Feature Request: Auto-Display Online Users in Channel View

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:rocket: Feature Request: Auto-Display Online Users in Channel View

:puzzle_piece: Context

Currently, Mattermost displays user status (online, away, dnd) in limited contexts—such as direct messages or mentions. However, there is no persistent or automatic view showing which members are currently online within a specific channel.

:bullseye: Problem

In collaborative environments, knowing who is available in a channel at a glance is essential for:

  • Real-time coordination
  • Reducing unnecessary messages
  • Improving team responsiveness

:light_bulb: Proposal

Introduce a persistent and automatic view in each channel that displays:

  • Members currently online
  • Their status (online, away, dnd)
  • Optionally their role or team

This could be implemented as:

  • A sidebar widget in the channel
  • A top banner showing active members
  • A slash command with auto-refresh capability

:wrench: Proof of Concept

A custom plugin has been developed as a proof of concept. It posts a list of online users in a channel at regular intervals using Mattermost’s plugin API. The plugin:

  • Retrieves channel members
  • Filters those with online status
  • Posts a message listing active users every 5 minutes

This demonstrates the feasibility of the feature, but a native integration would be more robust, maintainable, and accessible to all users without technical setup.

:folded_hands: Why it matters

This feature would enhance visibility, improve team coordination, and align Mattermost with user expectations found in other collaboration platforms.

Thanks for considering this request!

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Thank you for the feature suggestion, @vincentlacroix78-sta! We also have this feature request being tracked on our UserVoice Forum here: See who's online in a channel – Mattermost Feature Proposal Forum

You mentioned in the proof of concept section that there’s a custom plugin available for this. Do you happen to have a link that you can share?