To set your status in Slack, click your profile picture, click Update your status, type a status and pick an emoji, choose when it should clear and click Save. On mobile, tap your profile picture and the status field. You can also schedule up to five statuses in advance for holidays or meetings.
A Slack status is the small emoji and message next to your name that tells colleagues what you're up to: 'In a workshop', 'On holiday until Monday', 'Heads down, reply this afternoon'. Set well, it answers the question before anyone asks. Here's how to set one, schedule one ahead of time, and the difference between your status and that little dot.
Set your status on desktop
- Click your profile picture in the sidebar.
- Click Update your status.
- Type a status and pick an emoji, or choose one of the suggested statuses.
- Click Remove status after... to choose when it clears.
- Tick Pause notifications if you want quiet until it clears.
- Click Save.
Set your status on your phone
- Tap your profile picture.
- Tap the status field.
- Type your status and tap the emoji icon to choose an emoji, or pick a suggestion.
- Tap Clear after to set when it disappears.
- Tap Done.
If you don't choose an emoji, Slack shows a speech balloon by default. People see your status emoji wherever your name appears, and can read the full status by hovering over it on desktop or opening your profile.
Schedule a status in advance
This is the feature most people don't know about. You can set a status now that switches on later, perfect for holidays, appointments or a big presentation:
- Click your profile picture, then Update your status.
- Enter a status and emoji.
- Open the Duration menu and pick Choose a start and end time.
- Pick the start and end dates and click Save.
Slack lets you schedule up to five statuses at a time. You'll find them under Scheduled when you click your profile picture, where you can edit them or delete them before they start.
Status versus availability
| Status | Availability | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | An emoji and message you write | The dot next to your name |
| Who sets it | You | Slack, automatically, or you manually |
| What it says | What you're doing | Whether you're active or away |
Slack marks you active when it's open on your computer or phone, and away after 10 minutes of inactivity on desktop, or when you leave or close the mobile app. You can override it any time: click your profile picture and choose Set yourself as away or Set yourself as active.
Let Slack set some statuses for you
Slack can automatically let people know you may be slow to respond when you're in a huddle, in focus mode, or outside your working hours. Turn these on or off from your profile picture, then Preferences, under Automatic statuses. If you've set working hours, the after-hours one is a polite way to stop evening messages feeling urgent.
Who can see your status
Everyone in your workspace can see it. Slack also notes that, depending on your workspace settings, your status may be visible to people from other organisations in channels shared externally. So if you work in Slack Connect channels with clients, 'Dentist, back at 3' is fine, but anything too personal isn't.
Statuses that work
- Say when you'll be back, not just that you're away: 'At a client meeting, back at 2pm.'
- Point people elsewhere if needed: 'On leave, ask Sam about the website.' Name a colleague, not a vague team.
- Use Pause notifications for deep-focus blocks, and say so in the status.
- Always set an end time, so an old 'On holiday' status doesn't linger for weeks.
Agreeing a few standard statuses as a team makes them far more useful. If you use other messaging tools too, my guide on searching messages on Messenger covers finding things there, and my office productivity hacks have more ways to protect focus time.
Status ideas for small business owners
If you run a small business, your Slack status does a lot of quiet customer service, especially in channels shared with clients. A few that work well: 'Client calls all morning, replies after lunch', 'Travelling today, slower replies', 'Off Fridays, back Monday', or 'Recording a podcast, back at 3'. Each one tells people when to expect you, which is what they really want to know. Pair them with Pause notifications when you need to concentrate, and set a clear end time so the status never outlives the reason for it.
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Clear or change a status
Click your profile picture and click your current status to edit it, or Clear status to remove it. If you're back early from a meeting or holiday, clear it straight away so people don't hold off messaging you. On mobile, tap your profile picture, then your status, and tap Clear.
My verdict
Profile picture, Update your status, add an emoji, set when it clears, Save. Schedule statuses ahead for holidays, let Slack handle huddles and after-hours automatically, and remember clients in shared channels may see what you write.
Frequently asked questions
How do I set a status in Slack?
Click your profile picture, click Update your status, enter a status and emoji, choose when it clears and click Save.
Can I schedule a Slack status in advance?
Yes. In the Duration menu, pick Choose a start and end time. Slack lets you schedule up to five statuses at a time.
When does Slack set me as away?
Slack sets you away after 10 minutes of desktop inactivity, or when you leave or close the mobile app.
What's the difference between status and availability in Slack?
Status is a message and emoji you set. Availability is the dot showing whether you're active or away.
Can people outside my company see my Slack status?
Possibly. Slack says, depending on settings, your status may be visible to other organisations in externally shared channels.
