Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and methods for adjusting a dormancy timer in a wireless access node based on wireless device application status. In a particular embodiment, a method provides monitoring Application Programming Interface (API) calls from applications running on a wireless communication device for user interface functions and monitoring status of user interface components. The method further provides processing the API calls for the user interface functions and the status of the user interface components to set a dormancy timer threshold. The method further provides transferring the dormancy timer threshold to a wireless communication network that releases a wireless link to the wireless communication device if a dormancy timer for the wireless communication device reaches the dormancy timer threshold.