Slack

How To Set Custom Status Messages In Slack For Enhanced Team Collaboration

Unlock the potential of team collaboration in Slack with a step-by-step guide on setting custom status messages.
Giles Peter Thompson
Giles is our experimental author using Chat GPT. But don't worry, we don't leave Giles to his own devices. Everything gets source-checked and approved. If you spot something that doesn't seem right, please reach out to press@m.io

Discover the power of custom status messages in Slack for seamless team collaboration and communication.

Slack has become an indispensable tool in workplaces worldwide, offering a range of features to keep teams connected and productive.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through the step-by-step process of setting custom status messages in Slack. By optimizing this feature, you can ensure effective communication, improved productivity, and streamlined teamwork.

Step 1: Launch Slack and access the status menu

Learn how to set custom status messages in Slack by opening the Slack application or accessing the web version.

Navigate to the status menu by clicking on your profile or workspace name located in the top-right corner of the Slack interface.

Find the status menu in Slack

Step 2: Choose a status: predefined or custom

Explore the options available in the status dialog box.

Pre-defined statuses in Slack

Select from the pre-defined status options or create a custom status message that aligns with your availability, tasks, or any relevant information you wish to share. All you need to do is start typing in the What's your status? box.

Notice that if you choose to integrate Slack and Google Calendar, you will see the Automatically updates option for when you have a meeting scheduled.

Step 3: Set a custom status message and choose an emoji

Create a personalized status message in Slack by entering the desired text.

Enhance its impact by selecting an emoji that provides additional context or reflects your mood.

Set a custom Slack status message and choose an emoji

Here, you can also choose to pause notifications until the status is changed back.

Step 4: Select a duration for your status message

Optimize your custom status by choosing a predefined time duration or manually setting a start and end time.

Alternatively, set your status to remain active until you manually change it.

Step 5: Customize visibility settings

Tailor the visibility of your status message to control who can see it.

Whether you want it visible to everyone in your Slack workspace or specific individuals and channels, Slack offers flexible visibility options.

Customize who can see your status message by following these steps:

a. From the status menu, click on "Set a status."

b. In the dialog box, select the "Customize" option next to "Who can see this status?"

c. Choose from the following visibility options:

  • "Everyone": Your status message will be visible to all members of your Slack workspace.
  • "Specific people": Select individuals or a group of people who should see your status. You can search for names or select them from your workspace directory.
  • "Specific channels": Limit the visibility of your status message to specific channels within your Slack workspace. Choose the relevant channels from the list.
  • "Only you": Keep your status message private, visible only to yourself.

d. Once you've chosen the desired visibility setting, click "Done" to save your changes.

e. Your custom status message will now be visible to the selected audience, whether it's everyone, specific people, specific channels, or just yourself.

Step 6: Save your custom status

Ensure your settings are saved by clicking the "Save" button.

Your custom status message will now appear next to your name, keeping your team members informed about your availability or relevant updates.

Step 7: Edit or remove your custom status

Need to make changes?

Revisit the status menu by following Steps 1 and 2. From there, edit your existing custom status message, adjust the duration, or choose to clear your status entirely.

Bonus - Sync your presence across your collaboration apps

Say you’re on a Slack call and your presence is now red.

That means everyone sees it and nobody calls you, right?

Wrong!

What happens when you use Slack and Microsoft Teams? Or Slack and any other platform, for that matter?

What usually happens is you think you’re protected with your red presence indicator on Slack, but you haven’t updated your other apps and it’s that one colleague who doesn’t check Slack that needs to call you.

The end result? 

You’re in a Slack call but you’re still getting bombarded with messages and missed calls.

It’s a total distraction and you can’t help but check what they need.

It shouldn’t be this way. And it soon won’t be!

We’re working on Presence Sync, which will automatically change your presence across your collaboration apps.

Sync your Slack presence with Microsoft Teams Webex or Zoom

So when you change your presence in Slack, it automatically changes in Microsoft Teams too. Or Zoom or Webex.

There’s nothing technical for you to do either. And there’s no app to install.

You’ll just set your presence, Presence Sync links up your apps behind the scenes, and everyone knows when you’re busy, away, or available.

Visit our homepage and follow us on LinkedIn to stay up-to-date with the latest Presence Sync developments.

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