diff --git a/src/aare/gui/main_window.py b/src/aare/gui/main_window.py
index 80b37c96..729e5e70 100644
--- a/src/aare/gui/main_window.py
+++ b/src/aare/gui/main_window.py
@@ -876,11 +876,6 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
         for locked_banner in self._locked_beamline_banners:
             locked_banner.installEventFilter(self)
 
-        self._idle_timer = QTimer(self)
-        self._idle_timer.setInterval(60_000)
-        self._idle_timer.timeout.connect(self._check_idle_timeout)
-        self._idle_timer.start()
-
         self._remote_close_timer = QTimer(self)
         self._remote_close_timer.setInterval(1000)
         self._remote_close_timer.timeout.connect(self._check_remote_close_deadline)
@@ -3190,18 +3185,3 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
 
         logger.warning("Closing GUI due to remote close request.")
         self.close()
-
-    @Slot()
-    def _check_idle_timeout(self) -> None:
-        idle_for_s = time.time() - self._last_user_interaction_ts
-        if idle_for_s < self._idle_close_timeout_s:
-            return
-
-        if not self._can_close_for_idle_or_remote():
-            logger.info(
-                "Idle timeout reached, but GUI remains open because beamline is busy or automation is active."
-            )
-            return
-        # TODO deny communication from GUI to DAQ while IDLE for too long rather than kill the GUI
-        logger.warning("Closing GUI after inactivity timeout.")
-        self.close()
diff --git a/tests/unit/gui/test_main_window.py b/tests/unit/gui/test_main_window.py
index c6cba4c0..67d04901 100644
--- a/tests/unit/gui/test_main_window.py
+++ b/tests/unit/gui/test_main_window.py
@@ -352,85 +352,6 @@ def test_automation_activity_refreshes_idle_timestamp(qtbot, mock_ui_state):
         assert win._remote_close_deadline_ts is None
 
 
-def test_idle_timeout_closes_when_inactive_and_not_running(qtbot, mock_ui_state):
-    with (
-        patch("requests.get"),
-        patch("aare.gui.main_window.DAQWorker"),
-        patch("aare.gui.main_window.PredictionSubscriber"),
-        patch("aare.gui.main_window.VideoThread"),
-        patch("aare.gui.main_window.JFJochDBusClient"),
-        patch("aare.gui.main_window.jwt.decode") as mock_jwt,
-    ):
-        mock_jwt.return_value = {
-            "sub": "testuser",
-            "staff": True,
-            "pgroups": ["p123"],
-            "session": 15,
-        }
-        fake_token = "header.payload.signature"
-
-        win = MainWindow(
-            base_url=None,
-            token=fake_token,
-            default_image=None,
-            zmq_addr=None,
-            pred_zmq_addr=None,
-            beamline_cam_addr=None,
-            gonio_cam_addr=None,
-            gonio_cam_id=None,
-        )
-        qtbot.addWidget(win)
-
-        win._idle_close_timeout_s = 10
-        win._last_user_interaction_ts = 100.0
-        win.close = MagicMock()
-
-        with patch("aare.gui.main_window.time.time", return_value=111.0):
-            win._check_idle_timeout()
-
-        win.close.assert_called_once()
-
-
-def test_idle_timeout_does_not_close_while_automation_active(qtbot, mock_ui_state):
-    with (
-        patch("requests.get"),
-        patch("aare.gui.main_window.DAQWorker"),
-        patch("aare.gui.main_window.PredictionSubscriber"),
-        patch("aare.gui.main_window.VideoThread"),
-        patch("aare.gui.main_window.JFJochDBusClient"),
-        patch("aare.gui.main_window.jwt.decode") as mock_jwt,
-    ):
-        mock_jwt.return_value = {
-            "sub": "testuser",
-            "staff": True,
-            "pgroups": ["p123"],
-            "session": 15,
-        }
-        fake_token = "header.payload.signature"
-
-        win = MainWindow(
-            base_url=None,
-            token=fake_token,
-            default_image=None,
-            zmq_addr=None,
-            pred_zmq_addr=None,
-            beamline_cam_addr=None,
-            gonio_cam_addr=None,
-            gonio_cam_id=None,
-        )
-        qtbot.addWidget(win)
-
-        win._idle_close_timeout_s = 10
-        win._last_user_interaction_ts = 100.0
-        win.job_list_panel.is_running = MagicMock(return_value=True)
-        win.close = MagicMock()
-
-        with patch("aare.gui.main_window.time.time", return_value=111.0):
-            win._check_idle_timeout()
-
-        win.close.assert_not_called()
-
-
 def _make_window(qtbot):
     win = MainWindow(
         base_url=None,