Everyone saw an increase in virtual meetings through video conferencing platforms during Covid-19. Microsoft teams are one such example of a video conferencing platform that allows schools, universities, and even businesses to conduct online classes or meetings. On Microsoft teams, there is a status feature that lets other participants in the meeting know whether you are active, away, or available. By default, Microsoft teams will change your status to away when your device enters into sleep or idle mode.
Moreover, if Microsoft teams are running in the background, and you are using other programs or apps, your status will automatically change to away after five minutes. You may want to set your status to always available to show your colleagues or other participants in the meeting that you are attentive and listening during the meeting. The question is how to keep Microsoft Teams status as always available? Well, in the guide, we are going to list some methods that you can use to set your status as always available.
How To Set Microsoft Teams Status As Always Available
We are listing down some tricks and hacks that you can use to stop teams from showing away when idle:
Method 1: Manually change your status to available
The first thing that you need to ensure is whether you have rightly set your status on Teams or not. There are six status presets that you can choose from to set your status. These status presets are as follows:
- Available
- Busy
- Do not disturb
- Be right back
- Appear away
- Appear offline
You have to make sure you set your status to available. Here is how to keep Microsoft Teams status as available.
1. Open your Microsoft Teams app or use the web version. In our case, we will be using the web version.
2. Log into your account by entering your username and password.
3. Click on your Profile icon.
4. Finally, click on your current status below your name and choose available from the list.
Method 2: Use Status Message
One easy way to make other participants know that you are available is by settings a status message such as available or contact me, I am available. However, this is just a workaround that you can use as it is not really going to keep your Microsoft team status green when your PC, or device enters into idle or sleep mode.
1. Open the Microsoft Teams app or use the web version. In our case, we are using the web version.
2. Log into your Teams account by using your username and password.
3. Now, click on your Profile icon from the top-right corner of the screen.
4. Click on ‘Set status message.’
5. Now, type your status in the message box, and tick the checkbox next to show when people message me to show your status message to people messaging you on teams.
6. Finally, click on Done to save the changes.
Also Read: Enable or Disable Status Bar in File Explorer in Windows 10
Method 3: Use third-party software or tools
Since Microsoft teams change your status to away when your PC enters into sleep mode, or you are using the platform in the background. In this situation, you can use third-party software and tools that keep your cursor moving on your screen to prevent the PC from entering into sleep mode. Therefore, to fix the “Microsoft teams keep saying I’m away but I’m not” issue, we are listing down the third-party tools that you can use to keep your status as always available.
a) Mouse jiggler
Mouse jiggler is a great software that you can use to prevent your PC or laptop from entering into sleep or idle mode. Mouse jiggler fakes the cursor to jiggle on your windows screen and prevents your PC from going inactive. When you use Mouse jiggler, Microsoft teams will assume you are still on your computer, and your status will remain as available. Follow these steps if you don’t know how to make Microsoft teams stay green by using the mouse jiggler tool.
- The first step is to download mouse jiggler on your system.
- Install the software and launch it.
- Finally, click on enable jiggle to start using the tool.
That’s it; you can go away without having to worry about changing your status on Microsoft teams.
b) Move Mouse
Another alternative option you can use is the Move Mouse app, which is available on the Windows web store. It is another mouse simulator app that keeps your PC from entering into sleep or idle mode. So if you are wondering how to keep Microsoft teams status active, then you can use the move mouse app. Microsoft teams will think you are using your PC, and it will not change your available status to away.
Also Read: Fix Microsoft Teams Microphone Not Working on Windows 10
Method 4: Use Paperclip hack
If you don’t want to use any third-party app or software, then you can easily use the paperclip hack. It may sound silly, but this hack is worth a try. Here is how to make Microsoft teams stay green:
- Take a Paper clip and insert it carefully beside the shift key on your keyboard.
- When you insert the paper clip, your shift key will remain pressed down, and it will prevent Microsoft teams from assuming you are away.
Microsoft teams will assume you are using your keyboard, and thereby will not change your status from green to yellow.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. How do I stop Microsoft Teams from auto-changing my status?
To stop Microsoft teams from auto-changing your status, you have to ensure that your PC stays active and does not go into sleep mode. When your PC enters into sleep or idle mode, Microsoft teams assume that you are no longer using the platform, and it changes your status to away.
Q2. How do I stop Microsoft teams from showing away?
To stop Microsoft teams from showing away, you have to keep your PC active and prevent it from going into sleep mode. You can use third-party software such as mouse jiggler or mouse app that virtually moves your cursor on your PC screen. Microsoft teams record your cursor movement and assume you are active. This way, your status remains available.
Q3. How do I set Microsoft team status to always available?
First, you have to ensure that you manually set your status to available. Head to your web browser and navigate to Microsoft teams. Log into your account and click on your profile icon. Click on your current status below your name and choose available from the available list. To show yourself as always available, you can use the paperclip hack or you can use the third-party tools and apps that we have listed in this guide.
Q4. How do Microsoft teams determine availability?
For the ‘available’ and ‘away’ status, Microsoft records your availability on the application. If your PC or your device enters into sleep or idle mode, Microsoft teams will automatically change your status from available to away. Moreover, if you using the application in the background, then also your status will change to away. Similarly, if you are in a meeting, Microsoft teams will change your status to ‘on a call.’
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We hope that this guide was helpful and you were able to set Microsoft Teams status as always available. If you still have any queries regarding this article, then feel free to ask them in the comments section.
Easiest: Open Notepad on PC. Click cursor inside Notepad. Now, place something heavy on your ESC key. Been doing this for 12 months. Enjoy, friends!!
Thank you so much, I hate being tracked
Hi,
thank you for step by step process and suggestions. But one thing, when you say, “or you are using the platform in the background.” Many of the suggestions don’t apply when you are using the computer and have MSTeams open but not clicking IN it.
Maybe these tips apply to those not on their computers – who are actually “AWAY”, but the other tips that are for those who are working don’t work either because, where I work, just choose “Available” doesn’t stick past 3-5 minutes.
I can set up / join a meeting and choose Available, but I am not positive it really shows that I am available to others. I can only do it once in a session, because sometimes MSTeams won’t allow the Available as a choice. Re-opening the webpage sometimes holds, but not always.
thanks!
None of these solutions worked.
Go to calendar page and click “meet now” to start a meeting with no invitees. Manually change your status to available. The meeting will keep your PC from sleeping and you will stay in available mode.
At last someone mentioned it. I’ve been using this method since 2 years now, I’ve just setup a recurring weekly meeting (with no participants but myself) to join whenever i want to remain always on. (A) join the dummy meeting, (b) click on your photo/initials to change your status to whatever you like (i put busy for obvious reasons), (c) sit back and relax
This comment section is king. Loving the keeping a meeting running hack ✔️
And also dropping something heavy on the esc key in notepad. Thank you!
Get yourself a jiggler on Amazon that plugs into the usb port. My boss used to call me if TEAMS said I was “away” for too long. Now, she probably wonders how I manage to work 9 hours a day without even going to the bathroom. Genius.
Create a .vbs file with the below lines and execute at startup. It will not let your computer sleep.
Dim objResult
Set objShell = WScript.CreateObject(“WScript.Shell”)
Do While True
objResult = objShell.sendkeys(“{NUMLOCK}{NUMLOCK}”)
Wscript.Sleep(20000)
Loop
An equally good tool (I think it’s the best) is the Status Holder: lots of functions and doesn’t need to be installed.
https://www.statusholder.com/en/