Online Indicators show when a coach or client is actively using CoachRx and whether a client is currently working out. A color-coded dot in the user's avatar plus a small badge give you real-time visibility into who is available and who is mid-session.
The feature is powered by live presence and continuously updates as users open, use, and leave the app, so the signal always reflects the current moment.
The three states
There are three possible states for any user avatar:
State | What you'll see | What it means |
🟢 Online | A green dot | The user has CoachRx open and active. |
⚡ Working out | A lightning bolt badge | The client has logged or updated a workout item in CoachRx within the last 15 minutes. |
⚪ Offline | No ring, no badge | The user is not currently active in CoachRx. |
ℹ️ The lightning bolt only appears on clients, because it is based on workout entry activity. Coaches do not get a lightning bolt.
Key benefits
Catch clients in the moment. When a client's avatar shows a lightning bolt, you know they are training right now. A perfect window to send encouragement, a cue, or a follow-up.
Time your outreach better. A green ring tells you a client is actually in the app, so your message lands when they can act on it.
Build client confidence. Clients see when their coach has a green ring, which reinforces trust and follow-through.
Quiet, contextual signal. A ring and a badge, no noise. No notifications, no extra clicks. The status sits on the avatar you already look at.
Where you will see Online Indicators
Coach Web App
Green rings and lightning bolts appear on client avatars in:
Client list and anywhere you see an avatar view
Client calendar sidebar
Messaging and chat headers
Notifications page
Coach Mobile App
Green rings and lightning bolts appear on client avatars in:
Client lists and roster views
Client detail headers
Messaging and chat screens
Client Mobile App
A green ring appears on the coach's avatar in:
Messaging and chat headers
ℹ️ Note: The chat screen is currently the only place the coach's avatar renders in the client app. As the coach profile view rolls out, the indicator will appear there as well. Clients do not see a lightning bolt on coaches. The lightning bolt is specific to client workout activity.
How each state is determined
🟢 Green ring - Online
A user is considered online based on an active presence connection to CoachRx.
A client is online when:
Their client mobile app is open and in the foreground.
A coach is online when:
Their web app is open and the browser tab is active, or
Their coach mobile app is open and in the foreground.
⚡ Lightning bolt - Actively Working Out (clients only)
A client's avatar shows a lightning bolt badge when they have been actively inputting results in the app within the last 15 minutes. Specifically:
The client has added, updated, or logged a workout item (such as a set, rep, weight, time, or score) within the rolling 15-minute window.
After 15 minutes of no workout activity, the lightning bolt clears. The green ring stays if they are still online, or disappears if they are offline.
This is why the lightning bolt is the best signal that a client is mid-session. It is tied to real logged activity, not just having the app open.
Use cases worth knowing
Coach sees a lightning bolt on a client mid-day. That client is training right now. A short, well-timed message has higher impact than an hours-later check-in.
Coach sees a green ring but no lightning bolt for an extended window. They are in the app but not actively logging results. Good moment to send a message or answer a question. They are likely to see it.
Coach sees no indicator on a client. The client is not currently in the app. Messages will still reach them through push notifications and the usual inbox.
Client sees a green ring on their coach. Their coach is active in CoachRx. If they send a message, they will likely get a faster response.
FAQs
What does the green ring mean?
The person is currently online in CoachRx. Their app or browser tab is open and active.
What does the lightning bolt mean?
The client is actively working out. Specifically, they have logged or updated a workout item in the last 15 minutes.
Why 15 minutes?
15 minutes is long enough to span rest periods between sets or rounds, and short enough to reflect real, current activity. If a client has logged a set in the last 15 minutes, they are almost certainly still training.
Does the lightning bolt mean they are on the workout screen right now?
Not necessarily. It means they have been inputting workout results within the last 15 minutes. They might be between sets, resting, or briefly on another screen.
Can a client show the lightning bolt while offline?
Yes, briefly. If a client logs a set and then backgrounds the app, the lightning bolt can still show to their coach for up to 15 minutes after that last entry, because it is driven by logged activity rather than live presence.
Why don't I see an indicator right after the app loads?
Presence takes a moment to connect. During that short window, CoachRx shows no indicator rather than risk showing an inaccurate status.
I switched browser tabs for a few seconds and still showed online. Is that right?
Yes. Coach web has a 60-second grace period designed to prevent the green ring from flickering during normal coaching work.
Why did the green ring disappear so quickly on mobile?
On mobile, online status ends as soon as the app is backgrounded or closed. There is no grace period on mobile.
Does the green ring mean the person is reading my message right now?
No. It only means they are open in the app. It does not tell you which screen they are viewing or whether they are actively typing.
Why don't coaches get a lightning bolt?
The lightning bolt is specifically for client workout activity. It reflects whether the client has logged training results recently, which only applies to the client side of the product.
Can I turn Online Indicators off?
Not at this time. We may add this as a preference in the future.
Still stuck? Email coachrxsupport@opexfit.com.