help
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers about NoAway, how to keep your status always online in Microsoft Teams, and the best practice for staying active. What helps, and how common workarounds differ.
Asking about privacy or IT policy? Read Is NoAway safe? for what the app does and does not do. Comparing prices with Slack Green, NotAway, Idle Pilot, or a USB mouse jiggler? See Compare.
Common questions
What people ask: how to stop Teams showing Away
How do I stop Microsoft Teams from showing Away? expand_more
Teams switches to Away when the computer has seen no keyboard or mouse activity for a few minutes. To stop that without moving the mouse yourself, keep the system from going idle for as long as you need, for example with NoAway, which you turn on from the menu bar (Mac) or system tray (Windows). Whether Teams shows Available also depends on permissions and the conditions listed in Help.
Is there an app that keeps Microsoft Teams active? expand_more
Yes. NoAway is a desktop app for Mac and Windows that keeps the computer from going idle, which is the signal the Teams desktop app reads. It does not open or change Teams. A locked screen, calendar status, company policy, and presence on other devices are outside what it controls.
How many minutes until Teams turns yellow, and how do I keep the icon green? expand_more
Microsoft Teams typically changes your status to Away (yellow) after about 5 minutes without keyboard or mouse input. Keeping this computer from going idle stops that idle timer. Whether the icon stays green also depends on permissions and the conditions listed in Help.
My job requires Teams. How can I avoid showing Away during long tasks? expand_more
Showing Away during a long build, download, or focused task can be misread. NoAway keeps this computer from going idle during those tasks. Calendar status, a locked screen, company policy, and other devices can still change presence; see Help for the full list of conditions.
What should I do if Teams still shows Away? expand_more
Make sure NoAway is running and Keep Active is enabled. Use the latest version of NoAway (updates improve timing so Teams does not go Away after a few minutes). After updating, use "Restart Activity Engine" from the tray menu. Check "Open Logs" in the menu: if you see "simulated" lines every few minutes, the app is working; if you see errors, contact support. On Windows, try running NoAway as Administrator once and ensure your antivirus is not blocking it.
About NoAway
Will I always appear Active on Teams or Slack? expand_more
No. NoAway prevents this computer from entering an idle state while it is running, which helps during long tasks such as downloads, builds, or presentations. It does not control calendar status, a locked screen, company policy, or other devices.
Is using NoAway safe? expand_more
NoAway is a desktop utility that keeps the system from entering an idle state while enabled. It does not read your files or messages. Keep Active runs on your computer and does not send keystrokes, screen contents, chats, or files. Network use is for licensing: activation sends your license key, purchase email, and a device id; periodic license checks also send app version, platform, activity mode, which of Teams/Slack/Zoom/Discord appear to be running, and how many seconds Keep Active was on that day—so we can validate the one-device license and understand product usage. For a full breakdown (admin rights, company PCs, what it does not do), see the Is NoAway safe page at /is-noaway-safe/.
Does NoAway slow down my computer? expand_more
No. The application runs quietly in the background and is designed to use minimal system resources.
Can I start NoAway automatically? expand_more
Yes. NoAway can be configured to start automatically when your computer boots so it is ready whenever you need it.
Do I need to keep the app open? expand_more
No. You can close the NoAway window; the process must keep running (menu bar on Mac, system tray on Windows). NoAway can also start automatically when your computer boots.
Do I need an internet connection? expand_more
Keep Active runs on your computer. A connection is needed to download the app and to activate your license. License check runs when you activate, and again periodically while the app is installed (about once every 24 hours).
Why pay for NoAway when there are free tools? expand_more
Many free utilities only stop your computer from sleeping: the screen stays on, but Teams or Slack can still mark you Away after a few minutes without input. Others need manual setup, scripts or settings changes on each computer. NoAway keeps the system active in a way Teams, Slack and Zoom recognise, works from the menu bar or tray in one click, and costs €4.99 once, with a 7-day refund if it doesn't suit you.
Privacy, detection & compliance
Is NoAway a subscription? expand_more
No. NoAway is a one-time purchase. One license works on one device. Lifetime updates means future versions are emailed to buyers with a direct download link to the new version.
Will my boss or IT department know I'm using this? expand_more
Keep Active runs on your computer and does not send keystrokes, screen contents, chats, or files. Network use is for licensing: activation sends your license key, purchase email, and a device id; periodic license checks also send app version, platform, activity mode, which of Teams/Slack/Zoom/Discord appear to be running, and how many seconds Keep Active was on that day—so we can validate the one-device license and understand product usage. While Keep Active is on, your operating system sees the computer as active. Every workplace has its own policies regarding software, so follow your company's guidelines.
Does NoAway interact with Microsoft Teams, and can Teams detect it? expand_more
NoAway does not modify, control, or connect to Microsoft Teams. It keeps the operating system active while it runs, and Teams reads that system activity like any other. Whether your employer's own tools or policies can detect third-party software depends on your organisation, so follow your company's guidelines.
Does NoAway collect any personal data? expand_more
Keep Active runs on your computer and does not send keystrokes, screen contents, chats, or files. Network use is for licensing: activation sends your license key, purchase email, and a device id; periodic license checks also send app version, platform, activity mode, which of Teams/Slack/Zoom/Discord appear to be running, and how many seconds Keep Active was on that day—so we can validate the one-device license and understand product usage. License check runs when you activate, and again periodically while the app is installed (about once every 24 hours). Activation sends the purchase email with the license key and device id.
Why Teams shows Away, and how common workarounds compare
Why does Teams show Away when I am still working? expand_more
Microsoft Teams updates your presence from system activity. If the computer sees no keyboard or mouse input for a few minutes, the status can change to Away, even while you are reading documentation, watching dashboards, waiting for a download, or monitoring a build.
Why can't I just set my Teams status to "Available"? expand_more
Setting your status to Available manually does not stop Teams from changing it later. If the computer becomes idle for several minutes, Teams can switch you to Away even if you set Available earlier.
Why doesn't changing Windows or macOS sleep settings fix the problem? expand_more
Power and sleep settings control when your computer goes to sleep, but they do not control how Teams determines presence. Your system can stay fully awake while Teams still sees a period of inactivity and updates your status to Away.
How is NoAway different from a mouse jiggler or a script? expand_more
A mouse jiggler is either a USB hardware device or a small program that simulates mouse movement. NoAway is software for Mac and Windows: it keeps the display awake, prevents sleep, and simulates input so the system counts the computer as active. Differences you can check: a hardware jiggler needs a free USB port and no software on the computer, while NoAway needs the app to keep running (menu bar on Mac, system tray on Windows) and, on macOS, Accessibility permission. A script you write or download depends on the same system permissions and on your own maintenance. Calendar status, a locked screen, company policy, and presence on other devices are outside what Keep Active controls. Antivirus or security software on Windows can block simulated input, and company policy may restrict any of these tools.
Why isn't there a setting in Teams to stay active? expand_more
Presence in Microsoft Teams is designed to reflect recent activity on the device, and much of it is managed automatically from application and system signals. There is no official setting that permanently forces your status to remain Available.
Does this only affect Microsoft Teams? expand_more
No. Slack and other chat tools also change presence based on activity. Slack, for example, shows a filled green dot for active and an empty (hollow) dot for away. Each app has its own rules, so see the Slack guide for details.
Is keeping the computer active the same as faking activity? expand_more
NoAway keeps the system from going idle while you are doing long tasks such as builds, renders, or large downloads, when the computer may see little input even though you are working. Whether that is acceptable at your workplace is up to your employer's policy.
Still didn't find what you're looking for?
Contact support arrow_forward