Direct Answer: In Slack, “always active” usually means your presence stays green (not that you’re constantly messaging). Slack marks you active when at least one client stays connected and it detects recent activity; it marks you away when the client disconnects (sleep, locked screen, closed tab) or sees no activity for a while. The safest approach is to reduce false “away” signals (sleep/tab-suspension fixes) and use clear status/DND norms; avoid device hacks that violate policy or raise security flags.

How to Keep Slack Always Active (Without Risky Hacks)

People usually search “how to keep Slack always active” for one of two reasons:

• You’re working, but Slack keeps showing you away (sleep policies, tab suspension, meetings outside Slack).
• Your team overinterprets presence, so a gray dot triggers questions.

This guide focuses on the practical side—what you can change safely—without turning “always active” into 24/7 performance theater.

If you want the broader, longer walkthrough, see how to keep your Slack status active all day.

What “Always Active” Means in Slack

Slack has three different signals that get mixed together:

• Presence (green/gray): an automatic active/away indicator based mostly on connected clients and recent activity.
• Status (text/emoji): what you set manually or via automation (“In a meeting”, “Focus block”).
• DND (Do Not Disturb): notification rules, not proof of work.

If your goal is “teammates should understand what I’m doing and when I’ll reply,” automating status + DND often helps more than trying to force presence green. See automate Slack status.

Safest Ways to Keep Slack From Going “Away” (Start Here)

1) Keep Slack connected (avoid accidental disconnects)

These are boring, but they fix a lot:

• Don’t quit the Slack desktop app during the day (hide/minimize instead).
• If you use Slack web, keep at least one Slack tab open and avoid “tab discarding/suspension” features.

If Slack web is your primary client, browser behavior matters as much as Slack settings. The troubleshooting guide how to stop Slack auto-away on Mac, Windows, and web covers common causes.

2) Adjust sleep/lock behavior during work hours (within policy)

If your device locks or sleeps quickly, Slack often looks away even when you’re still working.

Within your organization’s policies:

• Extend display-off / sleep timers during work hours.
• Avoid aggressive battery modes that suspend background apps.
• Don’t rely on “keep awake forever” settings to cover after-hours—use DND and a clear status instead.

If your device is locked down and you can’t change these settings, see Slack presence on locked-down corporate laptops.

3) Use status and DND so “away” isn’t interpreted as “not working”

If your team treats the green dot like a metric, the most durable fix is expectations.

Two low-drama moves:

• Use statuses that explain slower replies (“Focus block, replies slower until 11:30”).
• Use DND schedules for focus time and off-hours so you’re not pulled into “always on” behavior.

This is usually the simplest way to feel “consistently present” without forcing your presence indicator to behave perfectly. The detailed playbook is in automate Slack status.

Options People Use to Stay “Always Active” (With Trade-Offs)

Here’s the landscape, from lowest-risk to highest-risk.

If you’re deciding between cloud scheduling and a mouse jiggler, see cloud service vs mouse jiggler. For a broader list, see Slack mouse jiggler alternatives.

What to Avoid (Even If It “Works”)

Some methods keep Slack green but create bigger problems than they solve:

• USB mouse jigglers and input simulators on work devices
• Random scripts copied from forums or repos
• Browser extensions that request broad permissions just to keep you “active”

These can collide with IT policies, endpoint security tools, and privacy expectations. If you want the risk lens, read Not all “stay online” tools are safe and the permission checklist in Privacy matters.

FAQ: Keeping Slack Always Active

How do I keep Slack always active without moving my mouse?

Start by preventing preventable disconnects (don’t quit Slack; avoid tab suspension) and tuning sleep/lock behavior during work hours where allowed. If the real problem is perceptions, use a focus status and DND schedule so “away” doesn’t trigger panic.

How do I keep Slack always active on a corporate laptop?

On locked-down devices, the safest options are Slack’s built-ins, permitted OS settings, and clear communication norms. Avoid installs, extensions, scripts, and USB devices unless they’re explicitly allowed. See Slack presence on locked-down corporate laptops.

Can I keep Slack always active when my laptop is closed?

A local Slack client generally can’t stay connected when the laptop is fully asleep. If you need stable presence in that scenario, you’ll need an account-level approach that doesn’t depend on a running local client—and it should be used only within policy and during real working hours.

Is “always active” the same as automating Slack status?

No. “Always active” usually refers to the presence indicator (green/gray). Status automation changes your status text/emoji and DND based on schedules (calendar, focus blocks) so expectations are clearer. See automate Slack status.