1. Review your current status
Open the status menu in Gmail or Google Chat and inspect Automatic, Do not disturb or Set as away. A custom message and Calendar context can appear alongside the availability indicator.
Google documents a desktop Idle state after five minutes of inactivity and Away after more than ten minutes. Check connectivity and the selected state if the indicator seems unexpected.
2. Separate availability from notification hours
Google Chat includes a Do not disturb schedule for pausing notifications. That schedule manages notification quiet time, not a recurring request to appear Active.
Decide whether you need fewer interruptions, clearer response expectations or an activity routine. Use the appropriate control for that goal.
3. Understand the official API route
The availability API can update the signed-in user through chat.users.availability. Google’s setup guide specifies eligible Business or Enterprise Workspace accounts with Chat access.
MarkAsActive accepts an expiry. OnlineHours’ cloud design uses a five-minute request refreshed every three minutes; stopping lets that request expire. Continued activity in Chat can keep the account active afterward.
4. Test what is available today
OnlineHours’ Google cloud connection is pending OAuth setup and live validation. For now, you can try the free experimental browser extension with an awake computer and a signed-in Google Chat tab.
Start with a short session, compare the visible status through another permitted account and check the end of the session. Keep both successful activity pulses and the observed result in your test notes.
Common questions
Does Google Chat now have an availability API?
Yes. Google documents methods for managing the authenticated user’s availability, including a time-limited Active request.
Why might my account remain active after OnlineHours stops?
The last request may not have expired yet, and your own continued activity in Google Chat can keep you active.