Slack can mark you as away after a short spell of inactivity, even while you're reading, on a call, or working in another app.
Free desktop app. No Slack login required.
Choose a harmless part of your screen where a click will not send messages, change settings, or cause chaos.
Green Dotter can gently move the mouse, run controlled clicks, or do both. You set the timing and the area.
Stop it manually, set a duration, or let pause-on-activity get out of the way when you start using your mouse again.
Both, depending on how you want to use it.
Green Dotter can gently wiggle the mouse to stop your computer going quiet, like a mouse jiggler alternative. It can also run controlled clicks inside a screen area you define.
The click-area mode is useful when simple movement is not enough, or when you want activity to happen in one predictable place rather than letting the pointer wander around like it has had six coffees. You can use the free auto clicker for Mac or the free auto clicker for Windows.
Slack shows a presence dot next to your name. It is set automatically, based on what your device is doing, not on whether you are actually working.
Slack can mark you as away after a short period of desktop inactivity. Slack says it may set you away after around 10 minutes of desktop inactivity, and mobile behaviour can change when you close the app or navigate away. Common triggers:
None of these mean you have gone offline, but Slack can only read device activity, so the dot goes hollow anyway.
A few built-in options help for short periods.
Set yourself Active: open your profile in Slack and set availability to Active. It holds until Slack detects you have gone idle again.
Set a status: add a status note so colleagues know what to expect, like "Focusing, back at 3pm".
Keep the screen on: stopping your computer sleeping helps, because a locked or sleeping machine reads as away. See keep your computer awake for the settings.
Limitation: manual availability still flips back once your device is idle. For longer stretches you need the machine to stay active on its own.
| Option | What it does | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Slack manual availability | Lets you set yourself active manually | Easy to forget, and it can change again later |
| Keep-awake settings | Stops your computer sleeping | Does not always create app activity |
| Basic mouse jiggler | Moves the pointer | Less control over where activity happens |
| Green Dotter | Gentle wiggle, controlled clicks, timers and pause-on-activity | You still need to use it responsibly and follow workplace policies |
If you only need cover for a short break, set yourself Active in Slack. If you want your computer to stay genuinely active across longer stretches, Green Dotter is the better fit. For more, see how to stay active on Slack and Slack tips for remote work.
Green Dotter is built for legitimate desktop automation, such as staying active during long docs, calls, reading, repetitive workflows, or work in another app.
Always follow your workplace policies and the rules for the tools you use.
Green Dotter is an independent tool and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Slack Technologies, LLC or Salesforce.
Green Dotter keeps your desktop from going quiet with gentle mouse wiggles or controlled clicks in an area you choose.
It is free for Mac and Windows. No account, no subscription, no Slack login.