---
id: settings.how-do-i-change-how-long-counts-as-active
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/settings/how-do-i-change-how-long-counts-as-active
category: "Settings & keep-time"
subcategory: "Quiet Hours, pausing and schedules"
question: "How do I change how long Storage Studio treats me as \"active\"?"
alt_questions:
  - "User active if input within last minutes"
  - "storage studio waits too long before cleaning"
  - "Smart mode idle minutes setting"
  - "Make Storage Studio run sooner after I stop typing"
short_answer: "In Smart mode, edit User active if input within last … minutes in Settings → Quiet Hours. Automatic work waits until you've been away that long — 5 minutes by default."
tags: ["quiet hours", "idle", "smart mode"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/settings/how-does-smart-quiet-hours-mode-work"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# How do I change how long Storage Studio treats me as "active"?

In **Settings → Quiet Hours** with **Smart** selected, edit **User active if input within last … minutes**. If you've typed or moved the mouse within that many minutes, heavy automatic work waits. The default is 5 minutes.

A smaller number lets work start sooner after you step away; a larger one keeps it further out of your way.