Appear Offline on Instagram: 2 Easy Ways to Hide Your Status

Last Updated: October 25, 2022

Did you know that your friends can see when you're actively using Instagram? By default, a green dot appears next to your profile photo any time you're using the app. And when you're not active, people you've chatted with can see when you were last active just by looking at their inboxes. If you'd rather nobody know when you're aimlessly scrolling through Instagram, there's an easy way to appear offline. This wikiHow article will walk you through hiding your activity status on the Instagram app (Android, iPhone, & iPad) and on the web.

Things You Should Know

You can easily turn off your activity status in the "Privacy" section of your Instagram settings.
When you turn off your activity status, you also won't know when other people are active on Instagram.
Even when you hide your online status, people can still see when you've seen their messages or are actively typing a reply.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using the Mobile App

1
Tap the profile icon or your profile photo. You'll see either a small version of your profile photo or an outline of a person at the bottom-right corner of Instagram.
2
Tap the three-line menu ☰. It's the three horizontal lines at the top-right corner.

Advertisement
3
Tap Settings. This is the gear icon on the menu.
4
Tap Privacy. This option has a lock icon and is near the top of the menu.
5
Tap Activity Status. It's near the bottom of the "Interactions" section.
6
Tap the "Show Activity Status" switch to turn it off
. If the switch is in the On position, anyone can see when you're active on Instagram. Toggling off this switch disables your activity status and makes it look as if you're offline, even when you're not.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- Turning off your activity status doesn't disable read receipts. This means that even though you now appear offline, people you've chatted with via direct messages can still see when you've seen their messages or are actively typing a response.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using a Computer

1
Click your profile photo at the top-right corner of Instagram.com. If you're using Instagram on a computer, it's easy to disable your activity status to appear offline.
2
Click Settings. You'll see this on the menu. This expands the Edit Profile window, as well as other settings you can manage.
3
Click the Privacy and security tab. You'll see this in the left panel.
4
Remove the checkmark from "Activity Status." As long as the checkbox is blank, nobody will know when you're actively using Instagram, nor will they know when you were last active.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- Even though you now appear offline, any friends you're chatting with in your direct messages can still see when you're actively typing a response. They'll also be able to tell when you've seen their message.