Teams on the web shows Away when you switch tabs? Here's the fix
You have Teams open in a browser tab, switch to email or a document, and a few minutes later you're Away even though you've been typing the whole time. There's a setting for that.
The short answer
Teams in a browser can only see what happens inside its own tab unless you give it permission to see more. If you spend ten minutes typing in Outlook, a spreadsheet or another tab, Teams on the web has no idea, and after a few minutes it moves you to Away.
Microsoft now has a setting for exactly this. According to its Change your status in Microsoft Teams page (Web tab), you can turn on Keep my current status when I'm active outside of Teams on the web to "help prevent your status from switching to Away."
How to turn it on
- Open Teams in your browser and select Settings.
- Go to Notifications and Activity > Presence.
- Turn on the toggle next to Keep my current status when I'm active outside of Teams on the web.
- Your browser shows a permission prompt asking if Teams can detect your activity in other tabs or apps. Select Allow.
Microsoft's note on the prompt is worth reading closely: if you select Block, "Teams won't detect activity outside the app, and your status may change to Away even if you're working elsewhere." If you blocked it by accident, reset the permission for teams.microsoft.com in your browser's site settings and turn the toggle on again.
If you don't see the option, check that you're in Teams on the web rather than the desktop app. Microsoft documents it only on the Web tab of its status page. Your version or your organization's setup may also not have it yet.
What this setting fixes, and what it doesn't
The setting lets Teams notice that you're active somewhere else on the computer. It doesn't make Teams think you're active when you aren't. Microsoft's User presence in Teams page says that on a computer you become Away automatically if you're inactive for a few minutes or the computer is locked, and Offline when the computer goes to sleep.
| What you're doing | With the setting on |
|---|---|
| Typing in another tab or app | Teams can detect the activity, so you stay Available |
| Reading a long document without touching the mouse | No activity to detect, so you can still go Away |
| On a phone call or whiteboarding away from the keyboard | Same as above |
| Computer locked | Away |
| Computer asleep | Offline |
One more thing that confuses people: if you're signed in on more than one device, Microsoft says the device where you were active most recently determines your presence. A phone can pull you to Away, because on mobile you become Away whenever the Teams app is in the background.
Other free options
Use the Teams desktop app
If your organization allows it, the desktop app is the other common way to avoid the tab problem. Microsoft describes presence on a computer in terms of whether you're inactive or locked, not whether a particular tab is in front.
- No browser permissions to manage
- Not always allowed on managed or shared computers
- You still go Away when you're not touching the keyboard
Set a status message people see when they message you
In Teams, select your profile picture, then Set status message. Type something like "Writing the report, will reply by 3pm", turn on Show when people message me and choose a time under Clear status message after. Steps from Microsoft's Set your status message page.
- Gives people context that a colored dot can't
- Free and built in
- Doesn't change the dot itself
Pick Busy or Do not disturb with a duration
Select your profile picture, your current status, then Duration, and choose a time under Reset status after. Microsoft notes you can set durations for any status except Available (source).
- Clear signal that you're working
- Resets on its own
- You show as Busy, not Available
- Do not disturb hides banner notifications
Where Awayproof fits
Microsoft's setting covers you while you're typing elsewhere. It can't cover the stretches where you're working without touching the computer: reading, thinking, a call on your phone. If you use Teams in the browser, Awayproof handles those during the hours you choose. It tells the Teams tab that it's still visible and in use and sends the same kind of lightweight activity signal Teams sends when you move your mouse. You set work hours and breaks, and outside them Teams behaves normally.
Limitations to be aware of:
- Teams on the web only (teams.microsoft.com), not the desktop or mobile app.
- The tab has to be open and the browser running.
- Sleep, a closed lid or locking your screen yourself may still show you as Away. Its optional "Keep computer awake" setting prevents sleep and the automatic screen lock while it's active.
- It won't override Busy, Do not disturb or other statuses you set.
- Teams updates can temporarily break it.
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
Why does Teams in my browser go Away when I'm in another tab?
Teams on the web can't see activity outside its own tab unless you allow it. Turn on "Keep my current status when I'm active outside of Teams on the web" under Settings > Notifications and Activity > Presence, then allow the browser's permission prompt.
I clicked Block on the permission prompt. How do I undo it?
Reset the permission for teams.microsoft.com in your browser's site settings, then turn the Teams setting off and on again so the prompt appears again.
Will the setting keep me green while I read without touching anything?
No. It lets Teams detect activity in other tabs and apps. If there's no keyboard or mouse activity at all, Teams can still move you to Away after a few minutes.
Is this setting in the Teams desktop app?
Microsoft documents it on the Web tab of its status help page, as a setting for Teams on the web.
Does Awayproof replace Microsoft's setting?
They do different jobs and you can use both. Microsoft's setting detects your real activity elsewhere. Awayproof keeps the Teams web tab marked as in use during the work hours you set, including when you're not touching the computer. It doesn't change any Teams setting.