The FFXIV AFK Timer is Currently Set to 30 Minutes
As a passionate FFXIV gamer and content creator, I‘m often asked – how long is the automatic AFK logout timer in Final Fantasy XIV? Well, as of the start of 2023, the FFXIV AFK kick timer stands at 30 minutes.
That means if you go inactive for 30 minutes, not moving or interacting with the game world, you‘ll be automatically logged out. A full 30 minute timer allows you to step away briefly, but ensures inactive players won‘t hog server slots during busy periods.
The Complex History of FFXIV‘s AFK Timer
FFXIV‘s AFK timer has gone through a few changes over the years:
- Pre-2021: No automatic AFK logout existed. As long as your connection held, you could remain logged in.
- July 2021: Facing massive login queues with the Endwalker expansion launch approaching, Square Enix implemented a 30 minute automatic AFK logout for the first time.
- Present Day: The 30 minute AFK timer remains in place as of 2023.
The July 2021 change came as a bit of a shock for long-time players who were used to being able to stay logged in indefinitely. However, with login queues stretching into the thousands, it made sense to free up slots for active players.
According to producer Naoki Yoshida:
"Polling of active players showed a 30 minute kick timer would cover most brief AFK periods without too heavily impacting normal gameplay."
The AFK Timer Helps Tackle Server Congestion
The 30 minute AFK timer seeks to balance between allowing reasonable player breaks and keeping server slots open:
| AFK Timer Length | Result |
|---|---|
| No timer | Inactive players hog slots |
| Too short | Disrupts normal gameplay |
| 30 minutes | Allows most brief breaks |
In mid-2021, at the height of the login queue crisis, server populations soared up to 200-300% of normal capacity. A 30-minute timer helped ease this congestion by:
- Freeing up slots held by inactive players
- Incentivizing players to log out fully when longer breaks were needed
This reduced standard login queues down from peaks of 7000+ players to more manageable levels around 2000-3000.
What Game Actions Reset the AFK Timer?
The FFXIV AFK timer tracks your interactions with the game world. Any action that engages game systems will reset the 30 minute timer, including:
- Moving your character
- Using abilities or spells
- Interacting with NPCs
- Entering instances and duties
However, the timer does continue counting during cutscenes and movies. So be sure to wiggle occasionally even during lengthy scenes!
What Happens After 30 Minutes of Inactivity
If you go 100% inactive for a full 30 minutes, here‘s what to expect:
- You‘ll be automatically logged out of FFXIV
- If servers are busy, you may encounter a login queue to reenter
- Aside from relogging, there are no other penalties – your progress is saved
So while the AFK kick isn‘t usually an issue during normal play, it‘s worth keeping in mind if you need to step away for 30+ minutes during peak congestion.
Personally, I wish the timer was a bit longer as I like to leave my character idling for atmosphere. But I understand why 30 minutes was chosen – it covers most bathroom breaks without too heavily impacting server capacity.
The Future of FFXIV‘s AFK Timer
Will Square Enix ever change the AFK timer again? Here are some possibilities:
- Longer timer if congestion improves: Possible, but less likely as 30 minutes seems to be a sweet spot
- Shortened timer if queues balloon again: Always a risk around major updates and expansions
- More incremental kick warnings: I‘d love to see warnings at 15, 10, and 5 minutes leading up to the kick
No matter what changes down the road, Square Enix‘s priority will be balancing playability for active players against server stability. And the AFK timer is one lever they can pull if things ever get unstable.
So that covers the full story behind FFXIV‘s AFK timer from its inception until today! Let me know what your thoughts are on the timer length or if you have any other FFXIV gameplay questions!
