Why such a short automatic log out on here?

This may have been answered before, and apologies if it has.

I'm wondering why the website has such an incredibly short time-out feature? It almost seems as though I'm logged out after something as short as 5 minutes of inactivity.

Often, in the time it takes me to write an email or a response to a forum thread, my log-in has timed out and I can't send the email or post the response without logging back in.

The time-out period really seems to be too short, as I'm often caught out by it.

Is it possible it is not a website problem but something to do with your router or browser at home?

I know when ever I have made a post, no matter how long I have never been timed out at all.

Definitely not, Lesley. It's the same on my work machine, and on my partner's machine. So I assume it's to do with the site...

im with Lesley

I leave this page open all day and its never timed out...

The shortest that you should be logged out after is 15 minutes. That's how long it takes for a user session to expire, and that's after 15 minutes of inactivity.

If you're getting logged sooner than that, I'd try clearing your browser cache and making sure you're browser is up to date. Also, if you're using IE, I'd suggest using anything else. Seriously, like a rock would be better at browsing the internet.

When you log in to the site, try saving your account details into your browser and checking 'Remember Me.'

Thanks Nicholas, I'll try those things. Though I'm totally with you on the anti-IE sentiments... we're a 100% Firefox family!

It happens with me as well. I use Firefox and cleared out my cache recently. :(

I've noticed the same thing when I'm on my MacBook... logged out in less time than it take my screen saver to come on.

But if is load up boot-camp (which I do often since that's where STO is hiding) I rarely get logged out of the site at all. Never understood it.

Sounds like a browser issue then. I know firefox is more finicky about cookies so could be that?

I use Chrome and it always feels like I get logged out very quickly but I'm not confident enough to say that it's too quick.

15 minutes can seem a lot shorter if I'm distracted by something shiny :p

dunno ive been here all evening (around 6 hours) and still not timed out.

Quote by Halish

15 minutes can seem a lot shorter if I'm distracted by something shiny :p

My life is an endless distraction by shiny things :blush:

I agree that the time it takes for the session to expire seems crazy short. I use Firefox as well. I'll start the browser and log into the forums when I start gaming, but 20 minutes later, when I alt-tab back to the browser, I'll find that I have to log back in again. Any way to increase the time?

I never get logged out even after 24hours! I'm using Firefox too.

Not sure if this would make a difference, but maybe you should try using the remember me feature when you log in?

Quote by Voleron

I agree that the time it takes for the session to expire seems crazy short. I use Firefox as well. I'll start the browser and log into the forums when I start gaming, but 20 minutes later, when I alt-tab back to the browser, I'll find that I have to log back in again. Any way to increase the time?

Are you checking Remember Me?

I've changed the settings so that your browser will track your session instead of our database. We can try and see if this helps out or not. You may need to clean your cache for this to take effect, but probably not. Let me know if you guys have any better/worse time with logging in.

Its been a week. Anyone having any better/worse experience with staying logged in?

I've not been auto-logged out in months.

I've been auto logged out twice today.

I'm on a slightly buggy ubuntu laptop running chromium.

Quote by NicholasJohn16

Its been a week. Anyone having any better/worse experience with staying logged in?

Better :)

I'm still using Firefox, and I log in without checking the 'Remember me' box.

I have run some tests, leaving the site logged in but idle for 10 minutes, 15, 20 and 25... all good so far - no auto-log out.

Whatever you did seems to have helped. Thank you :)