diff --git a/core/src/com/unciv/MainMenuScreen.kt b/core/src/com/unciv/MainMenuScreen.kt
index 462b26b0dc..618625d4f7 100644
--- a/core/src/com/unciv/MainMenuScreen.kt
+++ b/core/src/com/unciv/MainMenuScreen.kt
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import com.badlogic.gdx.scenes.scene2d.actions.Actions
 import com.badlogic.gdx.scenes.scene2d.ui.ScrollPane
 import com.badlogic.gdx.scenes.scene2d.ui.Table
 import com.badlogic.gdx.utils.Align
+import com.unciv.logic.GameInfo
 import com.unciv.logic.GameSaver
 import com.unciv.logic.GameStarter
 import com.unciv.logic.map.mapgenerator.MapGenerator
@@ -165,15 +166,25 @@ class MainMenuScreen: CameraStageBaseScreen() {
 
 
     private fun autoLoadGame() {
-        try {
-            game.loadGame(autosave)
-            dispose()
-        }
-        catch (outOfMemory:OutOfMemoryError){
-            ResponsePopup("Not enough memory on phone to load game!", this)
-        }
-        catch (ex: Exception) { // silent fail if we can't read the autosave
-            ResponsePopup("Cannot resume game!", this)
+        ResponsePopup("Loading...", this)
+        thread { // Load game from file to class on separate thread to avoid ANR...
+            val savedGame: GameInfo
+            try {
+                savedGame = GameSaver.loadGameByName(autosave)
+            } catch (outOfMemory: OutOfMemoryError) {
+                ResponsePopup("Not enough memory on phone to load game!", this)
+                return@thread
+            }
+
+            Gdx.app.postRunnable { /// ... and load it into the screen on main thread for GL context
+                try {
+                    game.loadGame(savedGame)
+                    dispose()
+                } catch (ex: Exception) { // silent fail if we can't read the autosave
+                    ResponsePopup("Cannot resume game!", this)
+                }
+
+            }
         }
     }