Microsoft Teams provides a seamless way for remote teams to work together. However, encountering the issue of Microsoft Teams constantly showing you as remote when you're actively using it can be extremely frustrating. In this article, we'll walk you through how Microsoft Teams keeps showing you as remote and offer four effective fixes to address this issue.
Before you begin the fixes, it's important to understand why Microsoft Teams is showing you as offline while you're actively interacting with the platform. There are several possible causes for this, including inactivity, status settings, network connection issues, and more.
Now, let's continue the article to explore the four fixes that can help you fix Microsoft Teams keeps showing up as offline and ensure that Microsoft Teams accurately reflects your presence.
1. Manually reset your active status on Teams
Instead of waiting for Windows or Mac to update your availability status, you can change it manually if your Teams status is off. This will keep it on until you manually change it to appear as Away or Offline.
On Windows or Mac
Step 1: turn on Microsoft Team, depending on your operating system.
Note: For demonstration purposes, we will be using a Mac.
Step 2: Once launched, click on Your profile picture in the upper right corner of your screen.
Step 3: Click on an option Availability.
Step 4: In the drop-down menu, select (Green). available.
That's it. You've made yourself available, allowing others to see you're active. If you want to do the same for mobile, read on.
On Android or iOS
The steps are the same for both Android and iOS. However, for the sake of demonstration, we'll be using Android.
Step 1: turn on teams On your device, from the home page, click Your profile in the upper left corner.
Step 2: In the sidebar, click not connected Or the option below your account name. From the drop-down menu, select Available option.
That's it. You've successfully changed your availability setting and stopped Microsoft Teams from appearing after 5 minutes. If this doesn't resolve the issue, continue to the next method.
2. Check for updates to the MS TEAMS application.
Sometimes, it's not your fault, but rather a bug or issue with the app that's causing Teams to appear when it's active. Microsoft is quick to release fixes for its enterprise software, including Teams. Therefore, a simple app update should resolve the issue.
Let's start by updating the Teams desktop app.
On Windows or Mac
Step 1: Press the Windows key on your keyboard, and type Microsoft Teams, then tap to open.
Note: On a Mac, press Command+Space, type Teams, and then press Return.
Step 2: Once Teams is running, click three-dot icon Next to your profile picture.
That's it. Once the update is complete, restart the app, and the issue should disappear, such as the Teams status being stuck away. If you're away from desktop and experiencing the same issue on mobile, read on.
On Android or iOS
When it comes to updating Microsoft Teams on your Android or iOS device, there's no in-app option like there is on desktop. If you want to update the app, go to the Google Play Store or App Store, depending on whether you're using Android or iOS.
You can check out our explanation to find out. How to check if apps need updating on iPhone and AndroidIf updating the app doesn't resolve the issue, move on to the next method.
3. Set status message on Teams
A helpful alternative is to set a status message that your colleagues and manager see when they message you or @mention you. This way, even if your team's status is displayed, your team members know you're available. Let's get started with the steps in the Teams desktop app.
On Windows or Mac
Step 1: Press the Windows key on your keyboard, and type Microsoft Teams, then tap to open.
Note: On a Mac, press Command+Space, type Teams, and then press Return.
Step 2: Once Teams is running, click Your profile picture in the upper right corner.
Step 4: In the form, type your status message in the Text section, and then check the box next to “Show when people message me”, then tap "It was completed".
Note: You can change the default “Clear status message after” setting from today to 4 hour, XNUMX hours, this week, or never.
There you go. You've successfully set your status in Microsoft Teams. If you want to do the same on mobile, read on.
On Android or iOS
For demonstration purposes, we'll only be using Android. However, the steps are the same for both Android and iOS.
Step 1: Launch an app teams For mobile on your Android or iOS device. Once launched, tap Your profile picture Or the alphabet icon for the first name in the upper left corner.
Step 2: From the left pane, click Set status messageOn the next screen, type your status message in the Text section, and toggle “Show when people message me”, and click the check mark in the upper right corner.
That's all. You've set a Teams status for yourself, letting others know you're available. If none of the methods work, check out the last one; read on.
4. Use third-party apps to keep the system available.
Using third-party apps or utilities to keep Microsoft Teams available can be a useful solution to prevent it from entering an idle or inactive state. We recommend using Move Mouse For Windows andJiggle For Mac, although a wide variety of third-party software is available.
With these apps, you'll remain active, and your Microsoft Teams status won't be set to inactive or away. Furthermore, you'll be able to receive Teams notifications and messages as long as your computer is up and running.
It's important to note that these third-party tools are not official solutions and may not be officially supported by Microsoft or other software providers. Be aware of potential compatibility issues and security concerns.
If we missed addressing any of the above questions, please see the FAQ section below.
common questions:
Q1. Does being “away” affect my availability for incoming calls or messages in Teams?
The answer: Your "Away" status may affect how others perceive your presence, but it does not prevent incoming calls or messages. Your presence status (for example, available or busy) can also affect how others communicate with you.
Q2. Can screen sharing or active meetings prevent the “Away” status?
The answer: Yes, actively participating in screen sharing or meetings in Microsoft Teams often prevents your status from changing to Away, even if there is no other activity on your computer.
Q3. Can my organization enforce or override my status settings?
The answer: Depending on your organization's policies, administrators may be able to enforce certain status settings. Check with your IT department or Teams administrators for specific policies.
Fix Teams status error
Now that you know how to fix Microsoft Teams keeps showing up as offline, you can fix the issue and improve your overall Microsoft Teams experience. You may also want to read: How to schedule a meeting in Microsoft Teams.
