You’re deep in the Reels-scrolling zone when a friend suddenly bombards you with not-so-funny memes. The constant notifications are already frustrating, but things take a turn for the worse when they realize you’re online and still not replying. Get ready for dramatic, emotional interrogations! Before that happens, take a moment to hide active status on Instagram—so nothing disrupts your scrolling time.
Many social media platforms, including WhatsApp and Instagram, display when users are active. While this feature can spark spontaneous catch-ups, it also raises privacy concerns for many.
Fortunately, where there’s a privacy issue, there’s often a solution. In this case, Instagram allows you to turn off Instagram last seen, ensuring your online presence remains private.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to hide active status on Instagram in 2025, ensuring your last seen and online presence remain private. We’ll also explore Instagram privacy settings and answer common questions to help you fully control your activity visibility.
How to Hide Active Status on Instagram (Step-by-Step)
Instagram’s Active Now feature shows a green dot next to your profile when you’re online and indicates your last seen time. Here’s how you can turn it off:
On Mobile (iPhone & Android)
- Open Instagram and log into your account.
- Tap on your Profile Picture in the bottom right.
- Tap the Menu (☰) icon in the top right.
- Select Settings and Privacy.
- Scroll down to Messages and Story Replies.
- Tap Show Activity Status.
- Toggle off Show Activity Status and Show When You’re Active Together.
Once disabled, you will no longer appear as “Active Now” to others, nor will they see your last active time.
On Desktop (Instagram Web)
- Visit Instagram.com and log in.
- Click on your Profile Picture in the top right.
- Select Settings from the dropdown menu.
- Click Privacy and Security.
- Find Activity Status and uncheck Show Activity Status.
This method allows you to control your activity visibility seamlessly across different devices.
Additional Ways to Appear Offline on Instagram
If you want to maintain privacy while using Instagram, consider these additional strategies:
1. Mute Conversations
- Open the chat with a person you want to mute.
- Tap their name at the top.
- Select Mute Messages and Mute Call Notifications.
This ensures you don’t get interrupted by messages without needing to block or restrict someone.
2. Turn Off Read Receipts (Indirect Method)
While Instagram doesn’t have a direct setting to turn off read receipts, you can:
- Read messages in Airplane Mode, then close the app before disabling Airplane Mode.
- Use Restrict Mode to prevent them from seeing when you’ve read their messages.
3. Restrict or Block Users
If you need stronger privacy settings:
- Go to the person’s profile.
- Tap the three dots (⋮) menu.
- Select Restrict or Block to limit interaction and visibility.
Restricting someone prevents them from seeing when you’re active or if you’ve read their messages, making it a useful alternative to blocking.
4. Turn Off Instagram Notifications
Another effective way to stay off the radar is to disable notifications for:
- Direct messages
- Live videos
- Comments and likes
- Story replies
You can manage these by going to Settings > Notifications and selecting the alerts you wish to disable.
What Happens After You Turn Off Your Activity Status
Disabling your activity status on Instagram doesn’t stop you from browsing your feed or scrolling through Reels—it simply hides your online presence. Your followers and chat contacts won’t know when you’re active, and if you disable the “In Chat” status, they won’t even see when you’re typing.
However, this works both ways. Once you turn off your activity status, you’ll also lose access to others’ activity indicators. You won’t see who’s online, their green status dot, or the “Active now” label in your DMs. The only thing you’ll still be able to view in your messages is the last exchange you had with someone—and if you sent the last message, you’ll still see when they last read it.
How to Check if Someone is Active on Instagram
Instagram’s activity status feature is only visible between users who follow each other. If you’re curious to see whether a friend is online, here’s where to look:
- Profile Photos: At the top of your direct messages (DMs) page, you’ll see the profile pictures of your followers. If a green dot appears in the lower right-hand corner of their profile image, it means they’re currently active.
- Chat List: As you scroll through your recent conversations, a green dot next to a person’s profile photo, accompanied by the words “Active now,” confirms they’re online. If they aren’t, Instagram may still indicate when they last checked your messages, such as “Seen Xh ago.”
- Chat Window: When messaging someone, you’ll notice an “Active now” status at the top of the chat if they’re online. If they’re currently in the conversation with you, this changes to “You’re both in the chat.”
This feature makes it easy to tell when someone is available to chat, but if privacy is a concern, Instagram provides options to disable activity status.
Why Hide Your Active Status on Instagram?
Disabling your active status can provide several benefits, including:
- Enhanced Privacy – Prevents others from knowing when you’re online.
- Reduced Pressure to Respond – Browse without feeling obligated to reply instantly.
- Avoiding Unwanted Attention – Keep your Instagram activity discreet.
- Better Focus – Minimize distractions by controlling interactions.
- More Control Over Your Social Presence – Decide when and how you want to engage.
- Increased Productivity – Less distraction from constant notifications and messages.
In today’s world of constant digital communication, taking control of your online visibility can contribute to better mental well-being and a healthier social media experience.
How to Keep Your Instagram Activity Completely Private
For an even more private Instagram experience, consider the following:
- Switch to a Private Account – This ensures that only approved followers can see your content and interact with you.
- Review Your Followers – Remove people you no longer want following you.
- Customize Who Sees Your Stories – Use Instagram’s Close Friends feature to share selectively.
- Regularly Update Your Privacy Settings – Stay informed about new privacy options.
By combining these strategies with turning off your activity status, you can maximize your privacy and control over your Instagram experience.
Final Thoughts
Turning off your Instagram active status is a simple way to take control of your privacy. Whether you want to hide last seen on Instagram, disable activity status on Instagram, or just enjoy a distraction-free browsing experience, these settings will help you maintain your online presence discreetly.
If you’re looking to grow your account, check out buy Instagram followers, Instagram views, and buy Instagram likes to boost engagement and visibility.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Can People Still See My Last Seen on Instagram If I Turn Off Active Status?
No, when you disable your activity status, others won’t see your last seen or online status. However, you also won’t be able to see theirs.
2. Will My Followers Know If I Turn Off My Activity Status?
No, Instagram does not notify your followers when you disable your active status.
3. Does Turning Off Active Status Also Hide Typing Indicators?
No, your typing status in Instagram DMs is still visible unless you use Restrict Mode.
4. Can I Hide My Activity Status from Specific People?
No, Instagram does not allow selective hiding of active status. It’s either on for everyone or off for everyone.
5. How Often Should I Check My Privacy Settings?
It’s good practice to review your privacy settings every few months to stay up to date with Instagram’s latest updates.
6. Does Disabling Active Status Affect Story and Post Engagement?
No, turning off your active status does not impact how your content is seen or engaged with by others.
7. Can I Still Receive Messages If I Turn Off My Active Status?
Yes, you can still receive and reply to messages. The only difference is that others won’t see when you’re online or when you last used Instagram.
