Applies ToOutlook for Microsoft 365 Outlook 2024 Outlook 2021 Outlook 2019 Outlook 2016 Outlook on the web New Outlook for Windows

During composing, replying, or reading an email, Teams status indicators are shown for recipients, co-recipients, and the sender. These indicators are helpful when you want to contact others and when other want to contact you. By providing information about each intended recipient, the indicators can guide decisions about best ways and timing for contacting various individuals. 

Note: The Teams status feature is only available if you're using a work or school account with a qualifying Microsoft 365 subscription.

Select a tab option below for the version of Outlook you're using. What version of Outlook do I have?

Note: If the steps under this New Outlook tab don't work, you may not be using new Outlook for Windows yet. Select Classic Outlook and follow those steps instead.

Specific status indications shown in Outlook are driven by a recipients' Teams information. For example, if you're in a meeting, your status indicator shows as Busy

Teams status indicators viewed within new Outlook

Available presence icon Online/Available

Indicates the individual is currently active and no current activity is showing in their calendar (not in a meeting or on a phone call). 

Busy presence icon Busy

When in a Teams meeting or on a phone call, the status automatically indicates Busy.

Do not disturb presence icon Do not disturb

Set by Outlook calendar info, or Teams activity (meetings, presenting, etc.) this status stops on-screen notifications.

Away presence icon Away

Teams automatically sets status to Away when an individual's computer is locked or is in idle or sleep mode.

Teams Offline gray symbol Offline

Indicates the individual isn't signed into Teams, so won't be responding until they're back online.

Status icon showing individual is out of office Out of office

Indicates the individual is out of the office and unavailable.

Teams Presence unknown gray circle Unknown 

Indicates that the individual is no longer present in your organization's directory.

Microsoft classic Outlook can be used with the Teams instant messaging service. These services allow you to see the current availability of others and to start real-time, online conversations with them.

Note: Online status is available for any person whose instant messaging email address you have added to your instant messaging contact list. In addition, online status is shown for people using Microsoft Teams, regardless of whether or not they're on your instant messaging contact list.

How can I tell if my contacts are available within classic Outlook?

A visual representation Available presence icon Busy presence icon Do not disturb presence icon Away presence icon of your contacts' availability, known as online presence or status, indicates if a person is online and available for a real-time conversation.

These indicators appear for anyone in your classic Outlook contacts who has an instant messaging address in the IM address text box.

Available presence icon Available

Busy presence icon Busy

Do not disturb presence icon Do not disturb

Away presence icon Away

When you open a message in classic Outlook, or when it appears in the Reading Pane, the online status of a contact is shown:

  • next to the sender's name

  • next to each name on the To and Cc lines

  • in Contacts

Turn online status on or off in classic Outlook

You control how your online status is displayed to other people. For example, if you are unavailable, you can change your online status to Busy presence iconBusy.

  1. Click the File tab to open the Backstage view, and then click Options.

  2. On the People tab, under Online status and photographs, select or uncheck the Display online status next to name check box.

  3. Click OK.

People tab in the Options dialog with Display online status highlighted

Specific status indications shown in Outlook on the web are driven by a recipients' Teams information. For example, if you're in a meeting, your status indicator shows as Busy.

Tip: Outlook on the web is the web version of Outlook for business users with a work or school account. Teams status isn't available in Outlook.com.

Teams status indicators viewed within Outlook on the web

Available presence icon Online/Available

Indicates the individual is currently active and no current activity is showing in their calendar (not in a meeting or on a phone call). 

Busy presence icon Busy

When in a Teams meeting or on a phone call, the status automatically indicates Busy.

Do not disturb presence icon Do not disturb

Set by Outlook calendar info, or Teams activity (meetings, presenting, etc.) this status stops on-screen notifications.

Away presence icon Away

Teams automatically sets status to Away when an individual's computer is locked or is in idle or sleep mode.

Teams Offline gray symbol Offline

Indicates the individual isn't signed into Teams, so won't be responding until they're back online.

Status icon showing individual is out of office Out of office

Indicates the individual is out of the office and unavailable.

Teams Presence unknown gray circle Unknown 

Indicates that the individual is no longer present in your organization's directory.

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