Ghost inputs from pad #2 and later to pad #1 - AppleTV

Is there an existing issue for this?

• This is a bug in RetroArch frontend
• I have searched the existing issues

Description

When multiple controllers are connected on tvOS, RetroArch seems to treat some small parts of their inputs as if they belonged to Player 1 / Port 1. This causes inputs from pad 2 and pad 3 to “bleed into” Player 1, even in the main menu, with no core or game loaded. It happens when controller #2, #3 or #4 quickly presses d-pad. What is funny - pressing left/right shows up on Player 1 as up/down, and the opposite. It's not that all the moves are copied, only some small parts that are enough to rotate direction of Player 1.

All controllers are properly assigned to their corresponding port #s.

The same controllers work correctly in the Apple TV system UI and other apps (no cross-interference), so the behavior appears specific to RetroArch’s input handling on tvOS.

Only Player 1 is affected.

Expected behavior

Controller inputs are isolated to their port / player and do not affect each other.

Steps to reproduce the bug

1.	Connect 2 or 3 controllers to Apple TV (e.g., two 8BitDo pads or two DualSense pads).
2.	Launch RetroArch.
3.	Make sure you are in the main RetroArch menu (no game loaded).
4.	Configure input so that only Player 1 should control the menu:
•	Settings → Input → Menu Controls → All users control the menu = OFF
•	Settings → Input → Maximum Users = 1 (also tested with 2+)
•	Settings → Input → Port 1 Binds → Device Index explicitly set to pad #1
•	Settings → Input → Port 2 Binds → Device Index set to None / not used
5.	Use pad 1 and verify it can navigate the menu (expected).
6.	Now, on pad 2 (and pad 3 if available), rapidly press D-pad directions (left/right/up/down).

Version/Commit

1.22.2

Bisect Results

No response

Present in the nightly version

I don't know

Platform & operating system

tvOS 26.0.1, AppleTV 4K 3rd gen, A2843

Affected Cores

No response

Environment information

No response

Relevant log output

Reproduce the issue in the RetroArch main menu on tvOS 26.0.1 with multiple controllers and the listed port settings. Start by tracing the frontend input handling for tvOS and controller port assignment; done means d-pad input from pads 2–4 no longer affects Player 1.