Blink Blink

Troubleshooting

The problems people are most likely to hit, and what to do about each.

On this page

Windows says "Windows protected your PC"

Blink Blink isn't code-signed yet, so SmartScreen doesn't recognise it. Choose More info, then Run anyway. To check the file is the one we published, compare its SHA-256 hash with the one on the download section. See the Windows guide.

Windows: the app doesn't open, or a file is missing

  • Nothing seems to happen: Blink Blink may already be running in the tray. Click the ^ arrow next to the clock and look for the cat. Opening it a second time brings the running copy forward.
  • A message about a missing .dll: with the zip, the app needs every file in its folder. Extract the whole zip again, or use the installer.
  • The installer says a file is in use: quit Blink Blink from the tray (right-click the cat, then Quit) and run the installer again.

The rest scene shows a still picture, not the moving scene

That's on purpose. On Windows, a failed video open can take the whole app down, so Blink Blink only plays the video when it's safe and shows the still otherwise. You get the still when:

  • The H.264 decoder is missing. Windows N and KN editions don't include it until you install the Media Feature Pack (Settings › Apps › Optional features). Blink Blink checks for msmpeg2vdec.dll in System32.
  • You're in a remote desktop session. This is checked at every break, so the video comes back when you're at the PC again.
  • Reduced motion is on in your system settings.
  • The crash guard tripped. If a video open didn't come back, Blink Blink uses the still for the rest of that run. If it happens twice in a row, or two opens fail in one run, video stays off for good.

To turn video back on after the crash guard, reset Blink Blink. There's no switch for it in Settings yet.

No sound

  • Step sounds: check Sound cues is on (Settings › Exercises, Windows only) and use Hear the sounds to test each one.
  • Rest-scene sound: check Settings › Sound isn't Off. Music isn't available yet and plays as Nature.
  • Check the Windows volume mixer: Blink Blink has its own slider there.
  • Phones don't play step sounds; they use a soft buzz (Haptic cues).

Android: breaks don't appear

Android downloads aren't available yet; this is for when they are.

  1. Display over other apps must be allowed, or the break screen can't open while you're in another app. When a break can't open, you get a notification instead.
  2. Battery: set Blink Blink's battery use to Unrestricted (Settings › Apps › Blink Blink › Battery). Otherwise Android may stop the timer.
  3. Notifications should be on, so the ongoing notice keeps the counter running and fallbacks can show.
  4. Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO: also allow "Display pop-up windows while running in the background" under Other permissions.
  5. Other phone makers (Samsung, OnePlus, Huawei, Oppo, Vivo and others) add their own battery managers. Look for "sleeping apps", "auto-launch" or "background activity" and exempt Blink Blink.
  6. Breaks wait during calls, in landscape, and in your "Hold breaks in" apps (maps and camera to start with). That's expected.

iOS: the app stops opening after a week

iPhone downloads aren't available yet; this is for when they are. Apps sideloaded with a free Apple ID expire after 7 days. Refresh it in AltStore (Refresh All, with AltServer running on your computer on the same Wi-Fi) or reinstall it with Sideloadly. A paid Apple Developer account extends this to a year. See the iOS guide.

If breaks never show on iOS, check the Shortcuts automations are set to Run Immediately with Notify When Run off, and that Time Sensitive Notifications are allowed for Blink Blink.

Reset everything

There's no reset button in the app yet. This deletes all settings and break history and starts onboarding again:

  • Windows: quit from the tray, then delete the folder %APPDATA%\com.blinkblink\blink_blink. To keep your history, delete only shared_preferences.json in it.
  • Android: Settings › Apps › Blink Blink › Storage › Clear storage, or uninstall and reinstall.
  • iOS: delete the app and install it again.
Remove-Item -Recurse "$env:APPDATA\com.blinkblink\blink_blink"