How Do I Set Microsoft Teams Status as Always “Available”?

Microsoft Teams has quickly become a fundamental part of remote work and team collaboration. Especially in these challenging times when remote work has become more prevalent, the platform’s features are more crucial than ever. Among them, the status indicator is a powerful tool that communicates your availability to your colleagues. However, the automatic status updates can sometimes lead to confusion. This guide is here to help you learn how to manage your status, keeping it always “Available.”

Video Guide

The Challenges with Automatic Status Updates

By default, Microsoft Teams changes your status based on your activity and device settings. This automation can lead to misunderstandings and miscommunication among your team. The status will change automatically due to:

1. Inactivity: If there’s no activity such as typing or scrolling for at least five minutes, Microsoft Teams will switch your status from active.
2. Sleep/Idle Mode: Your status changes when your device (smartphone or computer) enters idle or sleep mode after some time of inactivity.
3. Busy: If your Outlook calendar has you in a meeting, or you’re presenting in Teams, your status will be switched to busy.

Taking Control: Set Your Status to “Always Available”

Luckily, you have the ability to manually set your status, ensuring your team knows when you are available, even if your device is idle or Teams is running in the background. Here’s how to do it:

1. Click on your profile picture, positioned in the top-right corner.
2. Click on the status indicator.
3. From the drop-down menu, select your preferred status: Available, Busy, Do Not Disturb, Be Right Back, or Appear Away.
4. Click on your chosen status and exit the profile.

Manually setting your status will keep it active, enhancing your communication and collaboration with your team.

Communicate Effectively with Custom Status Messages

Apart from manually setting your Microsoft Teams status to “Available”, another effective way to communicate your availability to your colleagues is to set a custom status message. Here is how you can set it:

1. Click on your profile picture, which is positioned at the top-right corner of the application.
2. Click on the tab labeled “Set Status Message”.
3. In the message box, write a brief message that accurately reflects your current status. This could be something simple like “Working on project X” or “Available for collaboration”.
4. You also have an option to set an expiry date for your status message by clicking on the tab labelled “Clear Status Message After.” Choose a time frame that aligns with your availability.

Using a status message can provide more context about your availability and what you’re currently working on, making it a great tool for enhancing your team’s collaboration on Microsoft Teams. Remember to update your message as often as necessary to reflect your actual status accurately.

With these tips and tricks, you’ll optimize your Microsoft Teams experience and enhance your collaboration with your team. Keeping your status “Available” and setting a custom status message are powerful ways to communicate effectively, ensuring everyone is on the same page.