Participant Status
The participant status feature in BigBlueButton 2.7+ allows you to set your availability status. In current versions, the only persistent status option is "Away", which signals to other participants that you are temporarily unavailable.
Setting Your Status to Away
If you need to step away from the session temporarily, you can set your status to "Away". This notifies other participants that you are not currently available.
- Click the three-dot menu in the interface.
- Select Set status: Away from the menu options.
- Your status is now visible to all other participants in the user interface.
What Happens When You Are Away
When you activate the "Away" status, BigBlueButton automatically adjusts your audio and video settings:
- Microphone: Your microphone is automatically muted.
- Camera: Your camera feed is blacked out.
- Visibility: The "Away" indicator is shown next to your name in the participants list.
The "Away" status remains active until you manually reset it. It does not expire automatically like emoji reactions.
Clearing Your Status
When you return from your break, you should clear your "Away" status to resume normal participation.
- Click the three-dot menu in the interface.
- Select Clear status from the menu options.
- Your camera feed becomes visible again and the mute imposed by the Away status is lifted.
Remember to clear your "Away" status when you return. Otherwise, other participants will still see you as unavailable, and your camera will remain blacked out.
Comparison: Status, Reactions, and Raise Hand
BigBlueButton provides three complementary methods for nonverbal communication. Understanding the differences helps you choose the right tool for each situation.
| Feature | Participant Status | Reactions | Raise Hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | Persistent (manual reset) | Temporary (~35 seconds) | Until manually lowered |
| Available options | Away only (BBB 2.7+) | Multiple emojis | Hand raise only |
| Affects audio/video | Yes (mutes mic, blacks out camera) | No | No |
| Best for | Signaling temporary absence | Quick feedback | Requesting to speak |
In earlier versions of BigBlueButton, there were additional status options beyond "Away". In BBB 2.7 and later, "Away" is the only persistent participant status available.