Are you encountering the frustrating issue of the online status next to names being greyed out in Outlook? If so, you’re not alone.
This problem can hinder seamless communication and collaboration, especially in a professional setting.
Fortunately, there are effective solutions available to address this issue and restore the visibility of online status indicators.
In this blog, we’ll explore practical steps and troubleshooting methods to resolve the “display online status next to name greyed out” issue in Outlook.
How To Fix Display Online Status Next To Name Greyed Out In Outlook?
To fix display online status next to the name greyed out in Outlook you can check configuration settings, and review group policy settings. Additionally, you can check the licensing and subscription status, and ensure synchronization and connectivity are functioning to fix the issue.
1. Check Configuration Settings
This can ensure that the built-in settings within Outlook are correctly configured to display online status next to names.
To check configuration settings:
- Open Outlook and access the “File” tab in the top menu.
- Select “Options” from the left-hand sidebar to open the Outlook Options window.
- Within the Outlook Options window, navigate to the “People” or “Contacts” section.
- Locate the settings related to online status display and ensure that the option to display online status next to names is enabled.
- Save any changes made and exit the Outlook Options window.
2. Review Group Policy Settings
Consider reviewing and adjusting Group Policy settings to ensure that they are not restricting the display of online status indicators.
Follow these steps to review group policy settings:
- Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type “gpedit.msc” and press Enter to open the Group Policy Management Editor.
- Navigate to “User Configuration” > “Administrative Templates” > “Microsoft Outlook” in the left-hand pane.
- Review the specific Group Policy settings related to the online status display.
- Ensure that the policies are not configured to restrict the display of online status indicators.
- Make any necessary adjustments to the Group Policy settings and exit the Group Policy Management Editor.
3. Update Software And Add-Ins
Ensure that Outlook, Microsoft Teams, Skype, and related add-ins are updated to the latest versions to potentially resolve any compatibility issues affecting the online status feature. To do this,
- Open Outlook and navigate to the “File” tab.
- Select “Office Account” or a similar option to access the update settings.
- Check for available updates for Outlook and install any pending updates.
- Similarly, open Microsoft Teams and/or Skype and navigate to the settings or help section to check for updates.
- Download and install any available updates for these applications.
- Review and update any add-ins that might conflict with the online status feature.
4. Check The Licensing And Subscription Status
Verify the licensing and subscription status associated with the Office 365 or Microsoft 365 account to ensure that the online status feature is not impacted by licensing limitations.
Follow these steps to check licensing and subscription:
- Log in to the Office 365 or Microsoft 365 account associated with Outlook.
- Navigate to the subscription or licensing settings within the account management dashboard.
- Verify the current subscription status and any associated limitations related to feature availability.
- If necessary, consider upgrading the subscription or adjusting licensing settings to ensure the availability of the online status feature.
5. Ensure Synchronization And Connectivity Are Functioning
Check the network connectivity, firewall settings, and synchronization configurations to ensure seamless integration between Outlook and other communication platforms. To do this,
- Check the network connectivity on the device where Outlook is installed.
- Ensure that there are no firewall or network restrictions impacting the synchronization of online status information from integrated services.
- Verify the synchronization settings within Outlook to confirm that integration with other communication platforms is functioning properly.
- If using Microsoft Teams or Skype, ensure that these applications have the necessary permissions and connectivity to synchronize online status data with Outlook.
6. Reset Or Reconfigure The Integration Setup
Consider resetting and reconfiguring the integration between Outlook and other communication tools to potentially resolve any underlying issues affecting the online status feature.
Follow these steps to reset or reconfigure integration:
- If the online status issue persists, consider resetting the integration between Outlook and other communication tools.
- This can be done by removing the existing integration settings within Outlook and reconfiguring the connection to external services.
- Follow the specific instructions provided by the integrated platforms to reset and re-establish the integration with Outlook.
- Test the online status feature after reconfiguring the integration to check if the issue has been resolved.
7. Contact Microsoft Customer Support
If none of the above solutions have resolved the issue of “Display Online Status Next To Name Greyed Out In Outlook,” consider reaching out to Microsoft customer support for further assistance.
Customer support can provide personalized guidance and troubleshooting steps tailored to the specific situation, potentially leading to a swift resolution of the online status display problem.