Heading out on vacation? Taking your lunch break? Need to let your team know you're in the middle of focus work? Slack has a tool for that: the status.
Yes, you can customize your status in Slack to show others what you're up to at any time of day. You can even add emojis and fully customize your status message.
Plus, changing your Slack status is incredibly easy to do.
How to Update Your Status in Slack
Anyone can update their status in Slack, whether using the free or premium version of the app. It's also important to note the difference between changing your status and updating your availability.
In Slack, a status is simply a message that shows what you're up to. And availability is the dot next to your name that you can set to “active” or “away.”
To update your status, open Slack and then follow these steps:
- Select your profile picture from the top right of your screen.
- Select Update your status.
- Add a status message of any kind and select a Slack emoji if you wish.
- Next, select the Clear after arrow and select when you want the status to be automatically removed.
- Finally, select Save.
That's it. If you want to fully customize how long your Slack status is active, you can select Choose date and time and pick any time or date you wish.
You can clear your status at any time by selecting your profile photo again and then selecting Clear status.
How to Update Your Availability in Slack
If you want to change your availability to away, simply select your profile photo and then select Set yourself as away.
You'll notice that instead of a green circle indicating your active status, you now have an empty circle next to your name.
Slack Is “In-Office” Even When You're Not
Even when you're out enjoying your free time, Slack keeps your team updated on your behalf.
Whether showcasing your status or performing other tasks such as sending messages scheduled ahead of time, Slack is the perfect tool for staying productive even when you're away.