Slack Presence & Status Guides
Everything you need to know about keeping Slack active, managing auto-away, and automating your status
Complete Guides
In-depth guides covering every scenario where Slack presence becomes unreliable. Each guide includes platform-specific instructions, troubleshooting tips, and the cloud-based solution that works for all situations.
Keep Slack Active When Your Screen Locks
Your screen locks but you're still working. Here's how to keep Slack active and prevent auto-away when your screen locks on Mac, Windows, or Linux.
Keep Slack Active When Your Laptop Sleeps
Laptop closes and Slack goes away? Learn how to keep Slack active when your laptop sleeps on Mac, Windows, or Linux with cloud-based solutions.
Keep Slack Active in Power Saving Mode
Power saving mode affecting Slack presence? Learn how to keep Slack active with Low Power Mode on Mac, Battery Saver on Windows, and power management on Linux.
Keep Slack Active on Mobile Devices
Working from phone or tablet? Learn how to keep Slack active in mobile-only workflows on iOS and Android, even when apps are backgrounded.
Keep Slack Active on Chromebook
Chromebook suspending Slack tabs? Learn how to keep Slack active on Chrome OS with browser-based solutions and cloud scheduling.
Keep Slack Active on Corporate Networks
Corporate VPN or Citrix VDI causing Slack presence issues? Learn how to keep Slack active in enterprise environments without violating IT policies.
Keep Slack Active Without Admin Permissions
Can't install apps or bots in your Slack workspace? Learn how to keep Slack active without admin approval, workspace bots, or Accessibility permissions.
Keep Slack Active During Focus Work
Reading, reviewing, or presenting? Learn how to keep Slack active during low-input work, deep focus sessions, and presentations.
Keep Slack Active When Working Offline
Working offline or in airplane mode? Learn how to maintain Slack presence during flights, commutes, and periods without internet connection.
Comparisons
Idle Pilot vs Mouse Jiggler
Idle Pilot wins for remote workers who need reliable, schedule-based presence without hardware dependencies.
Idle Pilot vs Presence Scheduler Extensions
Idle Pilot wins for users who need presence to work when their browser is closed or laptop sleeps.
Idle Pilot vs Caffeine App for Mac
Idle Pilot wins for Slack presence; Caffeine is better for preventing system sleep during downloads or presentations.
Cloud Scheduler vs Browser Extension for Slack Presence
Cloud schedulers are more reliable; browser extensions are simpler to start but have significant limitations.
Glossary
Slack Presence
Slack presence is the indicator (green or yellow dot) next to your name showing whether you're currently active or away in Slack. It's automatically determined by Slack based on your recent activity and connection status.
Slack Auto-Away
Slack auto-away is the automatic system that switches your presence status from active (green) to away (yellow) after a period of inactivity. Slack typically triggers this after approximately 10 minutes with no interaction.
Presence Scheduler
A presence scheduler is a tool that automatically maintains your Slack presence status (active/online) during specified time windows, typically matching your work hours. Unlike mouse jigglers or scripts, modern presence schedulers run from the cloud.
Slack Green Dot
The green dot in Slack is a presence indicator showing that a person is currently active. It appears as a solid green circle next to their profile picture and name, indicating they've recently interacted with Slack.
Mouse Jiggler
A mouse jiggler is a device or software that simulates mouse movement to prevent your computer from going idle, sleeping, or triggering screen lock. They're commonly used by remote workers to keep systems active.
Slack Idle Timeout
Slack's idle timeout is the period of inactivity after which Slack automatically changes your presence status from active to away. This typically occurs after approximately 10 minutes without keyboard, mouse, or app interaction.
Slack Away Status
Slack away status is the presence indicator (hollow circle or yellow dot) that appears next to your name when Slack detects you're inactive or disconnected. It signals to teammates that you may not respond immediately.
Slack Active Status
Slack active status is the presence indicator (solid green dot) that appears next to your name when Slack detects recent activity. It signals to teammates that you're currently available and likely to respond.
Slack Do Not Disturb
Slack Do Not Disturb (DND) is a feature that pauses notifications without changing your presence status. When DND is active, you won't receive alerts, but teammates can still see you as active and choose to send urgent messages.
Remote Work Presence
Remote work presence refers to the digital signals that indicate your availability and engagement when working outside a traditional office. It includes status indicators in chat apps, calendar availability, and response patterns that teammates use to gauge when you're reachable.
Blog Posts
Slack Presence and Team Trust: Moving Beyond the Green Dot
How teams build trust without surveillance. Why presence anxiety hurts productivity and what healthy remote teams do instead.
How to Talk to Your Manager About Slack Presence Tools
Considering using a presence tool but worried about perception? A practical guide to transparent conversations about Slack availability and work norms.
Why Slack Shows Away When I'm Working (And How to Fix It)
Your Slack keeps showing you as away even though you're working. Here's exactly why it happens and the reliable fixes that actually work.
Slack Presence for Customer Success Teams
Customer success teams need to appear available to clients. How to manage Slack presence in shared channels, customer workspaces, and multi-account setups.
Slack Presence for Global Teams: Managing Time Zones
How distributed teams across time zones handle Slack presence. Strategies for async communication, overlap hours, and clear availability signals.
Slack Presence for Managers: What You Can and Cannot See
What managers actually see in Slack presence, what it means, and why treating presence as a productivity metric backfires. A guide for healthy presence norms.
Main Landing Pages
Key pages for Slack presence scheduling
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