How to Keep Teams Status Green? 8 Ways to Do it

As remote work becomes more prevalent, Microsoft Teams has become an essential tool for collaboration and communication among colleagues. However, one common frustration users encounter is their status indicator changing to “Away” even when they are actively using the platform. This can lead to misunderstandings and miscommunication within a team. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore various methods to keep your Microsoft Teams status indicator green at all times, ensuring that your availability is accurately reflected to your colleagues.

Understanding Microsoft Teams Status Indicator

Before diving into the solutions, let’s first understand how the Microsoft Teams status indicator works. The status indicator is a small green dot that signifies your availability and readiness for work. By default, Teams updates your status in real-time based on your activity, calendar, or app state. There are two types of presence states in Teams: user configured and app configured.

User configured states are manually set by the user, such as Available, Busy, or Appear offline. On the other hand, app configured states are automatically set by Teams based on your activity, calendar, or app state, such as In a call, In a meeting, Presenting, or Out of office. Your status will change from Available to Away when you lock your computer, when your PC or Mac goes into sleep mode, or when the Teams app is not active on your mobile device.

Now that we have a clear understanding of how the status indicator works, let’s explore the solutions to keep your Microsoft Teams status indicator green.

Solution 1: Adjust Power Settings on a Windows PC

One way to prevent your Microsoft Teams status indicator from changing to “Away” is by adjusting your device’s power settings. By ensuring that your PC does not go into idle or sleep mode when you are not actively using it, you can maintain a green status indicator. Here’s how you can adjust the power settings on a Windows PC:

1. Right-click the Start menu and select Settings.
2. In the Settings menu, select System.
3. Click on Power & battery on the right side.
4. In the Power section, click on Screen and sleep.
5. Set the On battery power, turn off my screen after and When plugged in, turn off my screen after settings to Never.
6. Similarly, set the On battery power, put my device to sleep after and When plugged in, put my device to sleep after settings to Never.

By making these adjustments, your PC will stay awake and prevent Teams from automatically changing your status to “Away”. However, it is advisable to plug in your device if you plan on using this mode for an extended period to avoid draining the battery.

Solution 2: Manually Change Your Status in Teams

Another effective method to keep your Microsoft Teams status indicator green is by manually changing your status in Teams. This allows you to override any app configured states that might automatically change your status. Here’s how you can manually change your status in Teams:

1. Open the Microsoft Teams app on your device.
2. Select your profile picture in the top-right corner.
3. Click on your current status and select an alternative status, such as Available, Busy, Do not disturb, Be right back, Away, or Appear offline.

Once you have selected a status, your indicator will immediately update and remain that way until you change it again. This method gives you full control over your status and ensures that your availability is accurately reflected to your colleagues.

Solution 3: Use a Tool to Automatically Move the Mouse

If adjusting power settings or manually changing your status does not meet your requirements, you can use a tool that automatically moves your mouse at regular intervals. This simulates user activity and prevents your device from going into idle or sleep mode, thereby keeping your Microsoft Teams status indicator green. One such tool is Mouse Jiggler. Here’s how you can use Mouse Jiggler:

1. Download and install Mouse Jiggler from a trusted source.
2. Launch the tool and select the Jiggling checkbox to activate it.
3. Adjust the settings as per your preference. You can set the interval between mouse movements and choose different types of movements.
4. If you want the tool to start automatically at startup without appearing on your screen, select the Minimize on start checkbox.
5. To minimize the app, click on the downward arrow icon.

With Mouse Jiggler active, your mouse cursor will move at regular intervals, simulating user activity and ensuring that your Microsoft Teams status indicator remains green. However, keep in mind that this tool may interfere with your normal mouse usage, so it’s advisable to disable it when you need to use your mouse actively.

Solution 4: Utilize a Status Message

Another way to maintain a green status indicator on Microsoft Teams is by using a status message. This allows you to provide information about your availability, status, or current activity to your colleagues. When you set a status message, it appears next to your profile picture and helps others understand your availability. Here’s how you can utilize a status message:

1. Open the Microsoft Teams app on your device.
2. Click on your profile picture in the top-right corner.
3. Select Set status message.
4. Type in the message you want to display when someone messages you.
5. Tick the box for Show when people message me to ensure that the message is visible to others.
6. Set the duration for which you want the message to appear under Clear status message after.
7. Click Done to save your status message.

By utilizing a status message, you can provide real-time information about your availability and keep your Microsoft Teams status indicator green.

Solution 5: Host a Private Meeting

Hosting a private meeting is another effective method to maintain an active status on Microsoft Teams. By creating a meeting and joining it, you can prevent Teams from marking you as “Away” until the meeting ends. This gives the impression that you are actively engaged, even if you are away from your computer. Here’s how you can host a private meeting:

1. Open the Microsoft Teams app on your device.
2. Go to the Calendar option.
3. Click on the New Meeting button to create a new meeting.
4. Fill in the necessary details for the meeting.
5. Join the meeting and keep it running in the background.

By hosting a private meeting, you can ensure that your Microsoft Teams status indicator remains green, providing the appearance of active engagement even when you are not actively working on Teams.

Solution 6: Keep Your Device Awake with Third-Party Tools

If the previous solutions do not meet your requirements, you can explore third-party tools that keep your device awake and prevent it from going into idle or sleep mode. These tools simulate user activity and ensure that your Microsoft Teams status indicator remains green. Some popular options include Caffeine for Windows and Amphetamine for Mac. Install and configure these tools according to your preference, and enjoy an uninterrupted green status indicator on Microsoft Teams.

Solution 7: Update Microsoft Teams

Updating your Microsoft Teams app can help resolve any bugs or issues that may be causing your status indicator to change to “Away” inaccurately. Microsoft regularly releases updates to improve the functionality and performance of Teams. By keeping your app up to date, you can ensure a smooth experience and accurate status indicators. Here’s how you can update Microsoft Teams:

1. Open the Microsoft Teams app on your device.
2. Click on the three dots in the top-right corner to open the menu.
3. Select theCheck for updates option from the drop-down menu.
4. If any updates are available, Teams will check and automatically install them.

By updating Microsoft Teams, you can address any underlying issues that may be causing your status indicator to change to “Away” erroneously.

Solution 8: Troubleshoot Network Connection Issues

In some cases, unstable network connections can cause Microsoft Teams to show an inaccurate status indicator. If you are experiencing frequent disconnects or interruptions in your internet connection, it’s essential to troubleshoot and resolve these issues. Here are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot network connection issues:

1. Check your network cables and connections to ensure they are secure.
2. Restart your router and modem to refresh the network connection.
3. Temporarily disable any firewall or antivirus software that may be blocking Teams’ access to the internet.
4. Contact your internet service provider to check for any known network issues in your area.

By addressing network connection issues, you can ensure a stable and reliable connection to Microsoft Teams, preventing any inaccuracies in your status indicator.

Conclusion

Maintaining a green status indicator on Microsoft Teams is crucial for effective communication and collaboration with your colleagues. By following the solutions outlined in this comprehensive guide, you can ensure that your availability is accurately reflected and avoid misunderstandings caused by an inaccurate status indicator. Whether it’s adjusting power settings, manually changing your status, utilizing a status message, hosting a private meeting, using third-party tools, updating Microsoft Teams, or troubleshooting network connection issues, there are various methods to keep your Microsoft Teams status indicator green. Choose the method that best suits your needs and enjoy seamless communication and collaboration on Teams.