"the app would lose connection with the amp" - is the only thing making you say that the fact that mod effects aren't actually being added?
If so, I may be stating the completely obvious but I wonder if the only issue is that you aren't powering on the mod effects? There's a little power icon to the right in the same title bar that the effects name shows up in. In most patches I've used so far the mod effect is off initially so you need to turn it on.