StayActive PowerShell Script

Disclaimer: Using a script that simulates activity to avoid being marked as "away" or "AFK" on your computer may be against the policies of your organization or the services you're using. It is important to adhere to the rules and guidelines set by your employer or the platform you're using.

If you are looking to prevent your computer from entering sleep mode or locking the screen due to inactivity, you can simply adjust the power and sleep settings in Windows.

However, if you still want a simple PowerShell script to move the mouse cursor periodically, here it is. Please use it responsibly and only for legitimate purposes.

Features

• Minimal Mouse Movement: Moves the mouse cursor by a configurable number of pixels (default: 1 pixel) and returns it to the original position
• Configurable Timing: Adjustable interval between movements (default: 60 seconds)
• Command-Line Parameters: Full parameter support for easy customization
• Progress Indicators: Optional visual feedback showing current time, movement count, and runtime
• Verbose Logging: Detailed logging with timestamps for troubleshooting and monitoring
• Enhanced Error Handling: Graceful termination and comprehensive error reporting
• Usage Statistics: Summary of runtime and movement statistics on exit
• Built-in Help: Comprehensive help system with usage examples

Quick Start

1. Download: Save the script as StayActive.ps1
2. Run: Right-click the file and select "Run with PowerShell", or use PowerShell command line
3. Stop: Press Ctrl+C in the PowerShell window

Command-Line Usage

Basic Syntax

.\StayActive.ps1 [-MoveInterval <seconds>] [-SmallMove <pixels>] [-ShowProgress] [-Verbose] [-Help]

Parameters

Parameter	Type	Default	Description
-MoveInterval	Integer	60	Time between movements in seconds
-SmallMove	Integer	1	Number of pixels to move (1-10)
-ShowProgress	Switch	Off	Show progress indicators in console
-Verbose	Switch	Off	Enable detailed logging with timestamps
-Help	Switch	Off	Display help information and exit

Usage Examples

# Basic usage with default settings (60-second interval)
.\StayActive.ps1

# Show progress indicators
.\StayActive.ps1 -ShowProgress

# Custom interval with progress
.\StayActive.ps1 -MoveInterval 30 -ShowProgress

# Verbose logging for detailed monitoring
.\StayActive.ps1 -Verbose

# Custom settings with all features
.\StayActive.ps1 -MoveInterval 45 -SmallMove 2 -ShowProgress -Verbose

# Quick 30-second intervals for testing
.\StayActive.ps1 -MoveInterval 30 -ShowProgress -Verbose

# Display help and usage information
.\StayActive.ps1 -Help

Output Examples

Standard Mode

============================================================
StayActive Enhanced Script Started
============================================================
Start Time:     2024-12-07 14:30:15
Move Interval:  60 seconds
Move Distance:  1 pixel(s)
Show Progress:  False
Verbose Mode:   False

Press Ctrl+C to stop the script
============================================================

Progress Mode

[14:31:15] Move #1 | Runtime: 00:01:00 | Next in: 60 sec
[14:32:15] Move #2 | Runtime: 00:02:00 | Next in: 60 sec

Verbose Mode

[2024-12-07 14:30:16] Script initialization completed
[2024-12-07 14:30:16] Current mouse position: X=960, Y=540
[2024-12-07 14:30:16] Moving mouse 1 pixel(s) right/down
[2024-12-07 14:30:16] Moving mouse back to original position
[2024-12-07 14:30:16] Movement cycle #1 completed. Total runtime: 00:00:01

Advanced Features

Parameter Validation

• Move interval must be at least 1 second
• Small move distance must be between 1-10 pixels
• Invalid parameters show helpful error messages

Error Handling

• Graceful handling of Ctrl+C interruption
• Detailed error reporting in verbose mode
• Clean script termination with summary statistics

Runtime Statistics

Upon termination, the script displays:

• Total runtime
• Number of movements performed
• Average interval between movements

Installation Methods

Method 1: Direct Download and Run

1. Save the script content to a file named StayActive.ps1
2. Right-click the file and select "Run with PowerShell"

Method 2: PowerShell Command Line

1. Open PowerShell in the script directory
2. Run: .\StayActive.ps1 with desired parameters

Method 3: PowerShell with Execution Policy

If you encounter execution policy restrictions:

# Temporarily allow script execution
Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process
.\StayActive.ps1

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Script won't run (Execution Policy)

# Check current policy
Get-ExecutionPolicy

# Set policy for current session only
Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process

Need more detailed information

• Use the -Verbose parameter for detailed logging
• Use the -Help parameter for usage information

Script running too frequently/infrequently

• Adjust the -MoveInterval parameter (minimum 1 second)
• Use -ShowProgress to monitor timing

System Requirements

• Windows PowerShell 5.1 or PowerShell Core 6.0+
• Windows operating system with user32.dll (standard on all Windows versions)
• Appropriate execution policy or administrator privileges to run scripts

Technical Details

The script uses Windows API calls to:

• Move the mouse cursor using mouse_event function
• Track cursor position with GetCursorPos function
• Ensure minimal system impact with precise pixel movements

Responsible Usage

• Respect organizational policies regarding computer activity simulation
• Use only for legitimate purposes such as preventing screen lock during presentations
• Be transparent with your IT department if using in corporate environments
• Consider alternatives like adjusting Windows power settings first

License

This project is licensed under the GPL-3.0 License - see the LICENSE file for details.

This script is provided as-is for educational and legitimate use purposes. Users are responsible for ensuring compliance with their organization's policies and applicable laws.

Contributing

Feel free to submit issues and enhancement requests. When contributing:

1. Ensure backward compatibility
2. Add appropriate parameter validation
3. Include help documentation for new features
4. Test thoroughly on different Windows versions