Status Types and Icons

Use the Available status when you are at your computer and able to chat with your contacts. You can set a custom message for this status.

Use the Busy status to let your contacts know that you don’t want to chat right now. They can still contact you, for instance if they have something urgent they need to discuss. By default, Empathy will not use notification bubbles and sounds when you are busy. You can set a custom message for this status.

Use the Away status when you are going away from your computer. Empathy automatically sets your status to Away if you do not use your computer for a while, or if your screensaver is on. By default, Empathy will not use notification bubbles and sounds when you are away. You can set a custom message for this status.

When you set your status to Invisible, you will appear as offline to your contacts. You will still be connected to your accounts, and you still see your contacts’ statuses and start conversations with them.

Setting your status to Offline disconnects you from all of your accounts.