Instagram’s Activity Status feature shows when users are online or last active. Some people prefer to keep their online presence private. You can easily turn off your active status on Instagram through the app’s settings.
Hiding your active status prevents others from seeing when you’re online or last used the app. This applies to both direct messages and the main feed. Keep in mind that turning off your active status also means you won’t be able to see others’ activity status.
The process to hide your active status is simple and can be done on mobile devices or desktop. It takes just a few taps or clicks to adjust this privacy setting and control who sees your Instagram activity.
How To Hide Your Active Status on Instagram
It’s easy to hide your active status on Instagram! Here’s how:
On the Instagram App (iOS and Android):
- Open the Instagram app and go to your Profile by tapping the profile icon in the bottom right corner.
- Tap the three lines (hamburger menu) in the top right corner of your profile page.
- Tap on Settings and Privacy.
- Under “How others can interact with you,” tap Messages and story replies.
- Tap Show activity status.
- Toggle off the “Show Activity Status” setting.
On the Instagram Website:
- Go to Instagram.com on your mobile or desktop browser.
- Go to your Profile.
- Click on the Settings icon (gear icon).
- Select Privacy and Security.
- Under the “Activity Status” section, uncheck the box next to “Show Activity Status”.
Important Notes:
- Two-way street: When you hide your activity status, you also won’t be able to see the activity status of other accounts.
- Not account-specific: You can’t hide your active status from only certain people. It’s either on for everyone or off for everyone.
Key Takeaways
- Instagram’s Activity Status can be turned off in the app settings
- Hiding active status prevents others from seeing when you’re online
- Turning off active status is possible on both mobile and desktop versions
Understanding Instagram’s Activity Status
Instagram’s Activity Status feature allows users to see when their connections are online or were last active. This feature impacts user privacy and interaction on the platform.
What Is Activity Status?
Activity Status on Instagram shows when a user is currently active or was last active on the app. It appears as a green dot next to a user’s profile picture in various places within the app. This indicator helps users know if their friends are available for real-time chats.
The feature also displays timestamps like “Active now” or “Active 2h ago” in the Direct Messages section. These indicators give users an idea of when they might expect a response from their contacts.
Instagram uses different signals to determine a user’s active status. These may include:
- Opening the app
- Scrolling through the feed
- Sending messages
- Liking or commenting on posts
Privacy and Activity Status Implications
The Activity Status feature raises privacy concerns for some users. It can reveal when a person is using the app, potentially exposing their online habits. This information might be sensitive for users who prefer to keep their app usage private.
Users can turn off their Active Status to maintain privacy. However, doing so also prevents them from seeing others’ active statuses. This trade-off ensures fairness in privacy settings across the platform.
It’s important to note that Activity Status is only visible to:
- People you follow
- Those you’ve messaged in Direct
This limitation helps maintain a balance between connectivity and privacy on Instagram.
How to Hide Your Active Status on Instagram
Instagram allows users to conceal their active status. This feature prevents others from seeing when you’re online or last active. Here’s how to manage this privacy setting across different platforms.
Using the Instagram App on iPhone and Android
To hide your active status on the Instagram mobile app:
- Open the Instagram app
- Tap your profile icon in the bottom right
- Tap the three-line menu in the top right
- Select “Settings and privacy”
- Tap “Messages and story replies”
- Toggle off “Show activity status“
This process works for both iPhone and Android devices. When you turn off this setting, you won’t be able to see others’ activity status either.
Through the Instagram Website
Desktop users can also adjust their activity status:
- Go to instagram.com and log in
- Click your profile picture in the top right
- Select “Settings”
- Click “Privacy and security”
- Find “Show Activity Status”
- Uncheck the box next to it
Turning off active status on the website follows a similar principle to the mobile app. It’s a quick way to enhance privacy for those who primarily use Instagram on computers.
Additional Privacy Considerations
Beyond hiding active status, users can take other steps to protect their privacy:
- Restrict accounts: This limits what restricted users can see without blocking them
- Use Close Friends: Share stories with a select group only
- Turn off read receipts: Prevents others from seeing when you’ve read their messages
Remember, Instagram’s privacy settings can change. It’s wise to review these options periodically to maintain desired privacy levels.
