AFK stands for "away from keyboard": a player who has stepped away or stopped playing while still connected to the game.
In chat it can be a courtesy ("brb, afk 2 min") or a complaint ("we have an afk in our team"). In most team games an AFK player leaves their team short-handed, so it is one of the most common causes of unfair losses.
How players use it
- "Afk 5 min, getting food, please wait."
- "Our jungler is afk, report and move on."
- "Be back, afk for the next round only."
- "He went afk at the start and never came back."
Two meanings
- Polite AFK: you tell your team that you need a short break. Most players accept it, especially in casual or co-op games, when you say it before leaving and keep it short.
- Problem AFK: a player joins a match and does not play, or goes idle for most of it. This hurts teammates and is usually against the game's rules.
How games handle AFK players
Many competitive games detect idle players and apply penalties. Depending on the game these can include a warning, a temporary queue ban or a loss of rating, and some games let teammates end or surrender a match early when someone is gone. The exact rules differ per game, so check the one you play before assuming how it works.
If you really need to step away, the safest ways are to pause in a mode that allows it, play in a private or custom lobby, or tell your team before the match starts. Repeated unannounced AFKs can lead to penalties.
AFK outside team games
In MMOs and survival games, AFK can mean a character standing in a safe place while the player is away. Some games allow it, some penalize it, and some have kick timers for idle characters. In a game where you share a world, a quick "afk" in chat is polite.
When looking for a group, you can say how long you plan to play. Posts that state a time window in LFG ads help other players avoid someone leaving mid-session.
Related terms
FAQ
Is being AFK bannable?
It can be. Many online games penalize repeated AFK or idle behavior, from a short queue timeout to a longer restriction. A single brief absence usually is not an issue, but leaving matches repeatedly often is.
What is the difference between AFK and BRB?
BRB means "be right back" and promises a quick return. AFK only says you are away and gives no promise about the time, which is why people add a number of minutes.
Is AFK the same as leaving or rage quitting?
Not exactly. An AFK player stays in the match without playing. A leaver disconnects and a rage quitter does it deliberately after getting angry.