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How to Set a Custom Status Message in Teams

Applies toMicrosoft Teams
4 min fix Updated 9 Mar 2026 · 6 months ago

By , 10+ years in IT support and helpdesk How these guides are checked

Quick Answer

Click your profile picture in Teams, click Set status message, type your note (e.g., "Working on a tight deadline"), check the box to show it when people message you, and click Done.

Checked against Microsoft 365 Roadmap, Microsoft Learn - Microsoft Teams client and between 5 Aug 2026 and 12 Sep 2026. Nothing published in that period has been linked to this guide.

Summary ​

Your Teams status shows colleagues whether you are available, busy, or away. Beyond the default status indicators, you can set a custom status message to share more context — such as "In a workshop until 3 PM" or "Working remotely today." This article explains how to set and manage your status.

Before You Start ​

  • A Microsoft Teams account.

Instructions ​

1. Set Your Status Manually ​

Override the automatic status that Teams detects from your calendar.

  1. Click your profile picture (or initials) in the top-right corner of Teams.
  2. Click your current status (e.g., Available).
  3. Select a status from the list:
    • Available — green, you are free.
    • Busy — red, in a meeting or focused.
    • Do not disturb — red with a minus sign, notifications are silenced.
    • Be right back — yellow, stepped away briefly.
    • Appear away — yellow, appear offline.
    • Appear offline — grey, hidden from presence indicators.

2. Set a Custom Status Message ​

Add a text message that displays next to your name across Teams.

  1. Click your profile picture > Set status message.
  2. Type your message (up to 280 characters), e.g., Out of office until March 15.
  3. Check Show when people message me to display the message in chat windows.
  4. Set Clear status message after to a duration:
    • 1 hour, 4 hours, Today, This week, or Custom (pick a date and time).
  5. Click Done.

3. Clear or Edit Your Status Message ​

Remove or update your custom message.

  1. Click your profile picture > Set status message.
  2. Edit the text or delete it entirely.
  3. Click Done.
  4. To reset your status to automatic, click your profile picture, then click your current status and select Reset status.

Troubleshooting ​

TIP

Use the Do not disturb status during focused work to mute all Teams notifications. You can add priority contacts in Settings > Privacy who can still reach you in this mode.

Symptom / ErrorPotential CauseSolution
Status keeps reverting to "Away"Teams detects inactivitySet the status manually and give it a duration so it holds. See How to Fix Your Teams Status Stuck on Away or Offline for the idle timer, phone, and calendar causes.
Custom message not showing to others"Show when people message me" uncheckedEdit your status message and enable the checkbox.
Status shows "Out of Office" unexpectedlyOutlook Out-of-Office reply is activeDisable your automatic reply in Outlook to clear the Teams "Out of Office" status.

Last updated:

Frequently asked questions

Will my custom status disappear when I log off?
By default, status messages expire at midnight. You can change the 'Clear status message after' dropdown when creating the message to make it last longer (e.g., 'This week' or 'Never').
Can I use @mentions in my status message?
Yes. You can type @Name in your status message (e.g., 'I am out today, contact @Sarah for urgent issues'). Sarah will get a notification that she was mentioned.