Change your availability status in Google Chat

To let others know when you're available, you can change your Google Chat status.
Status icon Status text Status meaning
Active Gmail or Google Chat is open.
Do Not Disturb

Google Chat notifications are muted.

For Google Workspace accounts, your status is visible at the domain level only.
Away

You aren't connected to the Internet.

You’ve been idle for more than 10 minutes.

You're in ‘Set as away’ status.
Idle

You've been inactive in Gmail or Google Chat for the last 5 minutes.

This only shows on desktop.

 

Tips:

  • Only people who you share a space with, someone who you accept a chat invite from or people who aren't blocked can see your status.
  • If your status is 'Do not disturb':
    • You temporarily mute notifications on all your devices from Chat or Gmail until you change your status to 'Active'.
    • People can tell how long you paused notifications for so they don't expect an immediate response.
Status icon Status text Status meaning
Active Gmail or Google Chat is open.
Do Not Disturb

Google Chat notifications are muted.

*For workspace accounts, this is visible at the domain level only
Away
  • You aren't connected to the Internet.
  • You're in ‘Set as away’ status.

Change your status

  1. Open the Chat app  or Gmail app .
  2. At the top left, tap Menu Menu.
  3. At the top, next to the status indicator, tap the Down arrow .
  4. Choose: Automatic, Do not disturb or Set as away.

Set a custom status

  1. Open the Chat app  or Gmail app .
  2. At the top left, tap Menu .
  3. Tap Add a status.
  4. Follow the prompt to choose an emoji, write a status message, or end or clear a status.
  5. At the top right, tap Done .

Delete a custom status

  1. Open the Chat app  or Gmail app .
  2. At the top left, tap Menu .
  3. Tap the status to delete.
  4. Next to the status, tap X.
  5. At the top right, tap Done .

Turn off Calendar status for Workspace accounts

Important: You can only change your Calendar status on a computer.

For Workspace accounts, your Chat status automatically updates based on your Calendar status. For example, your status updates when you're in a meeting or when you're out of office. 

  • When someone sends you a direct message, they'll see your Calendar status next to your name at the top. 
  • Group conversations and spaces don't show a Calendar status.

Your administrator controls:

  • Status availability options in Chat, such as 'Out of office' or 'In focus time'.
  • Whether or not Calendar status is automatically displayed in Chat.

If you don't want to share your Calendar status, you can turn it off.

  1. On your computer, go to Google Calendar.
  2. At the top right, click the Settings menu and then Settings.
  3. On the left, under 'Settings for my Calendar', select your Calendar.
  4. Under 'Access permissions for events', tick the box next to 'Show Calendar info in other Google apps, limited by access permissions'.

Tip: Your changes are saved automatically.

Temporarily stop notifications in Google Chat or Gmail

Tip: Touch and hold a conversation for more options.

  1. Open the Chat app  or Gmail app .
  2. In the top left-hand corner, tap Menu and then Down arrow and then Do not disturb.
  3. To set your preferred duration, under 'Mute notifications for', select a duration from the list or tap 'Until a specific time'.
  4.  Tap Set.

Tip: Notifications automatically turn back on after the mute duration expires. To end mute sooner, tap Menu and then Down arrow and then Automatic.

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