Troubleshooting Guide

Solutions to common issues and problems with ControlNav.

Installation Issues

Windows Defender SmartScreen Warning

Problem: SmartScreen blocks installation

Solution:

  1. Click "More info" on the warning dialog
  2. Click "Run anyway"
  3. This is normal for new applications without widespread download history

Permission Denied Error

Problem: Installation fails with access denied

Solution:

  1. Right-click the installer
  2. Select "Run as administrator"
  3. Approve the UAC prompt
  4. Try installation again

Hotkey Issues

Hotkey Doesn't Work

Problem: Ctrl+Alt+U doesn't activate ControlNav

Possible Causes and Solutions:

  1. Conflicting Application

    • Another application is using the same hotkey
    • Close other applications one by one to identify the conflict
    • Common conflicts: Remote desktop tools, macro programs

  2. ControlNav Not Running

    • Check if ControlNav icon is in the system tray
    • If not, launch ControlNav from Start menu

  3. Hotkey Blocked by Game/Fullscreen App

    • Some fullscreen applications block global hotkeys
    • Try switching to windowed mode

Changing the Hotkey

Current Method (registry):

  1. Open Registry Editor (regedit)
  2. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ControlNav\Settings
  3. Modify shortcutKey value
  4. Restart ControlNav

Note: Future versions will support changing the hotkey in the Settings dialog.

Window Not Appearing

ControlNav Window Doesn't Show

Problem: Hotkey doesn't open the window

Solutions:

  1. Check if window is already open

    • Alt+Tab to see all windows
    • ControlNav may already be open in the background

  2. Application has no controls

    • Some applications don't expose controls via UI Automation
    • Try a different application (e.g., Notepad)

  3. Window off-screen

    • Connect to a different monitor setup may leave window off-screen
    • Delete registry settings to reset window position

Control List Issues

No Controls Found

Problem: Control list is empty

Possible Causes:

  1. Application uses custom UI framework

    • Application doesn't support Windows UI Automation
    • Examples: Some games, Java applications without access bridge

  2. Wrong window selected

    • ControlNav captured a splash screen or background window
    • Try activating from the main application window

  3. Administrative Application

    • Application running as administrator, ControlNav is not
    • Restart ControlNav as administrator

Controls Not Responding to Actions

Problem: Click/Focus doesn't work on selected control

Solutions:

  1. Try different action type

    • Some controls don't support Click
    • Try Focus or Double Click instead

  2. Custom control implementation

    • Application may have non-standard control implementation
    • Try using Focus, then keyboard to interact

  3. Disabled control

    • Control may be disabled in the application
    • ControlNav shows all controls, including disabled ones

Search Filter Issues

Filter Not Working

Problem: Typing doesn't filter the list

Solution:

  1. Ensure focus is in the filter box
  2. Clear the box (Ctrl+A, then Delete)
  3. Try typing again

Too Many/Too Few Results

Problem: Filter shows unexpected results

Tips:

  • Search is case-insensitive
  • Search matches partial words
  • Multiple words must all match (AND logic)
  • Check filter checkboxes (show/hide empty titles, menus)

Screen Reader Issues

Screen Reader Not Announcing Changes

Problem: JAWS/NVDA/Narrator doesn't announce selections

Solutions:

  1. Restart Screen Reader

    • Exit and restart your screen reader
    • Try ControlNav again

  2. Update Screen Reader

    • Ensure you have the latest version
    • NVDA 2019.3 or later recommended

  3. Check Screen Reader Settings

    • Enable "Announce selection changes"
    • Enable "Announce list items"

Incorrect Announcements

Problem: Screen reader announces wrong information

Solution:

  1. This may be an application-specific issue
  2. Report to GitHub with details about the application

Performance Issues

Slow to Load Control List

Problem: Long delay before window appears

Causes:

  • Application has hundreds of controls
  • Recursive tree walking takes time for complex UIs

Solutions:

  • This is normal for very large applications
  • Consider using filter to narrow down results quickly

ControlNav Uses Too Much Memory

Problem: High memory usage

Note: ControlNav typically uses less than 10 MB of RAM. If you see higher usage:

  1. Close and reopen ControlNav
  2. Check for memory leaks and report if persistent

Settings Issues

Settings Not Saving

Problem: Changes in Settings dialog don't persist

Solutions:

  1. Registry Access

    • Run ControlNav as administrator once
    • Check write permissions to HKEY_CURRENT_USER

  2. Corrupted Registry Key

    • Delete HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ControlNav
    • Restart ControlNav (creates fresh settings)

Auto-Start Not Working

Problem: ControlNav doesn't start with Windows

Solutions:

  1. Check Settings

    • Open Settings dialog
    • Verify "Start with Windows" is checked
    • Click OK to save

  2. Verify Registry

    • Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Value: ControlNav should point to exe path

  3. Startup Apps Settings

    • Windows Settings → Apps → Startup
    • Find ControlNav and enable it

Getting Help

Still Having Problems?

  1. Check GitHub Issues

    • Search existing issues for your problem
    • Someone may have already found a solution

  2. Report a Bug

    • Create a new GitHub issue
    • Include:
      • Windows version
      • ControlNav version (from About dialog)
      • Screen reader (if applicable)
      • Steps to reproduce

  3. Contact Support

    • Visit the ControlNav website
    • Use the contact form for direct support

Useful Information to Include

When reporting issues, please include:

  • ControlNav Version: From About dialog
  • Windows Version: Run winver command
  • Screen Reader: Name and version
  • Target Application: What app you were using
  • Error Messages: Exact text of any errors
  • Steps to Reproduce: How to trigger the problem

Next Steps