Generally, Slack will switch your status to “Away” if you don’t show any signs of activity for some time. This time frame usually ranges from 10 to 30 minutes on desktops. However, it may be that you’re working on the computer, yet Slack still shows you as Away. The reason is that Slack identifies activity only through keyboard input, mouse movement, or direct interaction with the app. Simply having a device on is not considered an activity by Slack. Therefore, you might be marked as inactive while you read a document, watch a presentation, or work in a different tool.
This article will tell you how Slack decides if you are active or away, how long your status stays active on desktop and mobile, and give you hands-on ideas on how to prevent Slack from changing your status to Away when you are still working. Knowing the activity detection mechanism of Slack can enable you to be constantly visible to your coworkers, so that you don’t miss the crucial messages while working through remote collaboration.
Reasons to Have Your Slack App Active
Your Slack status is more like a signal than surveillance, but signals do matter.
Some of the advantages of having Slack running in the background are:
- Being able to get answers from your teammates quicker
- Helping ensure that you don’t miss any comments or DMs
- Making it easier to work together despite the difference in time zones
- Not deceiving others into thinking that you are unavailable
For organizations that consider Slack as the primary communication medium and not just for chatting, being active is also very important for the continuity of the operational workflows. A good number of businesses have Slack ticketing systems integrated for managing customer service, IT help requests, or internal operations without leaving Slack.
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How Does Slack Figure Out If You Have Been Active?
Slack determines your status as active or inactive based on your actions as a user; it does not take into account whether your computer is on or off.
Slack checks for:
- Typing on the keyboard
- Moving the mouse
- Interacting with the app (desktop or mobile)
- Checking if the Slack app is running and if it is, the main window (this depends on the operating system)
If no such activities are noticed during a certain time frame, Slack will set your status to Away.
How Long Does Slack Stay Active?
People frequently search for this question, and the answer varies by device type.
Desktop (Mac & Windows)
- Slack mainly keeps your status as active as long as you keep inputting regularly.
- Slack usually changes the status to Away after ~10 to 30 minutes of inactivity on the user’s part.
- This is also what is called Slack inactive time.
Mobile (iOS & Android)
- The Slack app remains active only when it is being used or was recently used.
- Slack background activities are not very useful in keeping the app active.
- This is why Slack shows as inactive even if your phone is unlocked.
So if you are wondering:
- How long does Slack stay active on the phone? → Very briefly, unless the app is being used
- How long before Slack shows away? → About 10 30 minutes on desktop
How to Keep Slack On Desktop Always Awake
Here are all the legal and normal ways, ranked from least risky to most dangerous.
Method 1: Prevent Sleep or Power-Saving Mode
A typical reason Slack shows you as away is when the device enters sleep or power-saving mode.
There are some ways to prevent this situation:
- Disable or significantly increase the sleep timer of your PC.
- Make sure your screen does not dim very fast.
- Change the energy settings so the system does not go to idle mode while working.
When your computer is kept up, Slack will hardly detect any inactivity and automatically change your status without your knowledge.
Method 2: Operate Slack on Several Different Devices
Running Slack on more than one device concurrently is an indirect way of signaling activity.
The example below shows how many, and what kind of devices, you can have Slack on:
- Your main or secondary computer
- Your mobile phone
- A tablet
If your desktop computer is left without a user, the moment you interact with Slack on any other device, such as your cell phone, it will help keep your Slack status active.
Method 3: Keep Slack Open in Split Screen
Another way is to keep Slack open and visible while you work.
This means that Slack can be put in a split screen together with another application, for example:
- One can use a web browser
- Editing a document
- Your development environment
Turning on Slack and responding to it occasionally, while your main window is for work, could help maintain an active status.
Method 4: Interact with Your Device Periodically
Slack measures one’s activity through keyboard and mouse movements. If there’s been no interaction for some time, it might flag you as being away.
Even something very little could actually make the inactivity clock start counting from zero again, such as:
- Moving the mouse now and then
- Pressing a key
- Returning to the Slack window momentarily
These slight interactions show the device is not abandoned.
Method 5: Set Your Status to “Active” Manually
Slack allows users to specify their presence or availability manually.
The steps are:
- Tap on your profile picture.
- Access the status menu.
- Choose "Active."
Remember that this feature doesn’t have 100% control over Slack’s away or inactivity detection. In the case when Slack wouldn’t register any device usage for a while, you might be set to "Away" anyway. Regardless, updating your status manually is a good way to indicate your presence to cooperative members.
When Does Slack Switch Your Status to Away Automatically?
Slack will set your status to away if:
- There’s no keyboard or mouse movement
- The app hasn’t been used for some time
- Your system goes into sleep or power saving mode
- The mobile app is closed or put in the background
You see, Slack can display you as inactive even if you’re just reading, thinking, or working in a different tool.
Does Playing a YouTube Video Keep Slack Active?
To the point, the answer is no, in most cases.
If you watch a YouTube video:
- Keyboard or mouse input is not registered
- Slack doesn’t count it as interaction
- Slack will probably switch to away even while you are watching the video
How to Keep Slack Always Active on Mobile
Mobile is a different and more aggressive player when it comes to marking inactivity.
What works:
- Keeping the Slack window open
- Continuously scrolling or replying
- Coming back to Slack from time to time
What doesn’t:
- Apps running in the background
- Screen locked
- Passive notifications
Thus:
- How to stay online on Slack mobile
- How to keep Slack active on phone
