Fixing Microsoft Teams Sleep Issues on Windows 11
Many remote workers have noticed that Microsoft Teams often shows them as Away or disconnects entirely after Windows 11 puts their system to sleep. This is one of the most common frustrations when working from home — you’re still there, but Teams thinks you’re gone. In this guide, we’ll explore why this happens, what Windows settings are to blame, and the easiest ways to fix Teams sleep issues once and for all.
Why Windows 11 Puts Teams to Sleep
Windows 11 automatically enters a low-power state after a period of inactivity. When this happens, background applications like Microsoft Teams can pause their network activity, which causes your status to change to Away or even disconnect from meetings.
The main causes include:
- Default power plan settings optimized for battery life
- Display timeout putting the monitor — and sometimes network adapters — to sleep
- USB and network device power-saving options
- Hibernation or hybrid sleep modes
Check Your Power & Sleep Settings
Start by reviewing your power configuration in Windows 11:
- Open Settings > System > Power & Battery
- Under Screen and Sleep, set both On battery and Plugged in to longer times (or "Never" during work hours)
- Click Additional power settings and select Balanced or High performance
- Click Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings
- Expand Sleep > Allow hybrid sleep and set it to Off
- Expand USB selective suspend and set to Disabled
These small changes ensure Teams stays active, even when your display turns off.
Prevent Network Disconnects During Sleep
Sometimes the issue isn’t Teams — it’s your network adapter. To stop it from disconnecting:
- Press Win + X → Device Manager
- Expand Network adapters → right-click your Wi-Fi or Ethernet device → Properties
- Go to the Power Management tab
- Uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power
This setting alone can prevent Teams from dropping calls or marking you as idle after your PC sleeps lightly.
Use a Dedicated Teams Activity Tool
If manual tweaks aren’t enough, automation is the next step. Tools like Helperteams (formerly NeverAwayTeams) automatically simulate activity to keep Teams and similar apps awake — without disabling your PC’s energy-saving features entirely.
Benefits of Helperteams:
- Keeps Teams, Skype, and Zoom active automatically
- Smart scheduling lets you choose when to stay online
- Detects real meetings and won’t interfere
- Allows monitors to sleep while maintaining active status
- Prevents false "Away" or "Offline" states caused by Windows sleep
Download Helperteams here and try it free for 30 days.
Adjust Background Permissions for Teams
Teams requires background activity to maintain connectivity. To verify permissions:
- Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps
- Locate Microsoft Teams → click Advanced options
- Ensure Background app permissions is set to Always
This ensures Teams continues running when your system idles or when the window is minimized.
Bonus Tip: Use a Simple Script
If you prefer DIY solutions, PowerShell scripts can keep your system awake with minimal overhead. For example:
while ($true) { Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Windows.Forms; [System.Windows.Forms.SendKeys]::SendWait('{SCROLLLOCK}'); Start-Sleep -Seconds 240 }This toggles a harmless key every few minutes, resetting inactivity timers. Use responsibly, as it may conflict with IT policies in corporate environments.
Conclusion
Teams sleep and idle issues on Windows 11 often boil down to system power management. By adjusting settings, disabling selective suspend, and allowing background activity, you can keep Teams stable and reliable. For an effortless solution, automation tools like Helperteams remove the guesswork and let you focus on work, not presence indicators.
Try Helperteams today: https://neverawayteams.com/