Microsoft Teams has a tendency to automatically change your status from Available to Away after a certain amount of time. This can happen if your computer goes to sleep or if you push Teams to the background while working on or watching something else. In this article, we will explore some tips on how to keep Microsoft Teams active so that your colleagues can see how hard you’re actually working.
Understand User Presence
To keep Microsoft Teams active, it’s important to understand User Presence. User Presence refers to the pre-set statuses in Teams that inform other team members about what you’re currently doing. These statuses also assist Microsoft’s AI engine, Cortana, in understanding your activities and providing relevant assistance.
Cortana can automatically assign User Presence status based on your actions. For example, if you have a meeting scheduled in your Outlook calendar, Cortana will set your status to “In a Meeting.” These little tricks can be incredibly helpful. Here are some of the User Presence statuses you might come across:
- Available
- Out of office
- Busy
- In a meeting
- On a call
- Focusing
- Away
- Offline
- Do not disturb
- Be right back
Note that not all organizations allow access to all these statuses, but most of them are standard. Cortana will attempt to detect your activities and set your User Presence accordingly. However, this might not be adequate if you need to always be available.
Setting your User Presence to Available
The first step to keeping your Microsoft Teams status active is to set your User Presence to Available. Here’s how:
Step 1: Click on your Profile picture in the top right corner of the Teams screen.
Step 2: Click on your current status.
Step 3: Choose “Available” from the drop-down menu.
Adjusting power settings to stay available
Since Microsoft Teams doesn’t provide direct options to modify your status settings, you can use workarounds to keep your status active. One simple method is to adjust your computer’s power settings so that it never goes to sleep. However, remember to revert this setting once you’re done using Teams for the day. Here’s how to do it:
On Windows:
Step 1: Press the Windows + I keys or search for “settings” in the Windows search bar to open the Settings menu. Then select System.
Step 2: In the Settings menu, choose Power and battery > Screen and sleep. From there, you can adjust the sleep settings according to your preferences.
On Mac:
Step 1: Open System Preferences > Battery.
Step 2: Select Power Adapter and adjust the slider under “Turn display off after.” If you’re using a MacBook, select Battery and perform the same action.
Installing Caffeine (Windows) or Amphetamine (Mac)
If you want to keep your Microsoft Teams status active without modifying your power settings, you can use third-party applications like Caffeine for Windows or Amphetamine for Mac. These apps prevent your computer from going to sleep and thus maintain your Teams status. Here’s how to install and use them:
Caffeine for Windows:
Step 1: Visit the official Caffeine website and download the app.
Step 2: Extract the downloaded files.
Step 3: Double-click the extracted program to launch Caffeine and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
Step 4: Once installed, Caffeine will appear in the bottom-right corner of your toolbar. You can activate or deactivate it as needed.
Amphetamine for Mac:
Step 1: Open the Mac app store.
Step 2: Search for “amphetamine” and download the app.
Step 3: Open Launchpad and click on the Amphetamine app. It will automatically appear on the top toolbar.
Step 4: Click on the app’s toolbar icon to reveal a drop-down menu. Select the desired duration to keep your Mac awake.
Please note that while third-party apps like Caffeine and Amphetamine can help you keep your Teams status active, they should be used with caution and only from trusted sources.
Conclusion
Although Microsoft Teams doesn’t offer direct options to keep your status active, you can employ workarounds to achieve this goal. By adjusting power settings or using third-party applications such as Caffeine or Amphetamine, you can ensure that your Teams status accurately reflects your availability and dedication. So go ahead and make the most of Teams to collaborate effectively with your team.
If you encounter any issues with Teams, be sure to visit the OnSpec Electronic, Inc. website for more information and troubleshooting.
Editor’s note: This article was last reviewed on April 6, 2023, and all steps have been confirmed to be accurate and functional.
