fix: preserve Android controller fallback

app/src/main/cpp/sdl3bridge/src/main.c

@@ -359,8 +359,7 @@ static void refresh_status(JNIEnv *env)
         SDL_free(ids);
         snprintf(diag, sizeof(diag),
                  "Forced SDL3 USB mode: waiting for the USB driver. Plug the controller in with a USB-C cable, "
-                 "then tap 'Force SDL3 USB driver' and allow USB access (or switch Controller source to Auto to "
-                 "also use Bluetooth / Android-only controllers). Ignored Android-only controllers: %d", ignored);
+                 "then tap 'Force SDL3 USB driver' and allow USB access. Android-only controllers: %d", ignored);
         if (!atomic_load(&g_force))
             snprintf(diag, sizeof(diag), "Waiting for a controller: plug any SDL3-supported controller in via USB-C "
                      "(full features) or connect it over Bluetooth");

app/src/main/java/com/droiddeck/launcher/ui/SdlBridgeSettings.kt

@@ -236,7 +236,9 @@ internal fun SdlBridgeSettingsTab(host: MenuHost, track: (String) -> Modifier =
         ToggleRow(host, "sdl3-driver", "SDL3 driver",
             "On: SDL3 reads the controller (all its features). Off: the controller goes back to Android and DroidDeck.",
             s.getBoolean("driverEnabled"), chipModifier = track("sdl3-driver")) { SdlBridgeLink.set("driverEnabled", bool = it) }
-        BridgeChoiceRow(host, "sdl3-source", "Controller source", "Which controllers SDL3 uses.",
+        if (s.getBoolean("embedded")) SettingsRow("Bluetooth and built-in controllers",
+            "Handled by DroidDeck's Android input. SDL3 handles USB controllers.") {}
+        else BridgeChoiceRow(host, "sdl3-source", "Controller source", "Which controllers SDL3 uses.",
             listOf(false to "USB + Bluetooth (auto)", true to "USB only (forced)"), s.getBoolean("forceUsb"), chipModifier = track("sdl3-source")) {
             SdlBridgeLink.set("forceUsb", bool = it)
         }

app/src/main/java/com/example/dsedge/BridgeActivity.java

@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ public class BridgeActivity extends android.app.Activity implements NativeBridge
         // ---- SDL3 driver ----
         LinearLayout drv = card(root);
         cardTitle(drv, "SDL3 driver");
-        addSpinner(drv, "Controller source", new String[] {
+        if (!Host.embedded(this)) addSpinner(drv, "Controller source", new String[] {
             "Auto: any controller (SDL3 USB driver when plugged in, else Android/Bluetooth)",
             "Forced: only SDL3's USB driver (USB cable only)"
         }, Settings.forceUsb ? 1 : 0, v -> {

app/src/main/java/com/example/dsedge/BridgeService.java

@@ -832,6 +832,7 @@ public class BridgeService extends Service implements NativeBridge.Listener {
         b.putInt("presentAs", Settings.presentAs);
         b.putBoolean("driverEnabled", Settings.driverEnabled);
         b.putBoolean("forceUsb", Settings.forceUsb);
+        b.putBoolean("embedded", Host.embedded(this));
         b.putInt("pollMs", Settings.pollMs);
         b.putBoolean("bubble", Settings.bubble);
         // choices

app/src/main/java/com/example/dsedge/Host.java

@@ -16,6 +16,11 @@ final class Host {
         return c != null && !OWN_PACKAGE.equals(c.getPackageName());
     }
 
+    static boolean usbOnly(Context c, boolean configured) {
+        // Android input events go to DroidDeck's activity, outside the headless SDL process.
+        return embedded(c) || configured;
+    }
+
     /** A preferences file name of the bridge: unchanged as its own app, prefixed when built into another app. */
     static String prefs(Context c, String name) {
         return embedded(c) ? "sdl3bridge_" + name : name;

app/src/main/java/com/example/dsedge/NativeBridge.java

@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ public final class NativeBridge {
 
     /** Forced mode: ignore Android's basic input and only use SDL's own USB driver. */
     static void applyForce() {
-        try { nativeSetForce(Settings.forceUsb ? 1 : 0); } catch (UnsatisfiedLinkError e) { }
+        try { nativeSetForce(Host.usbOnly(appContext, Settings.forceUsb) ? 1 : 0); } catch (UnsatisfiedLinkError e) { }
     }
 
     static void rescan() {
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ public final class NativeBridge {
         try {
             nativeSetDriver(Settings.driverEnabled ? 1 : 0);
             nativeSetHookup(hookupMode());
-            if (Settings.driverEnabled) nativeSetForce(Settings.forceUsb ? 1 : 0);
+            if (Settings.driverEnabled) nativeSetForce(Host.usbOnly(appContext, Settings.forceUsb) ? 1 : 0);
         } catch (UnsatisfiedLinkError e) { }
     }
 

app/src/test/java/com/example/dsedge/EmbeddedBridgeTest.kt

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package com.example.dsedge
 
 import android.app.Application
 import android.content.ComponentName
+import android.content.ContextWrapper
 import android.content.pm.PackageManager
 import org.junit.Assert.assertEquals
 import org.junit.Assert.assertFalse
@@ -41,4 +42,16 @@ class EmbeddedBridgeTest {
         assertEquals("sdl3bridge_settings", Host.prefs(app, "settings"))
         assertEquals("sdl3bridge_engine", Host.prefs(app, "engine"))
     }
+
+    @Test
+    fun headlessEmbeddedDriverLeavesAndroidControllersToDroidDeck() {
+        val app = RuntimeEnvironment.getApplication()
+        assertTrue(Host.usbOnly(app, false))
+        assertTrue(Host.usbOnly(app, true))
+        val standalone = object : ContextWrapper(app) {
+            override fun getPackageName() = Host.OWN_PACKAGE
+        }
+        assertFalse(Host.usbOnly(standalone, false))
+        assertTrue(Host.usbOnly(standalone, true))
+    }
 }

docs/development/sdl3-controllers.md

@@ -3,7 +3,9 @@
 The integrated bridge runs in DroidDeck's `:sdl3` process. Open **Settings → SDL3Bridge**
 or the SDL3Bridge page in the session drawer to configure up to four controllers.
 USB controllers use SDL3's HID drivers; Android input remains the fallback for
-Bluetooth and built-in controllers. Steam Native Hook-up forwards a USB controller's
+Bluetooth and built-in controllers. The embedded driver only claims USB controllers:
+Android events are delivered to DroidDeck's activity and cannot reach the separate
+headless SDL process. Steam Native Hook-up forwards a USB controller's
 identity and reports to Steam so Steam can use its own controller driver.
 
 USB access requires Android's device permission. The optional floating control also