# Why does Teams show me as Away when I'm working? Because Teams decides your status from your devices, not your work. On a computer, Microsoft says you become Away if you're "inactive for a few minutes" or the computer is locked. On a phone, you're Away whenever the Teams app is in the background. If you use more than one device, the one you used most recently decides. None of these rules knows whether you're working. *Last updated: 9 October 2026 ยท By Tao Ling, Xcelerent Pty Ltd* ## How does Teams decide my status? Microsoft says status normally comes from three things: your activity (Available or Away), the state of the Teams app (such as In a call or Presenting) and your Outlook calendar (such as In a meeting) ([Microsoft Learn: User presence in Teams](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/presence-admins)). So your status changes because your computer went quiet, your phone app went into the background, or your calendar says you're in a meeting. Not because of anything you actually did, or didn't do. ## What are the rules on a computer, a phone and several devices? All of these come from the same Microsoft Learn page, quoted as closely as we can. | Where you're signed in | What Teams shows | |---|---| | Computer, in use | Available, or Busy / In a meeting / In a call from your calendar and Teams | | Computer, "inactive for a few minutes" | Away | | Computer, locked | Away | | Computer, in sleep mode | Offline | | Phone, Teams app in the background | Away | | Phone, 24 hours with no activity | Offline | | Computer and phone both signed in | Whichever device you were active on most recently | | Not signed in on any device "for a few minutes" | Offline | Source: [Microsoft Learn: User presence in Teams](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/presence-admins), "Automatic status settings" and "Presence states in Teams". ## Exactly how many minutes before I go Away? Microsoft doesn't give a number. Its admin documentation says "a few minutes" ([Microsoft Learn](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/presence-admins)), and its help article for users says Teams changes you to Away when your computer locks or "enters idle or sleep mode" ([Microsoft Support: Change your status in Microsoft Teams](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/change-your-status-in-microsoft-teams-ce36ed14-6bc9-4775-a33e-6629ba4ff78e)). You'll see other numbers quoted online. We don't repeat them, because Microsoft doesn't publish one. Microsoft's own advice, if you want more time before you switch to Away, is to change your device's sleep or idle settings ([Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/change-your-status-in-microsoft-teams-ce36ed14-6bc9-4775-a33e-6629ba4ff78e)). Check with your IT provider first: lock and sleep settings are often there for security. ## Why do I show as Away while I'm clearly working? The common reasons: - **You're working away from the keyboard.** Reading a printed contract, on a call on your desk phone or mobile, or with a client in the room. The computer can't tell, so after a while it counts as inactive. - **Your computer locked itself.** Many businesses lock screens after a set time. Locked means Away. - **Your phone was the last thing you touched.** If you checked Teams on your phone and put it down, the phone (now in the background) can decide your status until you use the computer again. - **You set Away yourself** and it hasn't run out yet (see the next section). ## How long does a status I set myself last? You can choose how long. Pick your status, then **Duration**, and choose a time under "Reset status after", or a custom date and time. When it runs out, "Teams will automatically reset your status based on your activity" ([Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/change-your-status-in-microsoft-teams-ce36ed14-6bc9-4775-a33e-6629ba4ff78e)). You can set a duration for any status except Available. If you don't set a duration, Microsoft says a manual status lasts ([Microsoft Learn](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/presence-admins)): - **Appear offline:** indefinitely - **Busy or Do not disturb:** 1 day - **Any other status, including Be right back and Appear away:** 7 days There's a catch. Outside a call or meeting, you can only choose a status that's *less* available than the one Teams worked out. For example, if Teams has worked out that you're Do not disturb, you can choose Away but not Available. To clear a manual status early, select your status and choose **Reset status**. ## What does this mean if I manage a team? Read Away as "not at the computer just now", nothing more. A person can be Away and doing their most important work of the day. A person can be Available because their computer is on and unlocked. Over a week, the pattern of start and finish times is more useful than any single Away. If you want a record over time, Teams won't give you one (see [Can you see someone's Teams status history?](https://clockless.com.au/guides/teams-status-history/)). Clockless records status about every 5 minutes and shows how each person's week was split across statuses, so you can see the pattern rather than react to a single dot. > **Honest limits** > > - **Presence isn't work.** Every rule above is about devices. None measures effort or output. Don't use Away to discipline anyone without talking to them first. > - **No exact timer.** Microsoft says "a few minutes", and so do we. > - **Workarounds exist both ways.** A device that keeps a computer awake can show Available all day. A phone-first worker can show Away all day. A status record will reflect both. > - **Tell staff first.** If you record status over time, tell staff in writing first. Some states have workplace surveillance laws with notice rules; check what applies to you before you start. Our NSW staff notice guide is coming. This page isn't legal advice. ## Related guides - [Can you see someone's Teams status history?](https://clockless.com.au/guides/teams-status-history/) - [Microsoft Teams presence report: what Microsoft 365 gives you, and what it doesn't](https://clockless.com.au/guides/teams-presence-report/) --- To see how a week of Teams status reads in a report, [open the sample report](https://clockless.com.au/sample-report/) (made-up people and numbers). If it would help your business, [book your free month](https://clockless.com.au/support/#start).