FIX: Game Input Freezes but the Game Keeps Going (Android)
JackDiamond
Member Posts: 133 ★
TLDR:
- If your Android game input keeps freezing but the game keeps going; and then suddenly your input starts working again or your input all happens in a sudden 'splurge' at the end (see https://forums.playcontestofchampions.com/en/discussion/218033/game-input-freezes-but-the-game-keeps-going for example videos), and
- if you have tried all the usual fixes (clear space, clear game cache, restart the device, uninstall and reinstall game, complete clear of device cache, uninstall other apps, etc.) and still have a problem, try this:
Go in to your accessibility settings, find any accessibility services, and try turning them off one-by-one until you find one that seems to solve it (or turn them all off, then turn them on one-by-one until it comes back). Focus particularly on ones that create screen overlays like screen dimming/blue light filter apps (eg Twilight), or screen locking apps (eg Touch Protector). Ones that use it to automate actions don't *seem* to be a problem, though don't rely on that.
- Android 8: Settings > Accessibility > there's a list of services under the heading 'Services', look there for ones that are 'On', click on it and flip the switch.
- Android 9: Settings > Accessibility > Installed Services > look there for ones that are 'On', click on it and flip the switch
- If they aren't there then try going into settings and using the search option (a magnifying glass at the top) and typing 'Accessibility'.
==========================
The story:
Since May 2020 I had problems with input freeze (where the game keeps moving but I can't control it - see https://forums.playcontestofchampions.com/en/discussion/218033/game-input-freezes-but-the-game-keeps-going for video examples). I've tried everything recommended, and a few things that weren't, and while it got a bit better, nothing solved it. Finally after discovering a way to track CPU/GPU usage at least to a degree, I was able to see that... there was nothing awful. The game spikes usage heavily but nothing else seemed to be causing a problem or using a ton of resources; could it be just a problem with the game, as I had suspected 8 months ago when I first experienced it (because everything was fine, then the game updated and suddenly it started happening)? Short answer: yes and no.
I now believe the game's use of CPU and/or GPU had gone up a LOT in that update, and that was causing something else in my phone to have a problem. Specifically I have two apps running as 'Accessibility services'; actually I have more than that, but these two create overlays on top of the entire screen at certain times. And I as I discovered when I turned them off, one or both of those were what were blocking the input from reaching the game when the CPU/GPU got really busy, even though those apps themselves barely use any power/CPU. Remove the Accessibility Services, remove the problem; I've tested for over two weeks now and while the game still sometimes gets jerky I have yet to have the input freeze like before.
Please note that I don't believe that's a fault in the apps (I should know, I'm writing one that paces an overlay too), I think it's probably an issue with the OS, and an issue with the game using too many CPU/GPU resources; it just so happened that it showed up with these apps.
Hope that helps anyone still having issues
- If your Android game input keeps freezing but the game keeps going; and then suddenly your input starts working again or your input all happens in a sudden 'splurge' at the end (see https://forums.playcontestofchampions.com/en/discussion/218033/game-input-freezes-but-the-game-keeps-going for example videos), and
- if you have tried all the usual fixes (clear space, clear game cache, restart the device, uninstall and reinstall game, complete clear of device cache, uninstall other apps, etc.) and still have a problem, try this:
Go in to your accessibility settings, find any accessibility services, and try turning them off one-by-one until you find one that seems to solve it (or turn them all off, then turn them on one-by-one until it comes back). Focus particularly on ones that create screen overlays like screen dimming/blue light filter apps (eg Twilight), or screen locking apps (eg Touch Protector). Ones that use it to automate actions don't *seem* to be a problem, though don't rely on that.
- Android 8: Settings > Accessibility > there's a list of services under the heading 'Services', look there for ones that are 'On', click on it and flip the switch.
- Android 9: Settings > Accessibility > Installed Services > look there for ones that are 'On', click on it and flip the switch
- If they aren't there then try going into settings and using the search option (a magnifying glass at the top) and typing 'Accessibility'.
==========================
The story:
Since May 2020 I had problems with input freeze (where the game keeps moving but I can't control it - see https://forums.playcontestofchampions.com/en/discussion/218033/game-input-freezes-but-the-game-keeps-going for video examples). I've tried everything recommended, and a few things that weren't, and while it got a bit better, nothing solved it. Finally after discovering a way to track CPU/GPU usage at least to a degree, I was able to see that... there was nothing awful. The game spikes usage heavily but nothing else seemed to be causing a problem or using a ton of resources; could it be just a problem with the game, as I had suspected 8 months ago when I first experienced it (because everything was fine, then the game updated and suddenly it started happening)? Short answer: yes and no.
I now believe the game's use of CPU and/or GPU had gone up a LOT in that update, and that was causing something else in my phone to have a problem. Specifically I have two apps running as 'Accessibility services'; actually I have more than that, but these two create overlays on top of the entire screen at certain times. And I as I discovered when I turned them off, one or both of those were what were blocking the input from reaching the game when the CPU/GPU got really busy, even though those apps themselves barely use any power/CPU. Remove the Accessibility Services, remove the problem; I've tested for over two weeks now and while the game still sometimes gets jerky I have yet to have the input freeze like before.
Please note that I don't believe that's a fault in the apps (I should know, I'm writing one that paces an overlay too), I think it's probably an issue with the OS, and an issue with the game using too many CPU/GPU resources; it just so happened that it showed up with these apps.
Hope that helps anyone still having issues
0
Comments
1) Don't know if there's something similar in IOS but it would be worth looking for
2) I posted this here, as well as the specific bug thread, so that it was easily searchable, noticeable, and people can ask questions/discuss/answer. I hope the mods will leave it here.