How do I pause or change the simulation speed?

Check difficulty and session type

The time-control bar is available in ordinary Easy and Normal sessions. Hard disables the normal bar and its time shortcuts outside training. Training bypasses that difficulty restriction, but Selecting Identities hides the bar for the exercise. Its default time shortcuts still work when no text field or Escape menu has focus. Use Escape and check that the main menu has opened for a visible pause control. See difficulty differences and the lesson controls.

Pause and resume

1. When the time controls are available, click II or press the backquote key to pause. Check that the bar reads PAUSED.
2. To resume at normal speed, click 1x or press 1. For faster simulation choose 2x / key 2, or 5x / key 3. Backquote pauses; pressing it again does not resume.
3. The Escape menu also pauses the session while open, including on Hard. Closing that menu restores the previous state: if time was already paused, it stays paused. Escape may first close a smaller window, so check that the main menu overlay opened.
4. Before assuming pause failed, compare Game Time in the status banner. The real-time session timer can keep counting; see which clock to watch.

Choose a speed

If the number keys do not change speed

The time hotkeys are ignored while a text field has focus or the Escape menu is open. For example, typing 1, 2 or 3 into a search field should not accelerate the simulation. Finish typing and use the visible speed buttons when available. In v0.8.16.0 this time-control handler reads the physical backquote and top-row 1/2/3 keys directly; do not assume changing another keyboard binding changes these keys. Use the on-screen controls if your keyboard layout makes backquote difficult to find.

Learn at normal speed

Use 1× while learning identification and support procedures. Pause to read, then resume and watch the next update. When reporting an unexpected event, include whether the game was paused or running at an accelerated rate.

A timer can keep counting while paused

The session timer counts real time. Game Time follows simulation time. Read which clock to watch and the status-banner readouts before deciding that pause has failed.

What happens when you switch apps?

In v0.8.16.0, the game pauses when its window loses focus and normally resumes at the previous speed when you return. A game already paused stays paused. For a deliberate pause that should remain when you return, open the Escape menu and check that it is visible before switching apps. On returning, check Game Time and the time controls before continuing. Closing the Escape menu restores its previous time state, as described above.