Do you find it frustrating when Microsoft Teams shows you as “away” after just a few minutes of inactivity? This default setting can be especially disruptive if you’re simply focused on a task or away from the screen briefly.
In this guide, we’ll cover clear, practical ways to keep your status “active” in Teams. With easy-to-follow steps, you can prevent the unwanted “away” switch and stay visible when it matters most.
Microsoft Teams switches your status to “away” after around 5 minutes of inactivity. To prevent this, you can set a custom duration for “available” or “busy” to keep your status active longer.
To adjust your status duration:
By making these adjustments, you can remain “available” for extended periods, ensuring your team sees you as active.
Microsoft Teams automatically marks you as “away” if it detects no recent activity, but there are ways to maintain an “active” status without constantly refreshing.
These strategies are quick to set up and give you more control over your Teams status without needing to stay at your desk.
The idle settings in Microsoft Teams determine when your status switches to “away” after inactivity. Here’s how to manage these settings effectively:
These adjustments are especially useful for maintaining a consistent active status during long work sessions.
The “away” status in Microsoft Teams appears after around 5 minutes of inactivity. Here are a few more options to keep Teams from showing “away”:
These options help communicate your availability and keep your status from auto-switching to “away” when you’re focused on a task.
Ready to try these solutions? Experiment with these tips to keep your Teams status active and enhance your remote work productivity. For more Microsoft Teams and productivity insights, check out our other resources.
Updated on
June 4, 2025
Published on
November 5, 2024
Read Next
Subscribe to Variphy Voice to get featured posts delivered straight to your inbox.
Subscribe
Connect with us
