Mouse Jiggler for Windows: Install, Modes, and Does It Keep Slack Active
The most used mouse jiggler for Windows is the free, open-source Arkane Systems Mouse Jiggler. Install it with winget install ArkaneSystems.MouseJiggler, or unzip the mainline or portable build without admin rights. Its modes, command-line flags, and what it does for Teams and Slack.
The most used mouse jiggler for Windows is Mouse Jiggler by Arkane Systems, a free, open-source app on GitHub. Install it with winget install ArkaneSystems.MouseJiggler, or download the mainline zip (needs the .NET 10 Desktop runtime) or the portable zip (no .NET needed) from the releases page; both run without admin rights. Open it, tick Jiggling?, and it moves the pointer every 60 seconds by default, pausing whenever you move the mouse yourself. It keeps Windows from counting you idle, so the screen saver and sleep stay off and Microsoft Teams stays green. It keeps Slack green only when the pointer sits over the Slack window, because Slack counts only input inside its own window.
The project's own README is blunt about one more thing: "Mouse Jiggler is easily detectable by any decent monitoring software." If the goal is a green Slack dot on a work laptop, Slack Green does that from its own servers during the working hours you set, with nothing installed on Windows.
How to install Mouse Jiggler on Windows
| Method | Command or file | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| winget | winget install ArkaneSystems.MouseJiggler | Easiest |
| Chocolatey | choco install mouse-jiggler | Needs Chocolatey |
| Mainline zip | MouseJiggler-mainline-x64.zip | No admin; needs .NET 10 Desktop runtime |
| Portable zip | MouseJiggler-standalone-x64.zip | No admin, no .NET; 134 MB |
The README asks you to use the portable build only if you cannot install .NET, because it is far larger. Arm64 builds are available for both.
How to use it
- Run
MouseJiggle.exe. - Tick Jiggling? to start, untick to stop.
- Tick Settings... to choose the mode, the interval, the distance, and a random timer.
- Click the down arrow to minimise it to the notification area.
Jiggling pauses when you move the mouse and resumes after one full interval without movement, so you can keep working.
Command-line flags
MouseJiggler -j -m -s 60 -o Normal| Flag | Meaning |
|---|---|
-j | Start jiggling at once |
-m | Start minimised |
-s <seconds> | Jiggle interval (default 60) |
-o <mode> | Normal, Zen, Circle or Linear |
-r | Random interval |
-d <n> | Distance multiplier |
To start it with Windows, the README points to the Startup folder or Task Scheduler; the app has no autorun option.
Mouse Jiggler modes, and what they do for Slack and Teams
Never appear "away" on Slack again
Cloud-based. No downloads. Works 24/7 even when your laptop is off.
Teams reads activity on the whole computer, so any mode keeps it green; see how long before Teams shows you as Away. For Slack the details are in Slack Green vs mouse jiggler and how long does Slack stay active.
Can IT detect Mouse Jiggler?
Yes, and the author says so: the README warns it is "not a tool for sneaking past your IT department" and is easily detectable by monitoring software. A running app shows up in process lists, and software input on Windows carries an "injected" flag monitoring agents can read. How each kind of jiggler is found is in can a mouse jiggler be detected, and the policy side in is it illegal to use a mouse jiggler.
Alternatives on Windows
FAQ
Never appear "away" on Slack again
Cloud-based. No downloads. Works 24/7 even when your laptop is off.
Where do I download Mouse Jiggler for Windows?
From the arkane-systems/mousejiggler releases page on GitHub, or with winget install ArkaneSystems.MouseJiggler.
Does Mouse Jiggler need admin rights?
Not the zip builds. The mainline zip needs the .NET 10 Desktop runtime installed; the portable zip does not.
Does Mouse Jiggler keep Teams active?
Yes. Teams counts input anywhere on the computer.
Does Mouse Jiggler keep Slack active?
Only when the pointer is over the Slack window. Zen mode does not help Slack.
Is there a mouse jiggler built into Windows?
No. Windows has power settings and presentation mode, which stop sleep but create no input.
Stop Jiggling Your Mouse.
Join hundreds of remote workers who never worry about their Slack status. Set it up once, stay green forever.
Related Articles
Slack Workflow Builder Examples: 12 Workflows to Copy, With Triggers and Steps
Twelve Slack Workflow Builder examples with the exact trigger and steps for each: daily standups, channel welcomes, time-off approvals, help desk requests, emoji escalations, keyword routing, incidents, list updates and webhooks from other tools. Plus where Workflow Builder lives, what it costs and how branches work.
Slack Timer: How to Set a Countdown, Pomodoro or Focus Timer in Slack
Slack has no built-in timer, but four built-in tools act like one: /remind me to ... in 25 minutes, a status that clears itself, /dnd for a focus block, and Workflow Builder for dated countdowns. For a live countdown in a channel, use a Marketplace app or a 15-line bot script.
Slack Saved for Later: Where the Later Tab Is and How It Works
Saved messages in Slack live in the Later tab, which replaced stars and Saved items in 2023. Hover a message and click Save for later, or press A. Add a reminder, mark items complete, and find them with is:saved. Where Later is on desktop and mobile, and what changed.