Forum Discussion
Feature request: "AFK" status whilst on call
We would like to use Microsoft Teams calls as a continuously open call for long periods of time whilst working remotely as a team. However the current inability to visually see on the call screen whether another attendee is at their keyboard, without everyone having their cameras on all the time (which eats a lot of bandwidth) limits our ability to do so.
I would like the ability to have an "away from keyboard" status, similar to the "raise hand" status, that can be set by each attendee when they step away from their desk/keyboard to grab a drink or take a comfort break.
This could either be implemented by:
- adding a new group in which "raise hand" is one option, and "step away" is another
- adding a new option along the tool bar specifically for "step away"
The only way to do this currently is to create another meeting (with yourself) and join that meeting so that you appear 'on-hold' within the previous call. This is very tedious to implement for every attendee involved.
1 Reply
This would be a very useful feature, especially during long meetings.
A “Step away” or “Hold” button allowing participants to temporarily leave their desk without leaving the meeting would be a great addition to Teams.
When activated, it could automatically mute the microphone and optionally turn off the camera, while clearly showing the other participants that the user is temporarily away.
This would be particularly useful during long meetings when someone needs to take a short break, grab a drink, or simply step away from their desk for a few minutes.
The important point is that the participant should remain connected to the meeting and be able to return simply by clicking “Resume”, without leaving and rejoining the meeting.
Currently, achieving something similar requires workarounds, such as joining another call to put the current meeting on hold. Having a dedicated “Step away / Hold” function would make this much simpler and more intuitive.
