AstroSimpleAFK
v1.0.01.20+AstroSimpleAFK detects when players go idle and displays an [AFK] tag above their name. Reset on movement or chat. Configurable timeout, bypass permission, and broadcast options.
Overview
AstroSimpleAFK solves a small but constant annoyance on busy servers: telling apart the players who are genuinely active from the ones who have stepped away. It watches each player for activity and, once they have been still and silent past a configurable timeout, marks them as away and shows an [AFK] tag above their name so everyone can see at a glance who is and is not really there. The moment that player moves, types in chat, runs a command or interacts with the world, the tag clears and they are counted as active again.
The detection is deliberately lightweight. Rather than polling positions on a tight loop, the plugin resets an idle timer from the events that already fire when a player does something, so the cost of running it stays negligible even with a full server. The timeout, the prefix text and whether the server broadcasts a message when someone goes AFK or returns are all set in the config, so you can make the behaviour as loud or as quiet as your community prefers.
Two things keep it practical for real servers. Players can toggle their own status with /afk when they know they are about to step away, which is tidier than waiting for the timer. And staff can be given a bypass permission so moderators who sit still while watching chat are not constantly flagged. The prefix supports standard colour codes, so the tag can be styled to match the rest of your formatting rather than sticking out.
Who it is for
Survival, SMP and community servers where it matters who is genuinely online, anti-idle setups that pair an AFK tag with a kick or a reduced reward, and any server that simply wants a clean visual marker over inactive players.
Features
- Configurable AFK timeout
- [AFK] prefix above player name
- Optional broadcast when player goes AFK or returns
- Bypass permission for staff
- Reset triggers: movement, chat, command, interaction
Commands
| Command | Description | Permission |
|---|---|---|
/afk | Toggle AFK manually | astrosimpleafk.command |
/afk reload | Reload config | astrosimpleafk.reload |
Permissions
| Node | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
astrosimpleafk.bypass | Skip auto-AFK detection | op |
astrosimpleafk.reload | Use reload command | op |
Example Config
# AstroSimpleAFK Configuration
afk-timeout-seconds: 300
broadcast-afk: true
broadcast-return: true
afk-prefix: "&7[AFK] "afk-timeout-seconds sets how long a player must be idle before the tag appears (300 is five minutes). broadcast-afk and broadcast-return toggle the server-wide messages independently, so you can announce returns without announcing departures or vice versa. afk-prefix accepts colour codes such as &7 and is shown above the player name, so style it to match your chat formatting.
Installation
Drop AstroSimpleAFK.jar into /plugins and restart. It works standalone with no dependencies and generates a config.yml on first start that you then edit. The bypass and reload permissions default to operators, so on a permissions-managed server grant astrosimpleafk.bypass to your staff group rather than relying on op status.
Download
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as activity that clears the AFK tag?
Movement, chat messages, running a command and interacting with the world all reset the idle timer and clear the [AFK] tag. The plugin listens for the events those actions already fire, so any normal play immediately marks the player active again without you having to do anything.
Can players mark themselves AFK manually?
Yes. Running /afk toggles the player's status on demand, which is useful when someone knows they are about to step away and does not want to wait for the timeout. Running it again, or simply moving, returns them to active.
How do I stop my staff from being marked AFK?
Grant them the astrosimpleafk.bypass permission. It skips automatic AFK detection entirely, which is handy for moderators who sit still while watching chat. By default the node is op-only, so assign it to your staff group through your permissions plugin.
Will this plugin kick idle players?
No. AstroSimpleAFK only detects idle players and displays the tag, optionally broadcasting a message. It does not kick anyone. If you want idle players removed, pair it with a separate AFK-kick plugin or your server's existing idle-timeout setting; this plugin handles the visible status only.
Does it work on Paper and Spigot?
Yes. It targets the Bukkit API used by both Paper and Spigot on Minecraft 1.20 and newer, and it has no hard dependencies, so it drops into either flavour without extra setup.
How do I change how long it takes to go AFK?
Edit afk-timeout-seconds in config.yml and reload with /afk reload. The value is in seconds, so 300 is five minutes. Lower it for a stricter idle window or raise it if players complain about being flagged during short pauses.