How to Hide Your Online Status on Instagram
Wondering when your friends are active on Instagram can be useful, especially if you’re hoping for a quick chat. The app's activity status feature, which shows a green dot and "Active Now" label on the profiles of online users, can indicate the best time to send a message for an immediate response.
However, not everyone feels comfortable with their online status being visible, citing privacy concerns. If you prefer keeping your Instagram activity private, here’s a quick guide on how to disable your online status, whether you're using an Android device or an iPhone.
For Android and iOS Users
If you usually access Instagram on your smartphone or tablet, follow these steps. Note that this guide uses a Samsung Galaxy M22, but it works for iOS devices too.
1. Open Your Instagram Profile
Start by opening the Instagram app and logging in. Then, tap on your profile picture icon in the bottom right corner.
2. Go to Settings
Tap the three horizontal lines in the top right corner to open the menu. Scroll down and select “Messages and story replies.”
3. Turn Off Online Status
In the "Who can see you're online" section, tap on "Show activity status." You'll see two switches next to “Show Activity Status” and “Show When You're Active Together.”
Slide both switches to the left to turn them off. This will hide your online status, even when messaging friends who are currently online.
Via Web Browser
You can also hide your online status on Instagram when logged in through a web browser. This is handy if you're browsing on a laptop or PC. Here’s how to do it:
1. Open Instagram
Launch your preferred browser—whether it's Chrome, Edge, Opera, Firefox, or another. Go to Instagram.com and log in using your username and password.
2. Go to Settings
Click on the “More” icon, which looks like three horizontal lines, in the lower left corner. Then, select “Settings” from the top row of options.
3. Open Activity Status
Scroll down in the “Settings” menu and find “Messages and story replies.” Under the "Who can see you're online" section, click on “Show activity status.”
4. Turn Off Online Status
You'll see a switch next to “Show Activity Status.” Slide this switch to the left to turn it off. Once you do, a “Settings saved” notification will appear on your screen, confirming that your online status is now hidden.
Extra Tip: Turn Off Read Receipts
Hiding your online status is a great way to protect your privacy and avoid any misunderstandings when you're not in the mood to reply to messages.
However, for even more privacy, consider turning off Read Receipts. This way, people won’t know when you’ve read their messages, which can help avoid any awkward situations.
As of now, turning off Read Receipts is only possible on Android and iOS devices. Here’s how you can do it:
- Open Your Instagram App
- Make sure you’re logged in
- Tap the profile picture icon in the bottom right corner.
- Go to Settings. Tap the three horizontal lines in the top right corner to open the menu.
- Scroll down and find “Messages and story replies.”
- Under "Who can see you're online," tap on the “Show read receipts” option.
- Slide the switch next to “Read receipts” to the left to turn it off.
Instagram is all about communication, but in today's world, privacy is just as important. Not everyone knows the right time to send a message, and they might not be aware of what the recipient is dealing with—whether they’re busy, preoccupied, or simply not in the mood to chat.
Rather than leaving people guessing when you don’t respond right away, turning off your online status is a good start. Turning off Read Receipts is an extra step that can help maintain your privacy. Hopefully, this short tutorial has been helpful!