--- title: "Idle Pilot vs Mouse Jiggler for Windows: Teams Status" description: "Mouse Jiggler is a free Windows app that fakes mouse input. Compare it with Idle Pilot for Teams or Slack status, the laptop closed, price and detection." canonical: "https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-mouse-jiggler-app/" updated: "2026-10-28" generated_by: "scripts/build-markdown-twins.mjs" --- > Markdown representation of https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-mouse-jiggler-app/ — the HTML page at that URL is canonical and carries the same content. # Idle Pilot vs Mouse Jiggler for Windows Pick Mouse Jiggler if your Windows PC stays on and you want a free app that fakes mouse input, every 60 seconds by default. Pick Idle Pilot if Teams or Slack must show Available during Work Hours with the laptop closed, asleep or off. Mouse Jiggler's README makes no Teams or Slack claim, and its developer says monitoring software can easily detect it. Idle Pilot costs $9 per month or $60 per year; Mouse Jiggler is free. Disclosure: Idle Pilot wrote this page and makes one of the two products. Mouse Jiggler for Windows facts come from its own site, checked October 28, 2026. Idle Pilot is not affiliated with Mouse Jiggler for Windows. ## Quick Verdict Mouse Jiggler is a free, simple jiggler for a Windows PC that stays on; Idle Pilot fits when Teams or Slack must stay Available with the laptop closed or off. Mouse Jiggler fakes mouse input so Windows does not treat the PC as idle. Its README does not mention Teams or Slack, and it needs the PC on and awake. Microsoft says Teams shows Away when the computer is locked and Offline when it sleeps. Idle Pilot is not a jiggler: it keeps one Slack workspace or one Teams account Available from the cloud during saved Work Hours. ## Feature Comparison | Feature | Idle Pilot | Mouse Jiggler for Windows | | --- | --- | --- | | Purpose | Scheduled Slack or Teams availability | Fake mouse input so Windows does not go idle | | Platforms | Slack or Microsoft Teams (one at a time) | Windows on x64 or ARM64 | | Where it runs | Cloud | Your Windows PC | | How it keeps you active | Keeps presence from its servers during Work Hours | Simulated mouse movement, every 60 seconds by default | | Keeps Teams or Slack Available | Yes, during saved Work Hours | Not claimed in its README | | Works with your laptop closed | Yes | Not documented; computer must stay on and awake | | Schedule | Per-day Work Hours, Lunch Break, Vacation Mode | None built in; Windows Task Scheduler can stop it | | Monthly price | $9 | Free | | Yearly price | $60 | Free | | Free trial | 3-day free trial · No credit card; 7 days when linked within 3 hours of sign-up | Not needed; free | | Setup | Desktop Chrome and the Idle Pilot extension, once | winget, Chocolatey or zip; .NET 10 or the portable build | ## Detailed Comparison Mouse Jiggler is a free Windows app from Arkane Systems. Its only job is to fake mouse input and jiggle the pointer so screen savers and other idle-triggered actions do not start. Idle Pilot is a cloud service that keeps one Slack workspace or one Microsoft Teams account Available or Active during the Work Hours you save. Idle Pilot is not a mouse jiggler and does not move your mouse. Mouse Jiggler sends simulated mouse input every 60 seconds by default, in Normal, Zen, Circle or Linear mode. In Zen mode the pointer does not visibly move, and the README warns that this may not work with apps that run their own idle detection. The README does not say whether it keeps Teams or Slack Available. Microsoft says Teams presence on a computer becomes Away after a few minutes of inactivity, and Slack says desktop users are set to away after 10 minutes of inactivity. Mouse Jiggler runs on your PC, so the PC must be on and awake. Microsoft says Teams presence becomes Away when the computer is locked and Offline when it sleeps. Version 3.1.0 added an option to pause jiggling while the PC is locked. Idle Pilot keeps working with the laptop closed, asleep or off, after you link your account once. Mouse Jiggler is free, without warranty or support. You install it with winget or Chocolatey, or download a zip; the mainline build needs the .NET 10 Desktop runtime, and a larger portable build does not. Its modified Microsoft Public License restricts use by and for the US government. Idle Pilot costs $9 per month or $60 per year (USD), with a 3-day free trial and no credit card. The trial starts at your first Slack or Teams connection, and it lasts 7 days if you connect within 3 hours of sign-up. You link once in desktop Google Chrome with the Idle Pilot extension and can remove the extension afterward. Mouse Jiggler has no built-in schedule; its README suggests Windows Task Scheduler with the --stop-jiggling option. Idle Pilot has per-day Work Hours, a Lunch Break, and Vacation Mode, which pauses the schedule when you set a status you choose, such as Out of Office. Mouse Jiggler's developer is direct about detection: the README says it is not a tool for sneaking past your IT department and that any decent monitoring software can easily detect it. Idle Pilot can be seen too: Teams and Slack admins and security tools can inspect sessions, devices and network origins. Idle Pilot manages presence only; it does not write status messages or read chats or files. Check your employer's rules before you use either. ### Idle Pilot Advantages - Keeps Teams or Slack Available without moving your mouse - Works with the laptop closed, asleep or off - Per-day Work Hours, Lunch Break and Vacation Mode - Nothing has to keep running on your PC after you link ### Mouse Jiggler for Windows Advantages - Free, with source code on GitHub - Stops screen savers and other idle-triggered actions for any app on the PC - Four jiggle modes, including Zen with no visible pointer movement - Pauses while you use the mouse; Ctrl+Shift+J toggles it - Installs with winget or Chocolatey, or as a portable zip ## Which Should You Choose? **If** you need Teams or Slack Available during set Work Hours Use: Idle Pilot **If** you close your laptop or turn it off when you step away Use: Idle Pilot **If** you want the schedule to pause when you set Out of Office Use: Idle Pilot **If** you need to stop a screen saver or idle timeout on a PC that stays on Use: Mouse Jiggler for Windows **If** you want a free tool with source code you can read Use: Mouse Jiggler for Windows ## What is Mouse Jiggler for Windows? Mouse Jiggler is a free Windows app from Arkane Systems, published on GitHub. It fakes mouse input and jiggles the pointer, or moves it only virtually in Zen mode, to stop screen savers and other idle-triggered actions. Version 3.1.0 was released on October 24, 2026. We checked its GitHub pages on October 28, 2026. ### Sources - [GitHub: arkane-systems/mousejiggler README](https://github.com/arkane-systems/mousejiggler) - [GitHub: Mouse Jiggler release 3.1.0](https://github.com/arkane-systems/mousejiggler/releases/tag/3.1.0) - [GitHub: Mouse Jiggler license](https://github.com/arkane-systems/mousejiggler/blob/master/LICENSE) - [Microsoft Learn: User presence in Teams](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/presence-admins) - [Slack: Set your status and availability](https://slack.com/help/articles/201864558-Set-your-Slack-status-and-availability) ## Frequently Asked Questions Does Mouse Jiggler keep Teams green? Its README does not say so. Mouse Jiggler fakes mouse input, which resets Windows idle detection while the PC is on, but it warns that Zen mode may not work with apps that run their own idle detection. Microsoft says Teams still shows Away when the computer is locked and Offline when it sleeps. How much do Mouse Jiggler and Idle Pilot cost? Mouse Jiggler is free, without warranty or support. Idle Pilot costs $9 per month or $60 per year (USD), with a 3-day free trial and no credit card. The trial starts at your first Slack or Teams connection. We checked Mouse Jiggler's GitHub pages on October 28, 2026. Does Mouse Jiggler work with the laptop closed? Mouse Jiggler for Windows needs the computer on and awake. Its cited source does not document lid-closed operation, and it cannot continue while the computer is asleep or off. A supported external-display setup can differ from a sleeping laptop. Idle Pilot maintains Slack or Teams availability from its servers during saved Work Hours even with the computer off. Can my employer see that I use Mouse Jiggler or Idle Pilot? Possibly. Mouse Jiggler's own README says any decent monitoring software can easily detect it and that it is not a tool for sneaking past your IT department. Teams and Slack admins and security tools can inspect sessions, devices and network origins, which applies to Idle Pilot. Check your employer's rules before you use either tool. Does Idle Pilot move my mouse? No. Idle Pilot is not a mouse jiggler and does not move your mouse or press keys. It keeps one Slack workspace or one Teams account Available from the cloud during your saved Work Hours. It manages presence only and does not write status messages or read chats or files. ## Related resources [Comparison Idle Pilot vs slack.green Idle Pilot fits Microsoft Teams users and Slack users who want Vacation Mode. sl... ](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-slack-green/)[Comparison Does Caffeine Keep Slack Active? Idle Pilot wins for Slack presence; Caffeine is better for preventing system sle... ](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-caffeine-app/) ## More options - [Ways to keep Slack active](https://idlepilot.com/keep-slack-active/) - [Ways to keep Microsoft Teams Available](https://idlepilot.com/keep-teams-active/) - [Mouse Jiggler for Windows alternatives](https://idlepilot.com/mouse-jiggler-alternatives/) - [Every software mouse jiggler we compared](https://idlepilot.com/best-mouse-jigglers/) ## More Comparisons - [Does Caffeine Keep Slack Active?](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-caffeine-app/) - [Idle Pilot vs slack.green](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-slack-green/) - [Idle Pilot vs Amphetamine](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-amphetamine/) - [Idle Pilot vs Auto Mouse Mover](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-automatic-mouse-mover/) - [Idle Pilot vs Caffeinated](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-caffeinated/) - [Idle Pilot vs Caffeine for Windows](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-caffeine-windows/) - [Idle Pilot vs Don't Sleep](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-dont-sleep/) - [Idle Pilot vs Green Dotter](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-green-dotter/) - [Idle Pilot vs Jiggler for Mac](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-jiggler-mac/) - [Idle Pilot vs KeepingYouAwake](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-keepingyouawake/) - [Idle Pilot vs Lungo](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-lungo/) - [Idle Pilot vs Meatanty Mechanical Mouse Mover](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-meatanty/) - [Idle Pilot vs Move Mouse](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-move-mouse/) - [Idle Pilot vs NeverAwayTeams](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-neverawayteams/) - [Idle Pilot vs PowerToys Awake](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-powertoys-awake/) - [Idle Pilot vs Stay Green On Teams](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-stay-green-on-teams/) - [Idle Pilot vs TECH8 USA Mouse Mover](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-tech8/) - [Idle Pilot vs Theine](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-theine/) - [Idle Pilot vs Vaydeer USB Mouse Jiggler](https://idlepilot.com/compare/idle-pilot-vs-vaydeer/) Last updated: October 28, 2026 Explore more resources [Presence Guide](https://idlepilot.com/slack-presence-guide/) [Comparisons](https://idlepilot.com/compare/) [Keep Slack Active](https://idlepilot.com/keep-slack-active/) ## Keep Teams or Slack Available without a jiggler. [Try Idle Pilot free](https://app.idlepilot.com) 3-day free trial · No credit card ## Idle Pilot facts Idle Pilot maintains Slack or Microsoft Teams availability from the cloud during saved Work Hours. Who it is for For people who want availability to follow work hours when the laptop is closed, asleep, or off. Connected account One Slack workspace or one Microsoft Teams account at a time. You can switch platforms. Price Freedom Pass costs $9 per month or $60 per year. Trial 3-day free trial · No credit card. The trial starts at the first Slack or Teams connection. 7 days if you connect within 3 hours of sign-up. First setup Connect once in desktop Google Chrome with the Idle Pilot extension. You can remove the extension after linking. Mobile-only linking is not supported. [View the extension](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/idle-pilot/nadppgjnachfgclfcgdbekniiiemepdp). Limits Presence only: it does not write custom status messages or read chats and files. It is not a mouse jiggler. Your employer’s rules still apply; availability is not proof of work.