Built into Slack
How to schedule a Slack status in advance
Slack’s official scheduling workflow is documented for desktop. It is a good fit for a vacation, appointment, lunch, or meeting that happens once.
- 01
Open your status editor.
On Slack desktop, click your profile picture in the sidebar, then click Update your status.
- 02
Write the status and choose an emoji.
Enter the message teammates should see, or start with one of your workspace’s suggested statuses.
- 03
Open the scheduling controls.
Open the Duration menu and choose Choose a start and end time instead of a clear-after duration.
- 04
Set the window.
Choose when the status should start and when it should end. The end of the window is when Slack clears it.
- 05
Save the scheduled status.
Slack adds it to the Scheduled section of your profile menu and turns it on automatically at the chosen time.
Planning PTO? See the Enterprise, custom status, and calendar options.
Before it starts
How to edit or cancel a scheduled status
You do not need to wait for a status to activate before changing it.
- Click your profile picture in Slack’s sidebar.
- Select the status listed under Scheduled.
- Change its details and select Save.
- To cancel it instead, hover over the status and select the delete icon.
Daily, weekly, or custom
How to schedule a recurring Slack status
Slack’s current help page documents one start and end window per scheduled status; it does not describe a repeat control. A recurring app is useful when rebuilding the same status would become part of your routine.
- 01
Add AutoStatus and connect your account once.
The connection allows AutoStatus to update your own status when a saved schedule starts and clear it when the block ends.
- 02
Open the AutoStatus app home in Slack.
Use the Describe your status field rather than filling out separate recurrence controls.
- 03
Describe the complete rule in one sentence.
Include the situation, days or pattern, start time, and duration—for example, “Focus every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 to 11.”
- 04
Review the interpretation.
Check the generated status, emoji, timing, clearing time, and recurrence before saving it.
- 05
Select Schedule.
The schedule stays in My schedules and runs again according to the saved recurrence rule.
Choose the right control
A status, availability, and notifications are different
Scheduling the wrong setting creates confusing signals. Decide what teammates should see and what Slack should do.
Slack status
Explain what you are doing.
A message and emoji beside your name, such as “At an appointment, back at 2.” It does not itself mean active, away, or notifications paused.
Availability
Show active or away.
The dot beside your name is a separate signal. Slack usually derives it from activity, and you can also set yourself active or away manually.
Do Not Disturb
Control interruptions.
Paused notifications suppress alerts for a window. Use DND or a notification schedule when the goal is quiet time, not merely context.
Which scheduling method should you use?
- One future status
- Use Slack’s built-in scheduled status.
- A status tied to calendar meetings
- Use Google Calendar or Outlook Calendar status syncing.
- Recurring quiet hours only
- Use Slack’s notification schedule.
- A recurring status and clearing rule
- Use AutoStatus or another recurring status app.
Plain-English patterns
Recurring Slack status schedule examples
Include both the work situation and the complete timing rule. These examples are specific enough to review before saving.
Weekday lunch
“Lunch every weekday from noon to 1pm”Repeats Monday through Friday and clears at 1:00 PM.
Several weekdays
“Focus every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 to 11”Runs on three selected weekdays and clears after each block.
Alternating weeks
“Planning every other Friday from 10 to noon”Repeats every two weeks and clears at 12:00 PM.
Monthly position
“Office hours on the first Monday each month from 2 to 4”Runs on the first Monday of every month and clears at 4:00 PM.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Can you schedule a Slack status in advance?+
Yes. On Slack desktop, open Update your status, choose the status and emoji, then use Duration → Choose a start and end time. Slack turns the status on automatically at the scheduled start.
How many Slack statuses can you schedule in advance?+
Slack’s current help documentation says you can schedule up to five statuses at a time. You can edit or delete one from the Scheduled section before it starts.
Can a scheduled Slack status repeat every day or week?+
Slack’s current status documentation describes scheduling an individual start and end window, but it does not document a recurring option. For a daily, weekly, alternating-week, or monthly status, use a recurring status app such as AutoStatus.
Does scheduling a Slack status also set me to away?+
No. Slack status and Slack availability are separate. A status adds context beside your name; the active or away dot is controlled separately or determined by your activity.
Does a scheduled status automatically pause notifications?+
Do not assume that a status will silence notifications. Status and notification settings are separate in Slack. Configure Do Not Disturb or a notification schedule separately when you need a quiet period.
Can I edit or cancel a Slack status before it starts?+
Yes. Open your profile menu, select the status under Scheduled, and save your edits. To cancel it, hover over the scheduled status and select the delete icon.