Quick Answer: Slack and Teams both use presence indicators, but they work differently. Slack’s 10-minute timeout is fixed and user-controllable settings are limited. Teams has a 5-minute default timeout but offers more manual presence options. Both mark you away when you stop interacting with the app.

Need consistent presence on Slack specifically? See Idle Pilot or start free.

Slack Presence vs Microsoft Teams Presence

The Core Difference

Both platforms show whether you’re active or away, but the implementation differs:

Slack’s Presence System

Slack presence is binary: active (green) or away (hollow). Key characteristics:

• Timeout: About 10 minutes of inactivity
• Detection: Keyboard, mouse, and app interaction within Slack
• Manual control: You can set yourself active, but it reverts after inactivity
• No admin options: Workspace admins cannot change timeout duration

Slack’s presence is intentionally simple. The green dot means recent activity, nothing more.

Teams’ Presence System

Teams presence is more complex with multiple states:

• Available (green)
• Busy (red)
• Do Not Disturb (red with minus)
• Be Right Back (yellow)
• Away (yellow)
• Appear Offline (gray)

Teams also integrates with Outlook calendar, automatically showing “In a meeting” or “Busy” based on calendar events. Admins can configure timeout policies through Microsoft 365 admin settings.

Which Is Harder to Stay Active On?

Slack is generally harder to maintain presence on because:

1. Fixed timeout: No way to extend the 10-minute window
2. No presence lock: Manual “active” setting doesn’t persist
3. Aggressive mobile: iOS and Android suspend Slack quickly
4. No calendar integration for presence: Calendar only affects status text

Teams offers “duration status” where you can set yourself as Available for a specific time period.

Managing Presence on Both Platforms

If you use both Slack and Teams:

• Presence doesn’t sync between platforms
• Each has its own idle detection
• You might be active on one and away on the other
• Consider separate strategies for each

FAQ

How long before Slack marks you away vs Teams?

Slack uses approximately 10 minutes of inactivity. Teams defaults to 5 minutes but can be configured by administrators. Both platforms detect activity through app interaction.

Can you manually set presence in Slack vs Teams?

Teams lets you lock your status for a set duration (30 minutes, 1 hour, etc.). Slack only allows a temporary manual override that automatically reverts when you go inactive.

Which platform is better for presence management?

Teams offers more built-in control through manual status and admin policies. Slack is more opinionated with fewer user controls. For Slack-specific presence scheduling, cloud-based tools provide more flexibility.

For Slack presence scheduling, check the Slack presence scheduler hub or Keep Slack Active.