A menu bar utility
GreenLight
A small menu bar app that keeps Microsoft Teams and Slack from marking you away while you're reading, thinking, or on a call.
Free. macOS 12 or later. Windows version in progress.
The idea
How it works
Teams and Slack decide you're away when your computer hasn't seen any mouse or keyboard input for a few minutes. That happens a lot when you're reading a long document, on a phone call, or working on paper.
Once a minute, GreenLight moves the pointer briefly over the Teams window and back, then taps the Shift key. The pointer ends up exactly where you left it, and Shift on its own doesn't type anything.
Off, On, or Scheduled
On runs until you turn it off. Scheduled runs only during the hours and days you pick — say 9 to 5:30 on weekdays — and stops on its own. The menu bar dot shows the state at a glance: solid green when it's running, a green ring when it's waiting for your schedule, and gray when it's off.
Good to know
Questions
Why does it ask for Accessibility access?
macOS only lets apps with Accessibility permission move the pointer or press keys. GreenLight asks the first time you turn it on. You can check or remove it any time in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility.
Does it collect any data?
No. GreenLight has no accounts, no analytics, and doesn't connect to the internet. Your schedule is stored only on your Mac. See the privacy policy.
Is it OK to use at work?
That depends on your employer. Some workplaces have policies about presence-status tools, so check yours.
Does it cost anything?
No. If it's useful to you, you can leave a tip to support development — entirely optional.