Target Switching Locked? Unable to transfer crew

[OscarJade]

This has cropped up recently; I'm suddenly unable to transfer crew between docked spacecraft, or between spacecraft docked with space stations. I get a message that says "Target Switching Locked." How can I rectify this? Thanks! 

[SteveD80]

I have found switching to a vessel out of physics range or the space center and switching back will fix it.

[Mahnarch]

This is the same game/save as before?

You don't need to unlock whatever building needs unlocked, do ya?

 

If only they could all be that simple.

[bewing]

As Mahnarch implied -- what level is your current Tracking Station?

[davidpsummers]

I have this probably trying to switch internally (docked ship to another part) on my space station.  It has always been difficult.  Even when it works, I have to click over-and-over.  (Because it is large?)

[bewing]

 

2 hours ago, davidpsummers said:

I have this probably trying to switch internally (docked ship to another part) on my space station.  It has always been difficult.  Even when it works, I have to click over-and-over.  (Because it is large?)

Actually, I saw this recently -- it is a result of the "targeting" function getting confused. If you have one ship set as the target of the other ship, and then you dock them together -- then there is no target anymore. So you have to switch focus away (to the space center, or another ship) and then switch back to the docked ships to clear it -- as SteveD80 said.

[scottadges]

I know this thread is over 4 years old, but I thought I'd ask the question for those who Google this problem and find this thread.

I'm consistently having a problem getting the "Target switching locked" when trying to transfer crew between modules of different docked ships.

I have tried switching to another vehicle outside physics range (doesn't work consistently, still get the issue) and also going back to Space Center --> Tracking Station --> loading specific craft (doesn't resolve the issue).

Are there any other troubleshooting tricks that can be tried here? What about Clearing Input Locks from the F12 menu (I literally just thought of that and will try it now) ???

UPDATE 20 MINUTES LATER:

If you go into ALT-F12 and look for "Input Locks" then Clear Input Locks, this does work to clear the "Target Switching Locked" notification and allow you to switch crew between modules.

I saw somewhere else posted that ALT-TAB'ing out of KSP into Windows can cause the Target Switching Locked to go into effect, but that doesn't appear to be a problem for me.

UPDATE 30 MINUTES AFTER THAT:

Arrrrggghhhhh... Now I'm getting the "Target Switching Locked" again and Clear Input Locks DOES NOT clear it. I've already backed out to Space Center, then back to the station, etc. and keep getting this effect preventing me from moving crew members (both Tourist and regular) between docked ships.

HELP?!?!

FINAL EDIT:

After much back-and-forth... and several KSP restarts... It seems the ALT-TAB'ing may in fact be a more consistent cause of the "Target Switching Locked" notification.

In all my attempts / tests, when I did not ALT-TAB out of KSP, I didn't get the notification. Although I was inconsistently able to clear the notification in other tests with Clear Input Locks, I don't think that's a guaranteed route. It would work fine for a couple crew transfers, but then I'd get that dang notification again. Even switching to the Tracking Station, then back to the craft, the "Target Switching Locked" would still prevent crew transfers between modules.

My Final Note:

If you're experiencing the "Target Switching Locked" issue, go ahead and restart KSP, load into your specific craft/station, and then DO NOT ALT-TAB out of KSP if you're planning to do a lot of crew transferring between modules.

Edited November 10, 2020 by scottadges

[Serenity]

2 hours ago, scottadges said:

HELP?!?!

If you keep spamming it does it work?

Do you have the 'obey fuel crossfeed rules' setting turned on?

i found a post in steam that disabling that might help with big vessels

[scottadges]

3 minutes ago, Boyster said:

If you keep spamming it does it work?

Unfortunately, spamming this doesn't do anything. Once you get that notification, you just can't transfer kerbals by clicking on the modules. 

I updated my final note just a moment ago, but to reiterate, my anecdotal testing held that ALT-TAB'ing out of KSP seemed a more reliable cause of the "Target Switching Locked" notification. When I restarted KSP on several tries and did not ALT-TAB out, I did not experience the problem.

Edited November 10, 2020 by scottadges

[Serenity]

15 minutes ago, scottadges said:

Unfortunately, spamming this doesn't do anything. Once you get that notification, you just can't transfer kerbals by clicking on the modules. 

I updated my final note just a moment ago, but to reiterate, my anecdotal testing held that ALT-TAB'ing out of KSP seemed a more reliable cause of the "Target Switching Locked" notification. When I restarted KSP on several tries and did not ALT-TAB out, I did not experience the problem.

Huh might be something with the ->Windowed/Full Screen or Vsync or Very high resolution(4k)

but if thats the case clear input locks should be able to solve your problem, not sure, i am running out of ideas.

[AHHans]

One thing that seemed to have helped when I ran into this problem is to not have any other parts in the "line of sight" to the target capsule. I.e. that KSP can not be confused which part I meant when clicking. I also switched between left and right clicking (i.e. opening and closing random PAWs), and canceling the transfer and trying again. It is an annoying problem, but - up to now - I always managed to transfer the Kerbal where I wanted them to go in the end.

[jimmymcgoochie]

I’ve seen this issue many times before with crew transfers, but the easy way around it seems to be to first click and hold on the destination part for about a second, then click it quickly and it usually works first time and almost always by the third try.