DIY Mouse Jiggler: 4 Ways to Make Your Own (Free & Hardware)

If you work remote jobs and your status keeps flipping to “Away” the moment you step away from the keyboard, a mouse jiggler solves that problem in about five minutes. The catch is that not every jiggler is created equal. Some are free downloads anyone can run, while others sit at the hardware level where no monitoring software can see them.

This guide walks through four ways to make your own mouse jiggler, from the easiest software option to a hardware build that costs about $10. Pick the method that matches your skill level and how much stealth you actually need.

DIY Mouse Jiggler Methods: Quick Comparison

Before getting into the steps, here is a side-by-side look at all four DIY approaches so you can choose the right one.

For more on what each tool can and cannot hide, read our breakdown of whether can Teams detect a mouse jiggler and the parallel question of can Slack detect a mouse jiggler. Those two articles cover the detection side in detail.

Method 1: Free Mouse Jiggler Software

This is the simplest path. You download a small program, run it, and your cursor or keyboard activity gets simulated on a schedule. No coding, no soldering.

The most popular free options

• Caffeine (zhornsoftware.co.uk): A tiny Windows utility that simulates an F15 key press every 59 seconds. F15 is a real key code most systems do not actually have, so it does not interfere with anything you type. Runs at about 200 KB of RAM.
• Mouse Jiggle (mousejiggler.codeplex.com archives, also on GitHub): Moves the cursor by one pixel on a configurable interval. Has a “Zen jiggle” option that fakes movement without visually moving the cursor.
• WizMouse: Originally built for scroll wheel pass-through, but combined with auto-mover features it doubles as a jiggler. A bit older, still works on Windows 10 and 11.

If you just want a list of options, our roundup of the best mouse jiggler software compares features side by side. For Windows users specifically, the best mouse jiggler for Windows guide is more focused.

Step-by-step: Caffeine setup

1. Download: Go to zhornsoftware.co.uk and grab the Caffeine installer. The file is under 1 MB.
2. Run it: Caffeine is portable. You can extract it to a folder or run the installer for system-wide use. Double-click caffeine.exe and it lives in your system tray.
3. Configure the interval: Right-click the tray icon, pick Preferences, and set the jiggle interval. Sixty seconds is the default and works well. Shorter than 30 seconds is overkill.
4. Minimize to tray: Caffeine runs silently from the tray. You can right-click and pause it any time you actually want your computer to sleep.
5. Add to startup (optional): Drop a shortcut into shell:startup so Caffeine runs every time you log in.

Pros and cons

Pros: Easiest setup of any method. Free. No technical skill required. Tiny resource footprint.

Cons: The process is visible in Task Manager under its real name. Some corporate monitoring tools maintain blocklists of known jiggler executables. If your laptop has managed software inventory through tools like Tanium or Crowdstrike, an admin can see the process running.

Method 2: Windows Task Scheduler Method (No Downloads)

If you cannot install software, or you want to avoid anything called “jiggler” showing up in Task Manager, the Task Scheduler approach uses two tools that are already on every Windows machine: Task Scheduler and either VBScript or PowerShell.

The idea is simple. You schedule a tiny script to run every few minutes. The script nudges the cursor by one pixel and immediately returns it. Windows treats that as user input and resets the idle timer.

Step-by-step: Build the scheduled jiggler

1. Create the script file. Open Notepad and paste the VBScript below. Save it as jiggler.vbs somewhere stable, for example C:\Users\YourName\Scripts\jiggler.vbs.

Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
WshShell.SendKeys "{SCROLLLOCK}"
WScript.Sleep 100
WshShell.SendKeys "{SCROLLLOCK}"

That script taps Scroll Lock on and off, which Windows counts as activity but does not affect anything you are doing. If you prefer actual cursor movement instead, use this PowerShell one-liner saved as jiggler.ps1:

Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Windows.Forms
$pos = [System.Windows.Forms.Cursor]::Position
[System.Windows.Forms.Cursor]::Position = New-Object System.Drawing.Point($pos.X + 1, $pos.Y)
[System.Windows.Forms.Cursor]::Position = $pos

2. Open Task Scheduler. Press Windows key, type “Task Scheduler”, press Enter.
3. Create Basic Task. In the right pane, click “Create Basic Task”. Name it something neutral like “Activity Monitor” so a casual glance does not give it away.
4. Set the trigger. Choose “When I log on” for the start trigger. After creating the task, you will edit it to repeat.
5. Set the action. Choose “Start a program”. For the VBScript version, point Program to wscript.exe and add "C:\Users\YourName\Scripts\jiggler.vbs" as the argument. For the PowerShell version, point Program to powershell.exe with arguments -WindowStyle Hidden -File "C:\Users\YourName\Scripts\jiggler.ps1".
6. Finish and edit. Click Finish, then find your task in the library, right-click, choose Properties. On the Triggers tab, edit the trigger and check “Repeat task every” and pick 4 minutes for an indefinite duration.
7. Test it. Right-click the task and pick “Run”. Watch for the Scroll Lock light blinking, or check that your idle timer resets in Teams or Slack.

Microsoft has solid official docs on Task Scheduler at learn.microsoft.com if you want deeper detail on triggers and conditions.

Pros and cons

Pros: No downloads. Uses tools that are already audited and trusted by IT. The scheduled task is named whatever you want, so it does not scream “jiggler” to anyone browsing scheduled tasks. Survives reboots automatically.

Cons: Requires basic comfort with Task Scheduler. An admin who specifically audits scheduled tasks can still spot it. Some managed laptops disable user-created scheduled tasks.

Method 3: PowerShell Mouse Jiggler Script

If you live in a terminal anyway, a PowerShell loop is the cleanest software jiggler you can build. There is no install, no scheduled task, no third-party process. Just a script you launch when you want it and stop when you do not.

The full script

Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Windows.Forms
while ($true) {
    $pos = [System.Windows.Forms.Cursor]::Position
    [System.Windows.Forms.Cursor]::Position = New-Object System.Drawing.Point($pos.X + 1, $pos.Y)
    [System.Windows.Forms.Cursor]::Position = $pos
    Start-Sleep -Seconds 60
}

Save that as jiggler.ps1. The loop nudges the cursor by one pixel and immediately puts it back every 60 seconds. Visually you might catch a single-pixel twitch if you are staring at the cursor, but in normal use you will not notice.

How to run it without a console window

If you launch the script with the standard powershell command, a blue console window stays open. To hide it, run:

powershell -WindowStyle Hidden -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "C:\Users\YourName\Scripts\jiggler.ps1"

The -WindowStyle Hidden flag suppresses the window, and -ExecutionPolicy Bypass sidesteps the default Windows policy that blocks unsigned scripts. Microsoft has a full reference on PowerShell execution policies at learn.microsoft.com covering the security tradeoffs.

Auto-start on login

To run it automatically every time you log in, make a shortcut with the command above as the target and drop the shortcut into your startup folder. Press Windows + R, type shell:startup, and paste the shortcut there.

Alternatively, wrap the same command in a one-line scheduled task triggered “At log on”. That gives you a slightly cleaner uninstall path later.

Pros and cons

Pros: Zero install. Zero third-party software. Tiny memory footprint. PowerShell is a trusted system binary, so the process running shows up as powershell.exe, not anything suspicious-sounding.

Cons: Requires that PowerShell scripts can run, which may be locked down on managed corporate machines. Looking at running processes, a sharp admin might wonder why powershell.exe has been running for eight hours straight.

Method 4: Hardware Mouse Jiggler (Arduino or USB Device)

Hardware is the only category that is genuinely invisible to your computer’s operating system. The device sits between you and the USB port, emulating a real mouse. The OS sees a Logitech-like HID device sending small movements. There is no software process to flag, no scheduled task to find, and no script to audit.

There are two sub-paths here: build one yourself with an Arduino, or buy a pre-made USB jiggler.

Sub-approach A: Arduino Pro Micro or Leonardo (~$8 to $12)

You need a board with native USB HID support. Most ATmega32U4 boards work: Arduino Leonardo, Arduino Micro, or any of the small Pro Micro clones on Amazon and AliExpress for under $10.

You will also need:

• A USB cable (usually micro-USB for cheaper Pro Micro clones)
• The free Arduino IDE from arduino.cc

The Arduino sketch

Install the Arduino IDE, plug in the board, and pick the correct board type under Tools. Then paste this sketch:

#include <Mouse.h>

void setup() {
  Mouse.begin();
}

void loop() {
  Mouse.move(1, 0, 0);
  delay(30000);
  Mouse.move(-1, 0, 0);
  delay(30000);
}

Click upload. Once it finishes, the board will start sending one-pixel mouse movements every 30 seconds for as long as it is plugged into any computer. The official documentation for the Mouse library lives at arduino.cc if you want to tweak movement patterns or add randomization.

Making it less detectable as a pattern

A real human does not move exactly one pixel every 30 seconds on a perfect timer. If you are worried about behavioral pattern detection (advanced monitoring tools sometimes look for unnatural input timing), randomize the interval:

#include <Mouse.h>

void setup() {
  Mouse.begin();
  randomSeed(analogRead(0));
}

void loop() {
  int wait = random(20000, 60000);
  Mouse.move(1, 0, 0);
  delay(100);
  Mouse.move(-1, 0, 0);
  delay(wait);
}

That spaces movements anywhere from 20 to 60 seconds apart, which looks much more like genuine human idle behavior.

Sub-approach B: Pre-made USB jiggler ($15 to $30)

If you do not feel like flashing firmware, a finished USB jiggler costs $15 to $30 on Amazon, eBay, or AliExpress. Search for “undetectable USB mouse jiggler” or “mouse mover USB”. The good ones identify themselves to your computer as a generic HID mouse with a random vendor ID, exactly like a $5 office mouse.

Some popular models include the Vaydeer USB Mouse Jiggler, the Liberty mouse mover, and various unbranded products from Chinese sellers that are functionally identical.

Pros and cons of the hardware approach

Pros: Completely invisible at the operating system level. Nothing for monitoring software to detect because there is no software involved. Works on any OS, including locked-down corporate Macs that block software jigglers. Survives OS reinstalls and policy changes.

Cons: Small upfront cost. Arduino approach requires about 30 minutes to flash and test. A physically present IT auditor who looks at your USB ports might notice an unfamiliar device.

Which DIY Mouse Jiggler Method Should You Use?

Pick based on what you actually need.

• No technical skills, just want it working in five minutes: Go with Method 1 (free software like Caffeine).
• Cannot install software but can navigate Windows menus: Method 2 (Task Scheduler with VBScript) is your path.
• Comfortable in PowerShell and want zero footprint: Method 3 (PowerShell script) is clean and easy to remove.
• Want maximum reliability, on a managed laptop, or running it long-term: Method 4 (Arduino or USB hardware) is the only option that is invisible to monitoring software.

For people working multiple remote roles, the hardware route is usually worth the small investment. If you have arrived here while researching can you have two full-time jobs or whether is overemployment legal, the rest of our site has detailed answers. We also publish role-specific guides like the overemployed UX designer playbook for people thinking about how to manage two jobs in a specific field.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a DIY mouse jiggler?

A DIY mouse jiggler is any tool you build or configure yourself to simulate mouse or keyboard activity so your computer does not register as idle. It can be a free piece of software you install, a script you write, or a small hardware device you flash with custom firmware. The goal is the same in every case: keep your status indicators active in apps like Teams, Slack, Zoom, and time-tracking tools.

Is making a mouse jiggler legal?

Building a mouse jiggler is legal everywhere. They are sold openly on Amazon and have plenty of valid uses, such as preventing screensavers during long presentations or downloads. Whether using one is allowed under your specific employment contract is a separate question, and that depends on your employer’s policies. We are not your lawyer, but the device itself is not illegal.

Can IT detect a mouse jiggler?

It depends on which type you build. Software jigglers can be detected by endpoint management tools that look at running processes. Scripts that use PowerShell or VBScript are harder to spot but still discoverable by a determined admin. Hardware jigglers are essentially undetectable from the software side because the OS sees them as a standard HID mouse. The only way to find a hardware jiggler is to physically inspect the USB ports.

Does a mouse jiggler work on Mac?

Yes, but the methods differ. Free software options like Amphetamine and KeepingYouAwake work well on macOS. The PowerShell method does not apply because Macs use bash or zsh, but you can write an equivalent AppleScript that nudges the cursor in a loop. Hardware jigglers work identically on Macs because they identify as standard HID mice, which macOS accepts without driver installs.

What is the difference between software and hardware mouse jigglers?

Software jigglers run as a process on your computer, generating fake input events at the operating system level. They are free or cheap but visible to anything that audits running processes. Hardware jigglers are physical USB devices that emulate a real mouse, sending movement signals through the USB port. Your computer cannot tell them apart from a normal mouse, which means software monitoring tools cannot detect them.

Will a mouse jiggler keep my Teams or Zoom status green?

Yes, as long as your idle interval is short enough. Teams flips to “Away” after about five minutes of no input. Slack uses ten. A jiggler set to trigger every one to four minutes keeps both apps showing “Available” indefinitely. If your jiggler is set to 10-minute intervals you will see your status briefly drop, so we suggest a faster cycle.