How to keep Teams active on a Mac
On a Mac, Teams shows Away after about 5 minutes without keyboard or trackpad input, even with the display on. Lock Screen settings and caffeinate only delay sleep. To stay Available you need something that produces input: TeamsActivo is a menu bar app for macOS 13 or later that moves the pointer 1 pixel and back once you have been idle for 60 seconds, and it needs the Accessibility permission to do it.
Why Teams goes Away on a Mac
Teams asks macOS how long it has been since the last key press, click or pointer movement. After about 5 minutes with none, your status turns Away. It also turns Away when the Mac is locked or asleep. The general explanation, with every alternative, is in the guide to keeping your Teams status Available.
Two things people try first on a Mac do not solve it:
- Lock Screen and Battery settings. A longer delay before the display turns off or the Mac locks helps with sleep and locking, not with idle detection.
caffeinatein Terminal. It keeps the Mac awake but sends no input. See caffeinate and PowerToys Awake for Teams.
Requirements and permissions
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| macOS version | macOS 13 or later |
| App type | Menu bar app (a cup icon). No Dock window |
| Accessibility permission | Required. Granted in System Settings, Privacy & Security, Accessibility. It is what allows the app to move the pointer |
| Licence | A TeamsActivo licence key, entered once from the menu. The Mac counts as 1 of the 3 devices |
| Internet | Only to activate and renew the licence |
Without the Accessibility permission the icon shows a warning sign. In that state the app only keeps the display awake, and Teams can still turn Away.
What TeamsActivo does on your Mac
- While it is active, it keeps the display from going to sleep.
- Every 15 seconds it reads how long the Mac has been idle. Past 60 seconds, it declares user activity to macOS and moves the pointer 1 pixel and back. If you are using the Mac, it does nothing.
- It does not move the pointer while a mouse button is held down or while the app in front is full screen (a video or a presentation).
- With the screen locked it does nothing and lets the display turn off. Locking with Control-Command-Q works as always.
The menu options
The menu is currently in Spanish. Each label is shown here as it appears in the app, with what it does.
| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
| Mantener activo ahora | Keep active now. Manual switch, independent of Teams |
| Automático cuando Teams está abierto | Automatic while Teams is open. Turns on when Teams opens and off when it closes. On by default |
| Pausar hasta cerrar Teams | Pause until Teams closes. Resumes by itself the next time you open Teams |
| Solo en horario laboral | Work hours only. Acts Monday to Friday, 8:00 to 19:00. The manual switch ignores it |
| Parar tras inactividad real | Stop after real inactivity. After 4 hours (the default) without you touching the Mac, it stops simulating activity and lets the display turn off |
| Abrir al iniciar sesión | Open at login. Registers the app as a login item |
The icon tells you the state: a full cup means active, an empty cup means inactive or paused, and a warning sign means the permission is missing. If the icon is hidden behind the notch, open the app again from Finder to see its state.
Limits on a Mac
- Locked screen. With the Mac locked, Teams shows Away. No app can change that.
- Closed lid. With the lid closed and no external display, the Mac sleeps and Teams shows Away.
- Company policies. An MDM profile that enforces a screen lock takes priority.
- The display stays on. While TeamsActivo is active the display does not turn off by itself. Lock the Mac when you walk away.
Use it on your own Mac and within your organisation's policies.
If Teams still turns Away
- Check the icon. A warning sign means the Accessibility permission is not in effect.
- If the warning stays even though TeamsActivo is switched on in the Accessibility list, remove it from the list with the minus button, open the app again and grant the permission again.
- Check that automatic mode is on and Teams is running, or switch on the manual option.
- If work hours are enabled, automatic mode does nothing outside Monday to Friday, 8:00 to 19:00.
For questions about the licence and devices, see the FAQ.
How to set up TeamsActivo on a Mac
- Start the trial. Subscribe at teams-active.es. The licence key arrives by email.
- Download the Mac version. Get the macOS download from the downloads page, unzip it and open TeamsActivo. A cup icon appears in the menu bar.
- Grant Accessibility. When macOS asks, open System Settings, Privacy & Security, Accessibility and switch on TeamsActivo. Without it the app cannot move the pointer.
- Enter the licence key. Click the cup icon, choose "Introducir clave…" (enter key) and paste your key.
- Leave automatic mode on. Automatic mode is on by default: the app turns on when Teams opens and stops when it closes. Optionally tick "Abrir al iniciar sesión" so it starts when you log in.
Frequently asked questions
Why does TeamsActivo need the Accessibility permission on Mac?
macOS only lets an app move the pointer if it has the Accessibility permission. TeamsActivo uses it for one thing: moving the pointer 1 pixel and back when you have been idle for 60 seconds. Without the permission it can only keep the display awake, and Teams may still show Away.
Will the pointer movement get in my way?
No. The movement is 1 pixel and the pointer returns to where it was. It only happens after 60 seconds without any input from you, never while a mouse button is held down, and never while a full-screen app is in front.
Does it work with the MacBook lid closed?
Not on its own. With the lid closed and no external display, the Mac goes to sleep and Teams shows Away. It needs an external display connected for the Mac to stay awake with the lid closed.
Does the Mac still lock while TeamsActivo is running?
You can lock it yourself at any time, and TeamsActivo does nothing while it is locked. While the app is active the display does not turn off by itself, so lock the Mac when you step away. After 4 hours without real use, the app stops and normal behaviour returns.