How to keep your Microsoft Teams status green
You're on a call from your phone, or halfway through a long document, and Teams decides you've left. Here's how Teams presence works, the free ways to stay green, and where a tool like Awayproof fits in.
How Teams decides whether you're Available
Microsoft Teams sets your presence from a mix of things: what you've chosen manually, your calendar, whether you're in a call or meeting, and whether you've been active on a device recently. When none of those apply and your keyboard and mouse go quiet, Teams typically moves you from Available to Away after about five minutes.
That idle check is the part that trips people up. Teams can't tell the difference between "stepped out for coffee" and "reading the spec on screen." Both look like no input. For people whose work includes reading, thinking, sketching or taking calls on another device, that means a yellow dot for a good part of the day.
A few other things worth knowing:
- Statuses you set yourself, like Busy, Do not disturb or Be right back, generally take priority over automatic ones, and you can set how long they last.
- Meetings on your Outlook calendar usually show you as Busy or In a meeting during the slot.
- If Teams is open on more than one device, the most active one tends to win.
Free options built into Teams and your computer
1. Set your status manually, with a duration
Click your profile picture, choose a status and set Reset status after. Busy or Do not disturb for two hours is a clear signal that you're working and shouldn't be pinged lightly.
- Built in, free and fully above board
- Tells colleagues what you're doing, not just that you're there
- Picking Available manually usually doesn't stop the idle timer
- Do not disturb mutes notifications, which you might not want
2. Block focus time on your calendar
Add a calendar block for deep work. Depending on your setup, Outlook or Viva Insights can schedule focus time for you and set Teams to a focusing or Do not disturb state during it.
- Communicates intent to the whole team
- Protects time for focused work
- Shows you as busy rather than available
- Takes planning; not great for unplanned reading or calls
3. Keep the Teams mobile app open
If you take a call or read on your phone, having the Teams app open in the foreground typically counts as activity.
- No setup
- Useful when you really are working from your phone
- Only works while the phone is unlocked and the app is in front
- Drains battery and isn't practical for long periods
4. Adjust your operating system's power settings
Raise the screen-lock and sleep timeouts in Windows or macOS so the computer doesn't lock while you read.
- Stops the machine from locking you out mid-task
- Doesn't stop Teams' own idle timer, so you can still turn yellow
- Your IT team may enforce lock settings for security reasons
Some people also use mouse jigglers, physical or software. They work by faking input across the whole computer, which can interfere with other apps and is the kind of thing employers tend to dislike. We don't recommend them.
Using a browser extension like Awayproof
If you use Teams on the web at teams.microsoft.com, Awayproof is another option. It tells the Teams tab it's still visible and in use and sends the same lightweight activity signal Teams sends when you move your mouse. It doesn't touch the rest of your computer and doesn't read any messages.
The part we care most about is the schedule. You set work hours and breaks, and Awayproof only keeps you green inside those windows. During lunch or after hours it stops, and Teams shows you as Away on its normal timer.
It has real limits, and you should know them up front:
- It only works with Teams in a browser tab, not the desktop app.
- The tab must be open and the browser running.
- If your computer sleeps, the lid is closed or you lock the screen, you may still show as Away. An optional setting keeps the computer awake and prevents the automatic screen lock while Awayproof is active.
- It doesn't override statuses you set yourself, like Busy or Do not disturb.
- Teams updates can occasionally break it until the extension is updated.
Which option should you pick?
| Situation | Good fit |
|---|---|
| Planned deep-work block | Calendar focus time or Do not disturb with a duration |
| Quick call from your phone | Teams mobile app in the foreground |
| Screen keeps locking while you read | Longer OS lock timeout, if your IT policy allows it |
| Long stretches of reading or thinking during the work day, using Teams on the web | A scheduled extension like Awayproof |
A note on workplace policy. Presence indicators are a team communication tool, and some employers have rules about them or about which browser extensions you can install. Whatever you choose, use it in line with your organization's policies. If you're unsure, ask your manager or IT team. Often the simplest fix is to agree with your team that a yellow dot doesn't mean "not working."
Frequently asked questions
Can I set my Teams status to always Available?
You can choose Available manually, but in most setups Teams still switches you to Away after a stretch of inactivity on that device. Manually set statuses like Busy or Do not disturb tend to stick for longer, and you can pick how long they last.
Does the Teams mobile app keep me green?
Often, yes, while the app is open and in the foreground on your phone. When the phone locks or the app goes to the background, Teams typically treats you as away again.
Will Awayproof work with the Teams desktop app?
No. Awayproof is a browser extension and only works with Teams on the web, open in a tab in Chrome, Edge, Brave or another Chromium browser.
Does keeping my computer awake keep Teams green?
Not on its own. Stopping sleep keeps the session alive, but Teams looks at whether you're interacting with it, so you can still go Away while the screen is on.
Is it allowed to keep my Teams status green?
It depends on your employer. Many teams are fine with it when you're genuinely working, but some organizations have specific rules. Check your organization's policies and follow them.