Your Google Chat status reflects your availability for conversations on the platform. However, if you prefer to avoid participating in chats for any reason, you can keep your status offline. In this guide, we’ll show you how to appear offline on Google Chat. You will also learn a cool trick to use your Gmail account to do so.
Table of Contents
Can You Appear Offline on Google Chat?
Yes, you can appear offline on Google Chat by toggling the status to Set as away. This lets other users know that you are currently unavailable to participate in conversations on the platform.
Now, let’s see how you can hide your status on Google Chat through your Gmail account to appear offline:
1. Navigate to your Gmail account on your browser.
Note: Make sure you are signed in to the desired account.
2. Now, click on the Settings gear icon from the top right corner.
3. Click on See all settings.
4. Switch to the Chat and Meet tab and select the Google Chat radio button from the Chat section.
5. Then, click on Save Changes to add Google Chat on your Gmail account.
6. Now, select the Chat tab from the leftmost pane.
7. Click on the Status drop-down menu next to the search bar and select the Set as away option.
Now your real-time status will be shown as offline on Google Chat even when you’re active.
Also Read: How to Make Your Discord Status Change Every 10 Seconds
Does Google Chat Have Status?
Yes, Google Chat does have a status feature. You can set your availability and communicate their current status to others. The status options in Google Chat include:
- Active
- Do not disturb
- Away
- Idle
Additionally, you can customize your status message to provide further details about their availability or current tasks.
Can I Hide My Status on Google Chat?
Yes, you can hide your Google Chat status by settings as Away. This way, other users will think you’re away, even if you’re actually active on the platform.
How Does Google Chat Determine Away Status?
Google Chat determines away status based on a user’s recent activity on the platform. If users have been inactive for around 5 minutes, their status will automatically change to Away. However, if a user is active on another Google service or has their device unlocked, they will still be shown as Active on Google Chat even if they haven’t interacted with the platform recently.
Note: Setting the Away status on Google Chat does not mean being logged out or offline. Users can still receive messages and notifications while in the Away status.
What Does Google Chat Idle Status Mean?
The Google Chat status Idle typically means that the user has not been active on the platform for a certain amount of time. The exact duration of inactivity that triggers the Idle status may vary, but generally, it is around 10-15 minutes. When you are idle, your status icon in Google Chat will change to a yellow clock icon, indicating that you have been inactive for a while.
However, the idle status only indicates that the user has been inactive on Google Chat. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the user is away from their computer or not available. They may still work on something else or minimize the Google Chat tab. If you send a message to someone idle, they will receive a notification when they return to the chat window or if they have enabled push notifications.
Also Read: What Happens If You Turn Off History in Google Chat?
What are the Statuses on Google Chat?
Google Chat has different statuses to indicate a user’s availability and activity. Here is the possible Google Chat status:
- Active: This status indicates that the user is currently active on Google Chat.
- Away: It indicates that the user is not active on Google Chat. This could mean that they are idle, or that they have manually set their status to Away to appear offline on Google Chat.
- Do Not Disturb: DND status indicates that the user is currently busy and does not want to be disturbed. Messages and notifications from other users may be muted during this time.
- Idle: This status indicates that the user hasn’t been active on the platform for a specific period. The actual duration leading to the Idle status may vary.
- Custom: You can also add and set a custom status for your Google Chat account.
How Does Status Work in Google Chat?
Google Chat has different status options that allow users to show their availability to other users, as mentioned in the heading above. You can set your status manually from the status drop-down menu on the Google Chat account homepage.
Additionally, Google Chat can automatically update your status based on your calendar events and activity status. For example:
- If you have a meeting scheduled on your calendar, Google Chat will automatically set your status to In a Meeting during that time.
- If you’re inactive on your device, your status will automatically change to Away after a certain time.
How to Change Status on Google Chat?
To change your status on Google Chat, follow these steps:
Note: You can appear offline by changing the status of your Google Chat account to Away.
1. Visit the Google Account Sign In page on your browser.
2. Enter your Google email address (Gmail) and click on the Next option.
3. Enter your password and click on the Next option to sign in to your Google account.
4. Once logged in, visit the Google Chat website and you will be automatically logged into Google Chat.
5. Now, click on the Status drop-down menu next to the search bar, as shown below.
6. Select the desired status from the menu to set it as your current status.
Also Read: How to Hide Your WhatsApp Status from Specific Contacts
Appearing offline on Google Chat is useful for users who want to stay connected with their contacts without being available constantly. Although Google Chat doesn’t have an explicit Appear Offline feature on its website or Gmail, we hope this guide has been helpful in understanding how you can appear offline on Google Chat with a few workarounds and also through Gmail. If you have any queries or suggestions, please feel free to leave them in the comments section below.
