How to set your Webex status to away or offline?

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Here’s another question from our Facebook group:

I work remotely and use Webex for team communication. However, I’m finding it difficult to manage my availability, especially when I need uninterrupted focus time or when I’m stepping away from my desk. How can I effectively set my Webex status to ‘away’ or ‘offline’ to let my colleagues know when I’m not immediately available for chats or calls?

Keep your Webex availability as away

Setting your Webex status as available or offline helps manage expectations and improves team communication. The “Away” status indicates you’re temporarily unavailable, while “Appear offline” suggests you’re not actively using Webex. Custom status messages are super helpful as well, as they provide additional context to your colleagues and reduce interruptions from colleagues or clients.

  1. Open the Webex application on your device.
  2. Locate your profile picture or initials in the top-left corner of the window.
  3. Click on your profile picture or initials to open the status menu.
  4. You’ll see a list of status options: Available, In a meeting, Presenting, Do not disturb, Away, and Appear offline.
  5. To set your status to “Away”:
    a. Click on “Away” from the list.
    b. Your status will change to a yellow icon with a clock symbol.
  6. To set your status to “Offline”:
    a. Click on “Appear offline” from the list.
    b. Your status will change to a grey icon, appearing offline to others.
  7. To add a custom status message:
    a. Click on “Set a status message” below the status options.
    b. Type your message (e.g., “In deep work mode until 2 PM”).
    c. Set an expiration time for the message if desired.
    d. Click “Set” to save your custom status.

Troubleshooting steps

  • Status not updating – Try signing out and back into Webex. If the issue persists, check your internet connection and restart the application.
  • Custom status not visible – Ensure you’ve clicked “Set” after entering your message. If others can’t see it, verify your organization’s settings allow custom statuses.
  • Online Status changing automatically – Webex may change your status based on your activity. To prevent this, go to Settings > Status, and adjust the automatic status change options.
  • Mobile app does not syncup – If your status doesn’t sync between devices, check that you’re signed in with the same account on all devices and that background app refresh is enabled for Webex.
  • Status stuck on “In a meeting” – This can occur if a meeting ends abruptly. Try manually changing your status or restarting the application.