MC1184412 – Maintain accurate presence in Teams on the Web with new activity detection setting (archived)

Product:

Teams

Platform:

Online, US Instances, Web, World tenant

Status:

Change type:

New feature, User impact

Links:

Details:

Summary:
Microsoft Teams on the web will introduce a new user-enabled setting to detect device activity beyond the Teams tab, improving presence accuracy. Rolling out December 2025 for Chrome v94+ and Edge v114+. No admin action needed; users must grant browser permission to enable it.

Details:
[Introduction]
We're introducing a new setting in Microsoft Teams on the web that helps maintain users' presence more accurately. When enabled, Teams will detect activity on the user's device-even if they're not actively using the Teams tab-ensuring their status remains "Available" when they are truly active. This update addresses common feedback about inaccurate presence status and improves collaboration visibility.
[When this will happen:]
Public Preview: Rolling out late November 2025, expected completion by late November 2025.
Targeted Release: Rolling out early December 2025, expected completion by early December 2025.
General Availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCC High, DoD): Rolling out early December 2025, expected completion by early December 2025.

Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:

Created:
2025-11-10

updated:
2025-11-10

Task Type

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Docu to Check

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MS How does it affect me

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MS Preperations

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MS Urgency

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MS workload name

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Pictures

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summary for non-techies**

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Direct effects for Operations**

Inaccurate Presence Status
If users do not enable the new setting, their presence status may remain inaccurate, leading to misunderstandings about availability and potentially affecting collaboration.
   - roles: End Users, Team Leaders
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/blog/2025/11/01/maintain-accurate-presence-in-teams-on-the-web-with-new-activity-detection-setting/

User Confusion and Frustration
Without proper communication about the new setting and its implications, users may be confused about their presence status, leading to frustration and decreased productivity.
   - roles: Helpdesk Staff, End Users
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/blog/2025/11/01/maintain-accurate-presence-in-teams-on-the-web-with-new-activity-detection-setting/

Configutation Options**

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Data Protection**

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explanation for non-techies**

Microsoft Teams is introducing a new feature for its web version that helps keep your status more accurate. Imagine you're at your desk working hard, but you're not directly using Teams. Perhaps you're drafting an email or researching something online. Traditionally, Teams might mark you as "Away" because you're not clicking around in the Teams tab. This can be misleading for colleagues who might think you're not available when you actually are.

The new setting in Teams aims to solve this by detecting activity on your device, even if you're not actively using the Teams tab. It's like having a smart office assistant who knows you're busy at your desk, even if you're not talking to them directly. When you enable this feature, your status will stay "Available" as long as you're active on your computer, providing a more accurate reflection of your presence.

To use this feature, you'll need to give your browser permission to detect whether you're active or idle. It's important to note that this feature doesn't track what you're doing, just whether you're doing something. Think of it like a motion sensor light that turns on when it detects movement in the room, but doesn't record what you're doing.

This feature will be available in December 2025 for users on Chrome version 94 and above, and Edge version 114 and above. No action is needed from IT administrators, but users will need to enable the feature themselves if they want to take advantage of it. It's a good idea to let your helpdesk staff know about this update so they can assist users who have questions. Additionally, make sure your team is using the supported browser versions to access this feature.

In summary, this new setting in Teams helps ensure your availability status is accurate, reflecting your true activity on your device. It's a simple way to improve communication and collaboration, ensuring your colleagues know when you're truly available to connect.