USB-C controller connected to iPhone, buttons unresponsive

I have a controller (like the backbone, but on off brand no name device) that connects via USB-C. It’s worked for months with no issues.

just recently, when I plug my phone into it, it lights up (it’s powered entirely by my phone) and shows the games animation of controller connected, but no button presses work?

Not even the power button (which will pause the game if playing a game, will otherwise take to the Games App in iOS) works.

I use it to play Minecraft, so I thought maybe the new 26.0 update for Minecraft broke it, so I tried Asphalt, a game that normally works great on the controller. But the same thing, it doesn’t work.

my phone definitely recognizes there’s a controller connected, cos it plays the “controller connected” animation,

but none of the buttons or joysticks work.

it’s made my controller unusable.

I have an iPhone 17 pro max,

Running 26.3 iOS

Minecraft is 26.0 , asphalt is 49.1.2 I think?

I’ve tried restarting my phone, tried restarting my game app with controller connected, with it disconnected, etc.

it did this last week, but I just kept restarting Minecraft until it finally worked.not sure what fixed it , cos I’ve been completely unable to use it since.