Quick answer

Keep Slack Active on Mobile Devices

Mobile devices aggressively suspend background apps, making local presence maintenance nearly impossible. Cloud-based scheduling provides reliable Slack presence for mobile-only workflows.

Why this happens

iOS and Android are designed to preserve battery by suspending apps that aren't in the foreground. When you switch away from Slack, the app typically has only a few minutes of background time before it's suspended. iOS is particularly aggressive, with Background App Refresh often not enough to maintain presence. Android varies by manufacturer, with Samsung, Xiaomi, and others adding their own battery optimization that kills background apps. Manufacturer-specific behaviors make this worse: Samsung's Sleeping Apps list, Xiaomi's MIUI battery optimization, and Huawei's aggressive app kill behavior can terminate Slack within seconds of backgrounding, even when system-level battery restrictions are disabled. Tablets face the same issues. The result: mobile Slack shows you away within minutes of switching to another app.

The reliable solution

Local workarounds try to keep your device active, but they can't solve the fundamental problem: Slack needs constant signals from your device. When your device sleeps, locks, or loses connection, those signals stop.

Cloud-based presence scheduling like Idle Pilot runs on always-connected servers. It maintains your Slack status during scheduled hours regardless of what your device is doing.

Works even when your laptop is closed or off
No local installs or device workarounds needed
No workspace bot or admin approval required
Set your schedule once, it handles the rest

Try Idle Pilot free for 14 days

Platform-specific options

Here are platform-specific settings you can adjust. Note that these are workarounds with limitations, not complete solutions.

iOS (iPhone/iPad)

1 Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh
2 Enable Background App Refresh for Slack
3 Disable Low Power Mode (Settings > Battery)
4 Keep Slack notifications enabled as they can trigger brief wake periods

Limitation: Even with these settings, iOS will still suspend Slack after extended periods. Apple prioritizes battery over background persistence.

Android (Phone/Tablet)

1 Go to Settings > Apps > Slack > Battery
2 Set to 'Unrestricted' or 'No restrictions'
3 Disable any manufacturer battery optimization (varies by brand)
4 Samsung: Settings > Battery > App power management
5 Xiaomi: Settings > Battery > App battery saver

Limitation: Android manufacturers add their own optimizations that override system settings. Results vary widely by device.

Set up scheduled presence in 3 steps

Get reliable Slack presence without device workarounds:

Step 1
Connect your Slack account
Authorize Idle Pilot to update your presence. This uses Slack's standard OAuth, no workspace bot installation needed.
Step 2
Set your schedule
Choose the days and hours you want to appear active. Set your timezone so it aligns with your actual work hours.
Step 3
Enable and forget
Turn on your schedule and you're done. Idle Pilot keeps your Slack status active during those hours, regardless of your device state.

Troubleshooting

Slack mobile shows away even with Background App Refresh on

Background App Refresh doesn't guarantee continuous activity. It's designed for periodic updates, not constant presence.

Battery drains fast when trying to keep Slack active

Keeping apps constantly active defeats mobile power management. Cloud scheduling lets your phone work normally.

Tablet workflow requires being reachable but tablet sleeps frequently

Tablets have the same background app limits as phones. Use cloud scheduling for reliable tablet-based work.

Slack shows active on phone but away on desktop (or vice versa)

Slack evaluates presence per device. Each client sends its own heartbeat, and combined status depends on whichever device reported activity most recently. If your phone shows active but your desktop shows away, it means the desktop client hasn't detected interaction. Cloud scheduling ensures consistent status regardless of which device you're using.

Android Doze mode kills Slack after extended background time

Android Doze progressively restricts background apps: first limiting network access, then deferring syncs and alarms entirely. Manufacturer layers add further restrictions. Samsung App Sleep, Xiaomi MIUI Battery Saver, and OnePlus Battery Optimization each have their own kill lists that can terminate Slack independently of stock Android settings. Exempt Slack from all of these, but note that results vary by device and OS version. Cloud scheduling bypasses all device-level restrictions.

Hotspot or tethering drops Slack connection intermittently

Mobile hotspots face unique connectivity challenges. Moving between cell towers causes brief radio handoffs, WiFi tethering can drop when the phone's screen locks, and carriers may throttle hotspot data separately from on-device usage. Each disruption breaks the WebSocket connection Slack needs for presence. Cloud scheduling maintains your status even when your tethered connection is unstable.

FAQs

Why does Slack mobile mark me away so quickly?

Mobile operating systems aggressively suspend background apps to preserve battery. iOS and Android give Slack only a few minutes of background time before suspending it. This is by design to extend battery life.

Does Background App Refresh on iPhone help with Slack presence?

Background App Refresh allows periodic updates but doesn't provide the continuous activity Slack needs for presence. It's designed for refreshing content when you return to an app, not for maintaining real-time status.

Why does Android battery optimization override my Slack settings?

Android manufacturers add their own battery optimization on top of Google's. Samsung, Xiaomi, OnePlus, and others have aggressive app killing that ignores standard Android settings. This varies by manufacturer and Android version.

Can I use my phone as my primary Slack device for remote work?

You can, but presence will be unreliable with mobile-only use. Cloud-based scheduling provides the most reliable presence for mobile-first workflows, maintaining your status regardless of app suspension.

Does using Slack on a tablet have the same issues as phone?

Yes, tablets running iOS or Android have the same background app restrictions as phones. iPads may have slightly longer background times due to larger batteries, but the fundamental limitation remains.

Why does keeping Slack open drain my phone battery so fast?

Attempting to prevent Slack from being suspended requires keeping the app constantly active, which defeats the purpose of mobile power management. This is why cloud scheduling is preferred: your phone works normally while presence is maintained externally.