> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.rivalryze.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.rivalryze.com/fair-play/auto-pop-and-fair-play.md).

# Auto-Pop and Fair Play

Some trophies unlock on their own. If you already earned achievements in a game on one platform, then start another version of it (for example the PS5 version of a PS4 game), the second platform can unlock a pile of trophies within seconds. This is called an **auto-pop**. It's normal platform behaviour, not cheating, but it isn't new play either.

RivalRyze flags these auto-pops so they don't inflate Battle scores.

## How an auto-pop gets flagged

The check runs when your PlayStation trophies sync. A group of unlocks is flagged when all of this is true:

* **They arrived in a burst.** Several trophies unlocked a few seconds apart, within the first minutes after you started unlocking that game on that platform.
* **You already had them elsewhere.** The same achievements were unlocked on another platform you linked (another PlayStation version, Steam or Xbox) at least a day earlier.
* **Most of the burst matches.** Only the unlocks that match your earlier progress are flagged; the rest of the burst stays normal.

{% hint style="info" %}
Today the automatic check covers PlayStation trophies only. Steam and Xbox unlocks are not flagged automatically.
{% endhint %}

## What a flag changes

| Where                                                                   | Flagged auto-pop                                                                       |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Achievement Points Battle** and **Completion Points Battle** scores   | Doesn't count                                                                          |
| Achievement leaderboards (daily, weekly, monthly and all-time)          | Doesn't count                                                                          |
| Guild stats and Month in Review                                         | Doesn't count                                                                          |
| Your profile's total points                                             | Still counts                                                                           |
| Hunter Battles (Achievement Hunter, Completion Hunter, Platinum Hunter) | Not checked: these modes only look at whether you reached the target during the Battle |

Organic unlocks are never affected. A flag only covers the specific trophies that matched your earlier progress.

## What you see

* In a Contest's **Highlights** tab, a flagged achievement has a red border. Hover it to read: "This achievement was flagged as auto-pop and will not count toward contest points."
* Your achievement list inside a Points Battle leaves flagged unlocks out, so it matches your score.

Hosts don't need to do anything. Flags apply automatically, and there's no host review step.

## Other fair-play rules in every Battle

These rules apply to every Contest, whatever the platform:

* **Only the Battle window counts in Points Battles.** In Points and Live Service Battles, an unlock or match counts from the later of the Battle's start and the moment you joined, until the end date. Late joiners start from zero.
* **Nothing after the end date counts**, even if it syncs during the final review. See [Auto-Start Rules](/contests/auto-start-rules.md).
* **No head starts on targets.** You can't join an **Achievement Hunter Battle** if you already have the achievement, a **Platinum Hunter Battle** if you already have the platinum, or a **Completion Hunter Battle** for a game you've already completed 100%.
* **Your accounts are locked in.** Once a Battle starts, the Steam, PlayStation, Xbox and Dota 2 accounts recorded on your entry stay the ones that count.
* **Unlocks need a real date.** An unlock the platform reports without a date never falls inside a Battle window, so it never counts.

Every Contest's **Rules** tab also states that manipulating timestamps, exploiting glitches, using unauthorized software or falsifying trophy data leads to disqualification. League of Legends and TFT Battles add rules against smurfing and score manipulation, which can lead to a permanent ban and lost winnings.

## Think a flag is wrong?

If you believe organic play was flagged by mistake, [contact support](/help-and-faq/contact-support.md) with the game and platform. The RivalRyze team can review a flagged group and mark it as counted.

## Related

* [What is a Contest](/contests/what-is-a-contest.md)
* [Battles](/contests/battles.md)
* [Objective Modes](/contests/objective-modes.md)
* [Troubleshooting Sync Issues](/connecting-gaming-platforms/troubleshooting-sync.md)
* [Contact Support](/help-and-faq/contact-support.md)