Last reviewed: November 2, 2026
Start with the problem
- The screen dims or locks while I read or present → keep-awake: browser tool, system settings, PowerToys Awake, caffeinate.
- A long task stops because the computer sleeps → system-level keep-awake, see preventing sleep during long tasks.
- An app shows me idle → only real input changes this: a jiggler of some kind, or the app's own documented settings (for example the Teams web presence option).
- I cannot install software → browser tool, phone jiggler, mechanical jiggler, or settings you are allowed to change (without software).
Comparison table
| Method | Install | Real input | Keeps display on | Platforms | Main limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Browser wake lock (tool) | No | No | While tab visible | Any current browser | Pauses when tab hidden |
| Phone pattern | No | If the sensor reads it | Phone yes; computer via input | Optical mouse + phone | Not every mouse tracks |
| USB jiggler | Hardware | Yes | Yes, via input | Any with USB | Visible as a device |
| Mechanical jiggler | Hardware | Yes, real mouse | Yes, via input | Any | Visible and audible |
| Software jiggler | Yes | Yes | Yes, via input | Depends on app | May be blocked or flagged |
| PowerToys Awake | Yes | No | Optional | Windows | Power request only[1] |
| caffeinate | Built in | No | With -d | macOS | Terminal; stops with Control-C |
| Amphetamine / Caffeine-style apps | Yes | No | Configurable | macOS | Same principle as caffeinate |
| System settings | No | No | Yes | All | Permanent until changed back |
Hardware vs software vs browser
Hardware jigglers need no installation and work across operating systems, but they are physical objects: a USB one appears as an input device, a mechanical one moves your real mouse. Software jigglers are flexible but must be installed and run as processes that management tools can list. Browser tools need nothing installed but are limited to what the web platform allows: keeping the display on while visible.
The detection guide covers how each family can be observed.
Caffeine vs Amphetamine vs PowerToys Awake
These are keep-awake tools, not jigglers. PowerToys Awake on Windows offers indefinite, interval and until-time modes and an optional “keep screen on” switch, without changing your power plan[1]. On macOS, caffeinate provides the same basic controls from Terminal[2]; Amphetamine and similar menu bar apps add schedules and triggers on top. None of them creates input, so chat presence still goes idle.
Step-by-step instructions are in the guides for Windows and Mac.
Which is best?
For a screen that must stay lit for a while, the browser tool or a system setting is the simplest and the easiest to undo. For overnight work, use the operating system's own keep-awake method. Real input is only needed when an app judges you by activity, and that is exactly where the work context matters most.
Frequently asked questions
What is a free alternative to Caffeine or Amphetamine?
caffeinate is already on every Mac, and PowerToys Awake is free on Windows. A browser wake lock works on both without installing anything.
Is a USB mouse jiggler better than software?
It avoids installation, but it appears as a hardware device and creates regular input. Better depends on your constraints.
Can I use a mouse jiggler without USB?
Yes: a mechanical jiggler, a software jiggler or the phone pattern with an optical mouse.
Sources
Official documentation consulted when writing this page. Menus and defaults change between versions, so check the current documentation for your version.
- PowerToys Awake utility for Windows — Microsoft Learn
- caffeinate (man page copy, unofficial) — SS64