diff --git a/src/main/claude-accounts/claude-account-service.test.ts b/src/main/claude-accounts/claude-account-service.test.ts
index 211f769b3b6..aa7f2fa905c 100644
--- a/src/main/claude-accounts/claude-account-service.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/claude-accounts/claude-account-service.test.ts
@@ -285,6 +285,29 @@ describe('ClaudeAccountService', () => {
     await expect(adding).rejects.toThrow('cancelled')
   })
 
+  it('opens the link of a WSL sign-in through the desktop opener', async () => {
+    const LINK =
+      'https://claude.com/cai/oauth/authorize?redirect_uri=http%3A%2F%2Flocalhost%3A5000%2Fcallback'
+    const f = fixture()
+    const opened: string[] = []
+    f.service.setWslSignInLinkOpener((link) => opened.push(link))
+    f.runtimeAuth.prepareAccountFolder.mockImplementation(async (id: string) => {
+      mkdirSync(f.home(id), { recursive: true })
+      return { configDir: `/home/u/claude-profiles/${id}/home`, readPath: f.home(id) }
+    })
+    f.runLogin.mockImplementationOnce(async (_args, config, _timeoutMs, options) => {
+      expect(options?.browser).toBe(
+        `/home/u/claude-profiles/${newId(f)}/home/.orca-sign-in-browser`
+      )
+      writeFileSync(join(config.windowsPath, '.orca-sign-in-browser.link'), LINK)
+      await vi.waitFor(() => expect(opened).toEqual([LINK]))
+      f.signIn(newId(f), 'wsl@example.test')
+      return ''
+    })
+    await f.service.addAccount({ runtime: 'wsl', wslDistro: 'Ubuntu' })
+    expect(opened).toEqual([LINK])
+  })
+
   it('runs a WSL login against the guest folder', async () => {
     const f = fixture()
     f.runtimeAuth.prepareAccountFolder.mockImplementation(async (id: string) => {
diff --git a/src/main/claude-accounts/claude-login-session.test.ts b/src/main/claude-accounts/claude-login-session.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..3cc4ccdd049
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/claude-accounts/claude-login-session.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,142 @@
+import { existsSync, mkdtempSync, readdirSync, rmSync, writeFileSync } from 'node:fs'
+import { tmpdir } from 'node:os'
+import { join } from 'node:path'
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import type { ClaudeCommandConfig, ClaudeCommandOptions } from './claude-command-process'
+import { runClaudeLoginSession } from './claude-login-session'
+
+const LINK =
+  'https://claude.com/cai/oauth/authorize?code=true&redirect_uri=http%3A%2F%2Flocalhost%3A5000%2Fcallback&state=s'
+const LINUX_HOME = '/home/u/claude-profiles/a/home'
+const roots: string[] = []
+type RunCommand = (
+  args: string[],
+  config: ClaudeCommandConfig,
+  timeoutMs: number,
+  options?: ClaudeCommandOptions
+) => Promise<string>
+afterEach(() => roots.splice(0).forEach((root) => rmSync(root, { recursive: true, force: true })))
+
+function folder(runtime: 'wsl' | 'host'): ClaudeCommandConfig {
+  const windowsPath = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), 'claude-login-session-'))
+  roots.push(windowsPath)
+  return runtime === 'wsl'
+    ? { windowsPath, linuxPath: LINUX_HOME, wslDistro: 'Ubuntu' }
+    : { windowsPath, linuxPath: null, wslDistro: null }
+}
+
+// Stands in for Claude running BROWSER with `link`, then finishing once `done` says so.
+function claudeHandsOver(config: ClaudeCommandConfig, link: string, done: () => boolean) {
+  return vi.fn<RunCommand>(async () => {
+    writeFileSync(join(config.windowsPath, '.orca-sign-in-browser.link'), link)
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(done()).toBe(true))
+    return ''
+  })
+}
+
+describe('runClaudeLoginSession', () => {
+  it('opens a WSL login link on this computer and cleans up the stand-in', async () => {
+    const config = folder('wsl')
+    const openWslSignInLink = vi.fn()
+    const runCommand = claudeHandsOver(config, LINK, () => openWslSignInLink.mock.calls.length > 0)
+    await runClaudeLoginSession(config, { runCommand, setCancel: vi.fn(), openWslSignInLink })
+    expect(runCommand.mock.calls[0][3]).toMatchObject({
+      browser: `${LINUX_HOME}/.orca-sign-in-browser`
+    })
+    expect(openWslSignInLink).toHaveBeenCalledExactlyOnceWith(LINK)
+    expect(readdirSync(config.windowsPath)).toEqual([])
+  })
+
+  it('copies rather than opens a WSL link when the user asked for Copy link', async () => {
+    const config = folder('wsl')
+    const openWslSignInLink = vi.fn()
+    const onLink = vi.fn()
+    const runCommand = claudeHandsOver(config, LINK, () => onLink.mock.calls.length > 0)
+    await runClaudeLoginSession(
+      config,
+      { runCommand, setCancel: vi.fn(), openWslSignInLink },
+      onLink
+    )
+    expect(onLink).toHaveBeenCalledExactlyOnceWith(LINK)
+    expect(openWslSignInLink).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('leaves a local login to open its own browser', async () => {
+    const config = folder('host')
+    const openWslSignInLink = vi.fn()
+    const runCommand = vi.fn<RunCommand>(async (_args, _config, _ms, options) => {
+      expect(options?.browser).toBeUndefined()
+      expect(existsSync(join(config.windowsPath, '.orca-sign-in-browser'))).toBe(false)
+      return ''
+    })
+    await runClaudeLoginSession(config, { runCommand, setCancel: vi.fn(), openWslSignInLink })
+    expect(runCommand).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(openWslSignInLink).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('changes nothing for a WSL login where nothing can open a link', async () => {
+    const config = folder('wsl')
+    const runCommand = vi.fn<RunCommand>(async () => '')
+    await runClaudeLoginSession(config, { runCommand, setCancel: vi.fn() })
+    expect(runCommand.mock.calls[0]).toEqual([
+      ['auth', 'login', '--claudeai'],
+      config,
+      expect.any(Number),
+      expect.objectContaining({ browser: undefined })
+    ])
+  })
+
+  it('never opens a link that is not a Claude sign-in, and keeps the login going', async () => {
+    const config = folder('wsl')
+    const openWslSignInLink = vi.fn()
+    const warn = vi.spyOn(console, 'warn').mockImplementation(() => {})
+    const runCommand = claudeHandsOver(config, 'http://claude.com/oauth', () =>
+      warn.mock.calls.some(([message]) => String(message).includes('unexpected sign-in link'))
+    )
+    await expect(
+      runClaudeLoginSession(config, { runCommand, setCancel: vi.fn(), openWslSignInLink })
+    ).resolves.toBeUndefined()
+    expect(openWslSignInLink).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    warn.mockRestore()
+  })
+
+  it('never opens a link for a WSL login the user already cancelled', async () => {
+    const config = folder('wsl')
+    const openWslSignInLink = vi.fn()
+    let cancel: (() => boolean) | null = null
+    const runCommand = vi.fn<RunCommand>(async (_args, _config, _ms, options) => {
+      // Claude writes its link as the cancel lands.
+      writeFileSync(join(config.windowsPath, '.orca-sign-in-browser.link'), LINK)
+      expect(cancel?.()).toBe(true)
+      expect(options?.signal?.aborted).toBe(true)
+      // Give the link watcher its chance to read the file.
+      await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 300))
+      throw new Error('Claude sign-in was cancelled.')
+    })
+    await expect(
+      runClaudeLoginSession(config, {
+        runCommand,
+        setCancel: (next) => {
+          cancel ??= next
+        },
+        openWslSignInLink
+      })
+    ).rejects.toThrow('cancelled')
+    expect(openWslSignInLink).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('runs a WSL login unchanged when the stand-in cannot be written', async () => {
+    const config = { ...folder('wsl'), windowsPath: join(tmpdir(), 'missing-claude-folder', 'x') }
+    const openWslSignInLink = vi.fn()
+    const runCommand = vi.fn<RunCommand>(async () => '')
+    const warn = vi.spyOn(console, 'warn').mockImplementation(() => {})
+    await runClaudeLoginSession(config, { runCommand, setCancel: vi.fn(), openWslSignInLink })
+    warn.mockRestore()
+    expect(runCommand.mock.calls[0]).toEqual([
+      ['auth', 'login', '--claudeai'],
+      config,
+      expect.any(Number),
+      expect.objectContaining({ browser: undefined })
+    ])
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/main/claude-accounts/claude-login-session.ts b/src/main/claude-accounts/claude-login-session.ts
index e2e2c3230cb..8027a0217fd 100644
--- a/src/main/claude-accounts/claude-login-session.ts
+++ b/src/main/claude-accounts/claude-login-session.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { CLAUDE_SIGN_IN_FAILED_MESSAGE } from '../../shared/claude-sign-in-link'
 import type { ClaudeCommandConfig, ClaudeCommandOptions } from './claude-command-process'
-import { prepareClaudeSignInBrowser } from './claude-sign-in-browser'
+import { prepareClaudeSignInBrowser, type ClaudeSignInBrowser } from './claude-sign-in-browser'
 
 // Why 10 minutes: copying the link into a private window takes longer than one click.
 const LOGIN_TIMEOUT_MS = 600_000
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ type ClaudeLoginSessionDependencies = {
     options?: ClaudeCommandOptions
   ) => Promise<string>
   setCancel: (cancel: (() => boolean) | null) => void
+  /** Opens a WSL login's sign-in link on this computer; absent where Orca cannot open one. */
+  openWslSignInLink?: ((signInLink: string) => void) | null
 }
 
 /** Runs a hidden `claude auth login` that writes its login straight into the account's folder.
@@ -33,14 +35,36 @@ export async function runClaudeLoginSession(
     return true
   })
   try {
+    // Why: stock distros have no xdg-open, wslview or BROWSER, so Claude in WSL opens nothing.
+    const openLink =
+      !onLink && folder.linuxPath !== null && folder.wslDistro !== null
+        ? (dependencies.openWslSignInLink ?? undefined)
+        : undefined
     // Why: if setup fails this throws; falling back would let Claude open the browser the user avoided.
-    const browser = onLink ? await prepareClaudeSignInBrowser(folder) : null
-    void browser?.nextLink(watch.signal).then((signInLink) => {
+    const browser = onLink
+      ? await prepareClaudeSignInBrowser(folder)
+      : openLink
+        ? await prepareOpenerBrowser(folder)
+        : null
+    const deliverLink = onLink ?? openLink
+    // Why both signals: a cancelled login must not open a tab for a link Claude wrote as it died.
+    const stopped = AbortSignal.any([watch.signal, controller.signal])
+    // Why the full login window: auto-open never ends the login, and a cold distro can be slow.
+    const waitMs = onLink ? undefined : LOGIN_TIMEOUT_MS
+    void browser?.nextLink(stopped, waitMs).then((signInLink) => {
+      if (stopped.aborted) {
+        return
+      }
       if (signInLink) {
-        onLink?.(signInLink)
-      } else if (!watch.signal.aborted) {
+        deliverLink?.(signInLink)
+        return
+      }
+      if (onLink) {
         linkMissing = true
         controller.abort()
+      } else {
+        // Why not end it: the login stays cancellable and Copy link remains the fallback.
+        console.warn('[claude-accounts] Claude handed over no WSL sign-in link to open.')
       }
     })
     try {
@@ -61,3 +85,14 @@ export async function runClaudeLoginSession(
     dependencies.setCancel(null)
   }
 }
+
+// Why null on failure: an auto-open that cannot be set up leaves the login as it was before.
+async function prepareOpenerBrowser(
+  folder: ClaudeCommandConfig
+): Promise<ClaudeSignInBrowser | null> {
+  try {
+    return await prepareClaudeSignInBrowser(folder)
+  } catch {
+    return null
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/main/claude-accounts/claude-sign-in-browser.ts b/src/main/claude-accounts/claude-sign-in-browser.ts
index b48a1db209f..8db9b85cae1 100644
--- a/src/main/claude-accounts/claude-sign-in-browser.ts
+++ b/src/main/claude-accounts/claude-sign-in-browser.ts
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ export type ClaudeSignInBrowser = {
   /** BROWSER as the Claude process sees it. */
   path: string
   /** The localhost-callback link Claude handed BROWSER; null if stopped, late, or not one. */
-  nextLink: (signal: AbortSignal) => Promise<string | null>
+  nextLink: (signal: AbortSignal, waitMs?: number) => Promise<string | null>
   dispose: () => Promise<void>
 }
 
@@ -67,13 +67,17 @@ export async function prepareClaudeSignInBrowser(
   }
   return {
     path: isWsl && folder.linuxPath ? posix.join(folder.linuxPath, HELPER_NAME) : helperPath,
-    nextLink: (signal) => pollForLink(linkPath, signal),
+    nextLink: (signal, waitMs = LINK_WAIT_MS) => pollForLink(linkPath, signal, waitMs),
     dispose
   }
 }
 
-async function pollForLink(linkPath: string, signal: AbortSignal): Promise<string | null> {
-  const deadline = Date.now() + LINK_WAIT_MS
+async function pollForLink(
+  linkPath: string,
+  signal: AbortSignal,
+  waitMs: number
+): Promise<string | null> {
+  const deadline = Date.now() + waitMs
   while (!signal.aborted && Date.now() < deadline) {
     const signInLink = await readFile(linkPath, 'utf8').then(
       (text) => text.trim(),
diff --git a/src/main/claude-accounts/service.ts b/src/main/claude-accounts/service.ts
index ac4ee0748ed..ad031491dd9 100644
--- a/src/main/claude-accounts/service.ts
+++ b/src/main/claude-accounts/service.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ export class ClaudeAccountService {
   private mutationQueue: Promise<unknown> = Promise.resolve()
   private cancelPendingClaudeLogin: (() => boolean) | null = null
   private pendingSignInLink: Promise<string | null> | null = null
+  private openWslSignInLink: ((signInLink: string) => void) | null = null
   private readonly selection: ClaudeAccountSelection
   private readonly registration: ClaudeAccountRegistration
 
@@ -66,6 +67,11 @@ export class ClaudeAccountService {
     return this.cancelPendingClaudeLogin?.() ?? false
   }
 
+  /** Lets the desktop open a WSL sign-in's link; orcad never sets one. */
+  setWslSignInLinkOpener(opener: ((signInLink: string) => void) | null): void {
+    this.openWslSignInLink = opener
+  }
+
   beginSignIn(request: ClaudeSignInRequest = {}): Promise<ClaudeAccountSignIn> {
     return this.serializeMutation(() => this.registration.begin(request))
   }
@@ -120,7 +126,8 @@ export class ClaudeAccountService {
               runCommand: this.runLoginCommand,
               setCancel: (cancel) => {
                 this.cancelPendingClaudeLogin = cancel
-              }
+              },
+              openWslSignInLink: this.openWslSignInLink
             },
             signInLink?.resolve
           )
diff --git a/src/main/codex-accounts/codex-login-auth-url.ts b/src/main/codex-accounts/codex-login-auth-url.ts
index 024f0b6e73e..e0c9885d516 100644
--- a/src/main/codex-accounts/codex-login-auth-url.ts
+++ b/src/main/codex-accounts/codex-login-auth-url.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,16 @@
 import { stripAnsiEscapeSequences } from '../../shared/ansi-escape-sequences'
 
 const AUTH_URL_MARKER = 'navigate to this url to authenticate:'
+const CODEX_AUTH_HOST = 'auth.openai.com'
+
+/** OpenAI's sign-in page, the only link Orca opens for a codex login. */
+export function isCodexLoginAuthUrl(authUrl: string): boolean {
+  try {
+    return new URL(authUrl).hostname === CODEX_AUTH_HOST
+  } catch {
+    return false
+  }
+}
 
 /**
  * The browser sign-in link `codex login` prints, or null while its output has
diff --git a/src/main/codex-accounts/codex-login-session-wsl-open.test.ts b/src/main/codex-accounts/codex-login-session-wsl-open.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c8a0428abd4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/codex-accounts/codex-login-session-wsl-open.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+import { EventEmitter } from 'node:events'
+import { mkdtempSync, rmSync } from 'node:fs'
+import { tmpdir } from 'node:os'
+import { join } from 'node:path'
+import { PassThrough } from 'node:stream'
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+
+vi.mock('../wsl/wsl-runner', () => ({
+  runWslProcess: vi.fn(async () => ({
+    environmentResolved: true,
+    code: 0,
+    stdout: '',
+    stderr: '',
+    timedOut: false
+  }))
+}))
+vi.mock('../codex-cli/command', () => ({ resolveCodexCommand: () => 'codex' }))
+
+import { runCodexLoginSession, type CodexLoginSpawnRequest } from './codex-login-session'
+
+const AUTH_URL = 'https://auth.openai.com/oauth/authorize?client_id=orca&state=abc'
+const PRINTED = `If your browser did not open, navigate to this URL to authenticate:\n\n${AUTH_URL}\n`
+const WSL_HOME = '\\\\wsl.localhost\\Ubuntu\\home\\alice\\managed-home'
+const roots: string[] = []
+afterEach(() => roots.splice(0).forEach((root) => rmSync(root, { recursive: true, force: true })))
+
+// Stands in for `codex login`: prints its link, then exits.
+function loginThatPrints(text: string) {
+  const requests: CodexLoginSpawnRequest[] = []
+  const spawn = vi.fn((request: CodexLoginSpawnRequest) => {
+    requests.push(request)
+    const child = Object.assign(new EventEmitter(), {
+      stdout: new PassThrough(),
+      stderr: new PassThrough(),
+      exitCode: null,
+      signalCode: null,
+      kill: () => true
+    })
+    queueMicrotask(() => {
+      child.stdout.write(text)
+      setTimeout(() => child.emit('close', 0), 10)
+    })
+    return child
+  })
+  return { spawn, requests }
+}
+
+function run(
+  home: string,
+  login: ReturnType<typeof loginThatPrints>,
+  openWslAuthUrl?: (url: string) => void
+) {
+  const onAuthUrl = vi.fn()
+  const done = runCodexLoginSession(home, {
+    wslCommand: 'wsl.exe',
+    spawn: login.spawn,
+    killProcessTree: vi.fn(),
+    setCancel: vi.fn(),
+    onAuthUrl,
+    openWslAuthUrl
+  })
+  return { done, onAuthUrl }
+}
+
+describe('runCodexLoginSession sign-in link opening', () => {
+  it('opens the link a WSL login prints and keeps it for Copy link', async () => {
+    const login = loginThatPrints(PRINTED)
+    const open = vi.fn()
+    const { done, onAuthUrl } = run(WSL_HOME, login, open)
+    await done
+    expect(open).toHaveBeenCalledExactlyOnceWith(AUTH_URL)
+    expect(onAuthUrl).toHaveBeenCalledExactlyOnceWith(AUTH_URL)
+    // Why: Orca opens the link, so the distro's own opener must not open a second tab.
+    expect(login.requests[0].args.at(-1)).toContain('export BROWSER=true')
+  })
+
+  it('leaves a WSL login as it was where nothing can open a link', async () => {
+    const login = loginThatPrints(PRINTED)
+    const { done, onAuthUrl } = run(WSL_HOME, login)
+    await done
+    expect(onAuthUrl).toHaveBeenCalledExactlyOnceWith(AUTH_URL)
+    expect(login.requests[0].args.at(-1)).not.toContain('BROWSER')
+  })
+
+  it('never opens a link the WSL login did not print as its sign-in link', async () => {
+    const login = loginThatPrints(
+      'Update available: https://github.com/openai/codex/releases\nnavigate to this URL to authenticate: http://auth.openai.com/x\n'
+    )
+    const open = vi.fn()
+    await run(WSL_HOME, login, open).done
+    expect(open).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it.skipIf(process.platform === 'win32')(
+    'leaves a local login to open its own browser',
+    async () => {
+      const home = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), 'codex-login-session-'))
+      roots.push(home)
+      const login = loginThatPrints(PRINTED)
+      const open = vi.fn()
+      const { done, onAuthUrl } = run(home, login, open)
+      await done
+      expect(onAuthUrl).toHaveBeenCalledExactlyOnceWith(AUTH_URL)
+      expect(open).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+      expect(login.requests[0].env.BROWSER).toBe(process.env.BROWSER)
+    }
+  )
+})
diff --git a/src/main/codex-accounts/codex-login-session.ts b/src/main/codex-accounts/codex-login-session.ts
index 3595351ef37..911ffbc386c 100644
--- a/src/main/codex-accounts/codex-login-session.ts
+++ b/src/main/codex-accounts/codex-login-session.ts
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@ type CodexLoginSessionDependencies = {
   setCancel: (cancel: () => boolean) => void
   /** The browser link codex printed, published as soon as it is complete. */
   onAuthUrl: (url: string) => void
+  /** Opens a WSL login's link on this computer; absent where Orca cannot open one. */
+  openWslAuthUrl?: ((url: string) => void) | null
 }
 
 type LoginCancellation = {
@@ -114,11 +116,16 @@ async function runCodexLoginProcess(
     throw new Error(CODEX_LOGIN_CANCELLED_MESSAGE)
   }
 
+  // Why WSL only: a stock distro has no opener, so codex there cannot open a browser itself.
+  const openAuthUrl = wslInfo ? (dependencies.openWslAuthUrl ?? null) : null
+
   await new Promise<void>((resolvePromise, rejectPromise) => {
     const spawnConfig = wslInfo
       ? {
           command: dependencies.wslCommand,
-          args: buildWslCodexLoginArgs(wslInfo.distro, wslInfo.linuxPath),
+          args: buildWslCodexLoginArgs(wslInfo.distro, wslInfo.linuxPath, {
+            orcaOpensSignInLink: openAuthUrl !== null
+          }),
           env: process.env,
           codexCommand: 'codex',
           interactiveLogin: null
@@ -155,6 +162,7 @@ async function runCodexLoginProcess(
       if (authUrl) {
         publishedAuthUrl = true
         dependencies.onAuthUrl(authUrl)
+        openAuthUrl?.(authUrl)
       }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/main/codex-accounts/service.ts b/src/main/codex-accounts/service.ts
index 67f8ebb218a..8e810f3fb7c 100644
--- a/src/main/codex-accounts/service.ts
+++ b/src/main/codex-accounts/service.ts
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ export class CodexAccountService {
   private cancelPendingCodexLogin: (() => boolean) | null = null
   private pendingLoginUrl: string | null = null
   private readonly pendingLoginUrlListeners = new Set<(url: string | null) => void>()
+  private openWslLoginUrl: ((url: string) => void) | null = null
   private readonly identity: CodexAccountIdentity
   private readonly configMirror: CodexConfigMirror
   private readonly managedHomePaths: CodexManagedHomePath
@@ -183,6 +184,11 @@ export class CodexAccountService {
     this.pendingLoginUrlListeners.add(listener)
   }
 
+  /** Lets the desktop open a WSL login's link; orcad never sets one. */
+  setWslLoginUrlOpener(opener: ((url: string) => void) | null): void {
+    this.openWslLoginUrl = opener
+  }
+
   private setPendingLoginUrl(url: string | null): void {
     // Why the guard: every login that ends before printing a link clears an
     // already-empty value, and each change reaches every window.
@@ -292,7 +298,8 @@ export class CodexAccountService {
         setCancel: (cancel) => {
           this.cancelPendingCodexLogin = cancel
         },
-        onAuthUrl: (url) => this.setPendingLoginUrl(url)
+        onAuthUrl: (url) => this.setPendingLoginUrl(url),
+        openWslAuthUrl: this.openWslLoginUrl
       })
     } finally {
       // Why: both die with the login server — no surface may keep offering a
diff --git a/src/main/codex-accounts/wsl-codex-command.test.ts b/src/main/codex-accounts/wsl-codex-command.test.ts
index d32619e84e2..fbbdc35ac41 100644
--- a/src/main/codex-accounts/wsl-codex-command.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/codex-accounts/wsl-codex-command.test.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,15 @@ describe('WSL Codex commands', () => {
     expect(command).toContain('export CODEX_HOME=')
     expect(command).toContain('/home/alice/managed-home')
     expect(command).toContain('exec "$resolved" login')
+    expect(command).not.toContain('BROWSER')
+  })
+
+  it('stops the distro opening a second tab only when Orca opens the link', () => {
+    const command = buildWslCodexLoginArgs('Ubuntu', '/home/alice/managed-home', {
+      orcaOpensSignInLink: true
+    }).at(-1)
+
+    expect(command).toContain('export BROWSER=true\nexec "$resolved" login')
   })
 
   it('quotes an explicit read-only app-server contract without changing the default', () => {
diff --git a/src/main/codex-accounts/wsl-codex-command.ts b/src/main/codex-accounts/wsl-codex-command.ts
index 1831a2f215c..ad1f5e915a7 100644
--- a/src/main/codex-accounts/wsl-codex-command.ts
+++ b/src/main/codex-accounts/wsl-codex-command.ts
@@ -63,7 +63,11 @@ export function buildWslCodexAppServerArgs(
   return buildWslCodexShellArgs(distro, command)
 }
 
-export function buildWslCodexLoginArgs(distro: string, linuxHomePath: string): string[] {
+export function buildWslCodexLoginArgs(
+  distro: string,
+  linuxHomePath: string,
+  options: { orcaOpensSignInLink?: boolean } = {}
+): string[] {
   const command = [
     buildCodexPathLookup(),
     'if [ -z "$resolved" ]; then',
@@ -71,6 +75,8 @@ export function buildWslCodexLoginArgs(distro: string, linuxHomePath: string): s
     '  exit 127',
     'fi',
     `export CODEX_HOME=${quotePosixShell(linuxHomePath)}`,
+    // Why: Orca opens the printed link itself; a distro opener would open a second tab.
+    ...(options.orcaOpensSignInLink ? ['export BROWSER=true'] : []),
     'exec "$resolved" login'
   ].join('\n')
   return buildWslCodexShellArgs(distro, command)
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/account-sign-in-link-opener.test.ts b/src/main/ipc/account-sign-in-link-opener.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e4bce61ffcc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/ipc/account-sign-in-link-opener.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+
+const { openExternalMock } = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+  openExternalMock: vi.fn<(url: string) => Promise<void>>()
+}))
+
+vi.mock('electron', () => ({ shell: { openExternal: openExternalMock } }))
+
+import { isOpenableAccountSignInLink, openAccountSignInLink } from './account-sign-in-link-opener'
+
+const CLAUDE_LINK =
+  'https://claude.com/cai/oauth/authorize?code=true&redirect_uri=http%3A%2F%2Flocalhost%3A5000%2Fcallback&state=s'
+const CODEX_LINK =
+  'https://auth.openai.com/oauth/authorize?client_id=orca&redirect_uri=http%3A%2F%2Flocalhost%3A1455%2Fauth%2Fcallback&state=abc'
+
+const UNOPENABLE: [string, 'claude' | 'codex', string][] = [
+  ['plain http', 'codex', CODEX_LINK.replace('https:', 'http:')],
+  ['plain http', 'claude', CLAUDE_LINK.replace('https:', 'http:')],
+  ['a file URL', 'codex', 'file:///etc/passwd'],
+  ['a javascript URL', 'claude', 'javascript:alert(1)'],
+  ['a custom scheme', 'codex', 'ms-settings:network'],
+  ['malformed text', 'codex', 'not a url'],
+  ['an empty string', 'claude', ''],
+  ['credentials in the URL', 'codex', 'https://user:pw@auth.openai.com/oauth/authorize'],
+  ['an explicit port', 'codex', 'https://auth.openai.com:8443/oauth/authorize'],
+  ['a lookalike host', 'codex', 'https://auth.openai.com.evil.test/oauth/authorize'],
+  ['another provider', 'codex', CLAUDE_LINK],
+  ['another provider', 'claude', CODEX_LINK],
+  [
+    'a Claude link that calls back elsewhere',
+    'claude',
+    CLAUDE_LINK.replace('localhost', 'evil.test')
+  ]
+]
+
+describe('account sign-in link opener', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    openExternalMock.mockReset()
+    openExternalMock.mockResolvedValue(undefined)
+  })
+
+  it.each([
+    ['claude', CLAUDE_LINK],
+    ['codex', CODEX_LINK]
+  ] as const)('opens a %s sign-in page', (provider, link) => {
+    expect(isOpenableAccountSignInLink(provider, link)).toBe(true)
+    openAccountSignInLink(provider, link)
+    expect(openExternalMock).toHaveBeenCalledExactlyOnceWith(new URL(link).toString())
+  })
+
+  it.each(UNOPENABLE)('never opens %s (%s)', (_label, provider, link) => {
+    const warn = vi.spyOn(console, 'warn').mockImplementation(() => {})
+    expect(isOpenableAccountSignInLink(provider, link)).toBe(false)
+    openAccountSignInLink(provider, link)
+    expect(openExternalMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    warn.mockRestore()
+  })
+
+  it('survives the OS failing to open the browser', async () => {
+    const warn = vi.spyOn(console, 'warn').mockImplementation(() => {})
+    openExternalMock.mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error('no handler'))
+    expect(() => openAccountSignInLink('codex', CODEX_LINK)).not.toThrow()
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(warn).toHaveBeenCalled())
+    warn.mockRestore()
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/account-sign-in-link-opener.ts b/src/main/ipc/account-sign-in-link-opener.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8fa29f62a4d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/ipc/account-sign-in-link-opener.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+import { shell } from 'electron'
+import { isClaudeLocalSignInLink } from '../claude-accounts/claude-sign-in-browser'
+import { isCodexLoginAuthUrl } from '../codex-accounts/codex-login-auth-url'
+
+export type AccountSignInProvider = 'claude' | 'codex'
+
+/** A provider's own https sign-in page, the only thing a WSL login's link may open. */
+export function isOpenableAccountSignInLink(
+  provider: AccountSignInProvider,
+  signInLink: string
+): boolean {
+  let url: URL
+  try {
+    url = new URL(signInLink)
+  } catch {
+    return false
+  }
+  if (url.protocol !== 'https:' || url.username || url.password || url.port) {
+    return false
+  }
+  return provider === 'claude'
+    ? isClaudeLocalSignInLink(signInLink)
+    : isCodexLoginAuthUrl(signInLink)
+}
+
+/** Opens a WSL login's sign-in link in the user's browser; anything else is dropped. */
+export function openAccountSignInLink(provider: AccountSignInProvider, signInLink: string): void {
+  if (!isOpenableAccountSignInLink(provider, signInLink)) {
+    // Why the host only: the query carries OAuth state; the host is what a provider change moves.
+    console.warn(
+      `[${provider}-accounts] Refused to open a sign-in link on host ${linkHost(signInLink)}.`
+    )
+    return
+  }
+  void shell.openExternal(new URL(signInLink).toString()).catch((error: unknown) => {
+    console.warn(`[${provider}-accounts] Could not open the sign-in link:`, error)
+  })
+}
+
+function linkHost(signInLink: string): string {
+  try {
+    return new URL(signInLink).host || '(none)'
+  } catch {
+    return '(unparseable)'
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/claude-accounts.ts b/src/main/ipc/claude-accounts.ts
index a5f4a797f51..07fb93911fc 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/claude-accounts.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/claude-accounts.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 import { ipcMain } from 'electron'
 import type { ClaudeAccountService } from '../claude-accounts/service'
 import type { ClaudeAccountSelectionTarget } from '../claude-accounts/runtime-selection'
+import { openAccountSignInLink } from './account-sign-in-link-opener'
 
 export function registerClaudeAccountHandlers(claudeAccounts: ClaudeAccountService): void {
+  claudeAccounts.setWslSignInLinkOpener((signInLink) => openAccountSignInLink('claude', signInLink))
   ipcMain.handle('claudeAccounts:list', () => claudeAccounts.listAccounts())
   ipcMain.handle(
     'claudeAccounts:add',
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/codex-accounts.ts b/src/main/ipc/codex-accounts.ts
index fc1ec0bcb70..10014baf4b3 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/codex-accounts.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/codex-accounts.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { ipcMain } from 'electron'
 import type { CodexAccountAddTarget, CodexAccountService } from '../codex-accounts/service'
 import type { CodexAccountSelectionTarget } from '../codex-accounts/runtime-selection'
 import { broadcastCodexPendingLoginUrl } from './codex-pending-login-url-broadcast'
+import { openAccountSignInLink } from './account-sign-in-link-opener'
 import { listRecordedCodexPaneLanes } from '../codex/codex-pane-account-registry'
 import { forgetStaleCodexPanes, listStaleCodexPanes } from '../codex/codex-stale-pane-accounts'
 import type { GlobalSettings } from '../../shared/global-settings-types'
@@ -43,6 +44,7 @@ export function registerCodexAccountHandlers(
   // Why: Settings can open after the login already printed its link, so the
   // renderer reads the current value on mount and this only carries changes.
   codexAccounts.onPendingLoginUrlChanged(broadcastCodexPendingLoginUrl)
+  codexAccounts.setWslLoginUrlOpener((url) => openAccountSignInLink('codex', url))
   ipcMain.handle(
     'codexAccounts:reauthenticate',
     (_event, args: { accountId: string; activateIfSelectionWasEmpty?: boolean }) =>