpenAI Codex OAuth

Additional provider/model setup details

This was working previously with openai-codex/gpt-5.4 via the OpenAI Codex OAuth route.
Then I changed the default model to GPT-5.5 and also updated OpenClaw. After that, UI messages stopped producing replies.
I also tried OpenRouter temporarily. That produced a separate provider-routing error:
Codex agent harness failed; not falling back to embedded PI backend
failed to load configuration: Model provider openrouter not found
I then reverted the default model back to:
openai-codex/gpt-5.5
and re-ran OpenAI Codex OAuth login successfully, but the 401 Missing bearer or basic authentication error persisted.

Logs, screenshots, and evidence

lane task error: lane=main durationMs=87316 error="unexpected status 401 Unauthorized: Missing bearer or basic authentication in header, url: https://api.openai.com/v1/responses"
lane task error: lane=session:agent:main:main durationMs=87319 error="unexpected status 401 Unauthorized: Missing bearer or basic authentication in header, url: https://api.openai.com/v1/responses"
Embedded agent failed before reply: unexpected status 401 Unauthorized: Missing bearer or basic authentication in header, url: https://api.openai.com/v1/responses

Impact and severity

This looks like the selected OpenAI Codex OAuth profile is present and valid according to models status, but the embedded agent / harness path for openai-codex/gpt-5.5 is not attaching the bearer token to the Responses API request.
Possibly related to recent GPT-5.5 / provider routing / OAuth transport changes.

Additional information

lane task error: lane=main durationMs=87316 error="unexpected status 401 Unauthorized: Missing bearer or basic authentication in header, url: https://api.openai.com/v1/responses"
lane task error: lane=session:agent:main:main durationMs=87319 error="unexpected status 401 Unauthorized: Missing bearer or basic authentication in header, url: https://api.openai.com/v1/responses"
Embedded agent failed before reply: unexpected status 401 Unauthorized: Missing bearer or basic authentication in header, url: https://api.openai.com/v1/responses