unresponsive Archives

AppWizard

August 28, 2026

Google warns Android app developers to reduce memory usage, with new thresholds set to begin in February 2027.

Google Play is implementing two key requirements to improve app quality and user experience. 1. Reducing App Memory Usage: Google Play is setting broader memory limits to prevent excessive memory consumption by apps. Developers must adhere to specific performance thresholds, including: - Dynamic Memory Usage: Monitoring memory used for an app's private data storage. - Bitmap Memory Usage: Ensuring bitmaps are not retained longer than necessary. - Optimized DEX Code: Achieving a minimum of 25% coverage with optimization tools like R8. To assist developers, Google Play has introduced tools for monitoring memory usage and tracking crashes due to insufficient memory. Warnings will be issued if apps exceed the new thresholds. 2. Ensuring a Seamless Device Migration Experience: Starting in April 2027, all apps supporting user sign-in must use the Android Restore Credentials API for automatic restoration of sign-in states when switching devices. Game apps are currently exempt, but guidance will be provided for handling authentication in gaming applications in 2027.

AppWizard

August 28, 2026

Did A New Google ‘Pulse’ App Just Appear On Your Android Phone? Here’s What It Does

A new app called Pulse has been released on the Play Store, quickly reaching over 10 million downloads. It is an existing Google system service that became more visible in the settings app following a recent update and has been in place since March. Pulse may collect information related to app performance but does not share data with third parties. It can be accessed on Pixel devices through Settings > Google services > All services > Privacy & security > System services. Disabling system services like Pulse could disrupt features, so it is advisable to keep it installed. Pulse helps monitor resource usage in Android, including battery drain, memory usage, and CPU activity, and is part of Google's efforts to track issues within the operating system. Google plans to implement stricter measures against apps that excessively consume resources.

AppWizard

August 25, 2026

Windows update that breaks some multiplayer games linked to our desire for gaming PCs that light up all the colors of the rainbow

A bug following the Windows update KB5121003 has caused several games, including Arc Raiders, Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, and The Finals, to become unresponsive. Embark Studios suggested that the crashes are linked to the driver inpoutx64.sys and recommended disabling it through the Command Prompt. Microsoft confirmed that the update is the cause of the issues and is investigating a potential connection between RGB lighting components and the affected games. They provided a method to disable the driver via the registry, advising users to back up the registry first. Disabling the driver may affect RGB lighting features. Users can also consider rolling back to a previous Windows update as a temporary solution.

Winsage

August 24, 2026

Windows 11 Update Breaks Games: The RGB Fix

The cumulative update for Windows 11, KB5121003, has caused game freezes and crashes for users, attributed to conflicts with third-party software and drivers managing RGB components, particularly related to the inpoutx64.sys file. Affected games include ARC Raiders, MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, and THE FINALS, with symptoms such as unresponsive games, sudden closures with an EXCEPTIONACCESSVIOLATION message, and unexpected system reboots. Microsoft has not provided a permanent fix but suggests users report issues via the Windows 11 Feedback Hub and consider removing or renaming the problematic driver as a temporary measure.

Winsage

August 23, 2026

“Sort of a feature,” Microsoft on why Ctrl+C fails on Windows 11 due to a design choice

Microsoft's clipboard history service operates asynchronously, which can cause issues when executing multiple copy commands quickly. This design choice can lead to scenarios where the clipboard is locked by another program, preventing new content from being copied. Common culprits include the Remote Desktop clipboard redirector and various background utilities like Intel Arc Control and HP Smart. The clipboard may fail to register rapid Ctrl+C presses, often only storing the last copied item due to the way the Clipboard history service notifies programs of changes. Developers can manage clipboard changes more effectively by using the Clipboard.HistoryChanged event from the WinRT clipboard API. Additionally, some applications may experience delayed rendering, leading to outdated or empty clipboard history. These clipboard issues have been present in earlier versions of Windows as well.

AppWizard

August 21, 2026

The latest Windows 11 update is borking some multiplayer games, but Arc Raiders’ developer has a quick workaround

Microsoft is investigating game crashes following the Windows update released on or after August 11. Symptoms include unresponsive game applications, unexpected closures, the error message "EXCEPTIONACCESSVIOLATION," and unexpected device restarts. Confirmed crashes have been reported in games such as Arc Raiders, Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, and The Finals. Users can provide feedback through the Feedback Hub app. A temporary workaround suggested by Embark Studios involves commands in Command Prompt to stop and delete "inpoutx64" and its associated file. The update KB5121003 includes over 400 security updates, but it is unclear if they are responsible for the gaming issues. Some users have experienced graphical corruption in games like Valorant and Roblox, and uninstalling KB5121003 has resolved black screen issues for some. To revert Windows updates, users can search for Windows Update in the Start menu, click on Update history, select Uninstall updates, and uninstall update KB5120708.

AppWizard

August 21, 2026

Are your PC games crashing after the latest Windows 11 update? Microsoft is investigating whether a nasty new bug is the cause

Windows 11's latest update has caused significant issues for various PC games, with Microsoft acknowledging that some games have become unresponsive following the August patch. Affected titles include Arc Raiders, Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, and The Finals. Microsoft is investigating potential links to peripherals or internal components with RGB lighting, which may have problematic drivers like inpoutx64. Discussions suggest that tightened kernel handle validation in the update has exposed driver glitches, leading to game crashes. Players who have not installed the August update may remain unaffected. Suggested workarounds include removing the inpoutx64 driver file by using Command Prompt commands to stop and delete the driver, followed by deleting any instances of the file in the system directory. Many gamers are expressing frustration on social media, with some suggesting alternatives like Linux for a more stable gaming experience. Microsoft is currently investigating the situation.

Winsage

August 20, 2026

Microsoft probes reports of games taking exception to Windows 11’s August update

Microsoft is investigating reports of game stability issues following the August Patch Tuesday update for Windows 11, specifically the release of KB5121003 for versions 24H2 and 25H2. Users have reported that certain games may become unresponsive, unexpectedly close, or trigger an "EXCEPTIONACCESSVIOLATION" error, leading to device restarts. Affected titles include ARC Raiders, MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, and The Finals. Microsoft has not confirmed if the issues are caused by their update but is looking into the situation. The update addressed 421 Microsoft CVEs, with 236 affecting Windows systems. Microsoft has also tightened its stance on outdated kernel drivers and initiated the Driver Quality Initiative to enhance OS stability.

Winsage

August 20, 2026

Windows 11 August Update is Breaking Games, Microsoft Investigates

Microsoft has acknowledged that the Windows 11 August update is causing significant gaming performance issues for several popular titles, including ARC Raiders, MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, and The Finals. Users are experiencing problems such as forced crashes, random freezes, and unexpected device restarts. Symptoms include unresponsive game applications, applications closing without notice, the error message "EXCEPTIONACCESSVIOLATION," and unexpected device restarts. Microsoft is investigating these disruptions and encourages affected users to report their experiences through the Feedback Hub.

AppWizard

August 20, 2026

The latest Windows 11 update is borking some multiplayer games, but Arc Raiders’ developer has a quick workaround

Microsoft is investigating crashes affecting a limited number of games following a Windows update on or after August 11. Symptoms include unresponsive game applications, unexpected closures, the error message "EXCEPTIONACCESSVIOLATION," and unexpected device restarts. Confirmed crashes have been reported in games such as Arc Raiders, Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, and The Finals. Users are encouraged to provide feedback through the Feedback Hub app. A temporary workaround involves entering specific commands in Command Prompt to stop and delete the inpoutx64 driver. The update KB5121003, which includes over 400 security updates, may be related to these issues, and some users have resolved black screen problems by uninstalling it. Users can also roll back their Windows version by uninstalling update KB5120708.