How to Turn Off Active Status on Instagram

By /

Instagram’s Active Status lets your followers and friends see when you’re online or when you were last active. While this can be useful, many people prefer privacy and don’t want others knowing when they’re using the app.

If you want to appear offline on Instagram, you can turn off your Active Status in just a few simple steps. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, including how to turn it off, what happens when you do, and answers to common questions.

What Is Active Status on Instagram?

The Active Status feature on Instagram works similarly to the “Last Seen” feature on WhatsApp or Messenger. It shows a green dot next to your profile picture when you’re online and displays when you were last active.

Here’s how Active Status appears to others:

  • “Active now” – This means you’re currently using Instagram.
  • “Active X minutes/hours ago” – This tells people when you were last online.

Important: Only people you follow or have chatted with on Instagram can see your Active Status. It’s not visible to everyone.

How to Turn Off Active Status on Instagram (Step-by-Step)

If you want to hide your activity and appear offline, follow these steps:

1. Open the Instagram App

  • Unlock your phone and open the Instagram app.
  • Make sure you’re logged into the account where you want to turn off Active Status.

2. Go to Your Profile

  • Tap on your profile picture at the bottom right corner of the screen.
  • This will take you to your Instagram profile page.

3. Open Settings & Privacy

  • Tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) in the top right corner.
  • Select “Settings and Privacy.”

4. Find the Active Status Setting

  • Scroll down to the “Messages and Story Replies” section.
  • Tap on “Activity Status.”

5. Turn Off Active Status

  • You’ll see a toggle switch next to “Show Activity Status.”
  • Turn off this switch. When it turns gray, your Active Status is off.

What Happens When You Turn Off Active Status?

  • People won’t see when you’re online or when you were last active.
  • You also won’t be able to see other people’s Active Status. It works both ways—if you turn yours off, you can’t check when others are online.
  • Your messages and notifications will work normally. Turning off Active Status doesn’t affect your ability to send or receive messages.

How to Turn Off Active Status on Instagram Web (PC & Laptop)

If you’re using Instagram on a computer, you can also turn off your Active Status from the web version. Here’s how:

1. Open Instagram on Your Browser

2. Open Settings

  • Click on your profile picture in the top right corner.
  • Select “Settings.”

3. Disable Active Status

  • Click on “Privacy and Security.”
  • Scroll down to find “Show Activity Status.”
  • Uncheck the box to turn it off.

Once done, your Active Status will be hidden from others on both mobile and web.

How to Turn Off Active Status for Only Certain People

If you want some people to see your Active Status but not everyone, you can customize your settings.

Steps to Hide Active Status from Specific People:

  1. Follow the same steps to open Activity Status settings.
  2. Instead of turning it off completely, tap “Who can see when you’re active.”
  3. Choose “Some people” and select the followers you want to hide your status from.

This way, you can stay visible to close friends while hiding your activity from others.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I Still Use Instagram Normally After Turning Off Active Status?

Yes! Turning off Active Status doesn’t affect how you use Instagram. You can still like posts, comment, watch stories, and send messages as usual.

2. Will My Friends Know If I Turn Off Active Status?

No, Instagram does not notify anyone when you turn off your Active Status. They just won’t see the “Active now” or “Last active” status anymore.

3. Can I Still See When Others Are Online After Turning Off My Active Status?

No. If you disable your Active Status, you won’t be able to see when others are online either. Instagram makes it fair—if you want privacy, you also won’t get to check others’ activity.

4. Does Turning Off Active Status Hide My Instagram Stories?

No, your stories will still be visible to your followers based on your privacy settings. If you want to hide your stories, you need to change your Story Privacy Settings separately.

5. Can I Turn Active Status Back On Later?

Yes! If you change your mind, just go back to the Activity Status settings and toggle it back on.

6. Does Turning Off Active Status Work for Instagram Business Accounts?

Yes! Whether you have a personal, creator, or business account, you can disable Active Status in the same way.

Final Thoughts

Turning off your Active Status on Instagram is a great way to maintain your privacy and appear offline whenever you want. Whether you’re avoiding distractions or just don’t want others to know when you’re online, this setting gives you full control over your visibility.

To recap:
✔ Go to Settings > Activity Status > Turn Off Active Status.
✔ You will appear offline, and others won’t see your last active time.
✔ You won’t be able to see when others are online either.

Related Posts

Scroll to Top