Your status in Microsoft Teams tells colleagues whether you’re available, busy, or away — without needing to message them first. Teams updates your status automatically based on your calendar and activity, but you can override it manually at any time. Here is how to manage it.
How to Change Your Status in Teams
- Click your profile picture (or initials) in the top right of Teams
- Your current status is shown below your name with a coloured dot
- Click on the status to expand the options
- Choose from: Available, Busy, Do not disturb, Be right back, Appear away, Appear offline
The change takes effect immediately and is visible to everyone in your organisation who can see your profile.
Status Options Explained
- Available (green) — you’re at your desk and free to be contacted
- Busy (red) — you’re working but will receive notifications
- Do not disturb (red with line) — notifications are suppressed; only priority contacts can break through
- Be right back (yellow) — you’re stepping away briefly
- Appear away (yellow) — shows as away even if you’re active
- Appear offline (grey) — shows as offline while you’re still using Teams
Setting a Status Message
A status message lets you give more context — for example “In meetings all morning” or “Working on proposal until 3pm”.
- Click your profile picture
- Click Set status message
- Type your message
- Set how long to show it — options include 1 hour, 4 hours, today, this week, or until manually cleared
- Optionally tick Show when people message me so the message appears in chat
- Click Done
How Teams Sets Your Status Automatically
Teams updates your status automatically based on:
- Calendar — if you have a meeting in your Outlook calendar, Teams sets you to Busy automatically for that time
- Activity — if you haven’t used Teams for several minutes, status changes to Away automatically
- Screen lock — locking your PC or closing the laptop lid sets you to Away
- In a call or meeting — Teams shows “In a call” or “In a meeting” automatically
Any manual status you set overrides the automatic changes for the duration you specify — or until you change it again.
Priority Access — Who Can Interrupt Do Not Disturb
When you’re in Do Not Disturb mode, you can allow specific people to still reach you:
- Click your profile picture → Settings
- Go to Notifications
- Under Priority notifications, click Manage priority access
- Add specific people whose notifications will come through even in Do Not Disturb
How Long Does a Manual Status Last?
Manual status changes in Teams reset after a period of time or when Teams detects activity that should override it (e.g. joining a meeting sets you to In a meeting regardless of your manual status). For a status that persists reliably, combine it with a status message that has a duration set.
