# Change the FileWave Anywhere Idle Timeout

## What

FileWave Anywhere logs an inactive administrator out after 25 minutes by default. Self-managed customers can change that server-wide timeout in `/usr/local/filewave/django/filewave/settings_custom.py`.

## When/Why

Increase the value when normal administrative work is being interrupted by automatic logouts, or reduce it when your security policy requires a shorter unattended session.

<p class="callout danger">A longer timeout leaves unattended sessions active for longer. Match the value to your organization's session-security policy and continue to sign out when using a shared computer.</p>

## How

On a self-managed FileWave Server, edit `/usr/local/filewave/django/filewave/settings_custom.py`.

<p class="callout info">**Hosted FileWave:** Hosted customers do not have direct server access. Contact FileWave Technical Support to request this change on a Hosted FileWave Server.</p>

For a self-managed server:

1. Open `/usr/local/filewave/django/filewave/settings_custom.py` in a text editor.
2. Add or modify the following line:   
    `UI_INACTIVITY_TIMEOUT = 25 * 60 # seconds the UI can stay inactive before auto logoff`
3. Replace the `25` in this line with the number of minutes you want for your idle timeout. For instance, if you want the timeout to be 60 minutes, the line should read: `UI_INACTIVITY_TIMEOUT = 60 * 60`.
4. Save and close the file.
5. To activate the change, you need to restart the server. Do this by running the following command in the terminal: `fwcontrol server restart`.

After the FileWave Server restarts, sign in to FileWave Anywhere and confirm that the new inactivity timeout takes effect.