Instagram shows your active status to followers and people you message, indicating when you’re online or when you were last active. However, if you value privacy or simply don’t want people to know when you’re active on the app, you can turn off this feature. Disabling your activity status also hides when others are online, as it’s a mutual setting. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to turn off your activity status on both the mobile app and web version.
What is Active Status?
When active status is enabled, a green dot appears next to your profile picture in direct messages, showing that you’re online. It also displays information such as “Active now” or “Active X minutes ago” under your name in chats.
Disabling active status helps keep your Instagram usage more private, and you won’t be able to see the activity status of others either.
Step-by-Step Guide for Turning Off Active Status on the Instagram Mobile App:
If you’re using Instagram on your phone, here’s how to turn off your active status:
1. Open the Instagram App:
- Launch the Instagram app on your mobile device (iOS or Android).
- Log in if you haven’t already.
2. Go to Your Profile:
- Tap on your profile icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen to open your profile page.
3. Access Settings:
- In the top-right corner, you will see three horizontal lines (also known as the hamburger menu). Tap on it.
- From the menu that appears, tap on Settings and Privacy.
4. Navigate to Activity Status:
- Scroll down to the “How others can interact with you” section.
- Look for the “Messages and story replies” option and tap on it.
5. Turn Off Active Status:
- Under Show Activity Status, toggle the switch off (turn it gray) to stop sharing your active status.
- Once turned off, no one will be able to see when you’re active or were last active on Instagram.
Step-by-Step Guide for Turning Off Active Status on Instagram Web:
If you prefer using Instagram on a desktop or laptop through a web browser, follow these steps:
1. Open Instagram on Your Web Browser:
- Go to Instagram.com on your desktop browser.
- Log into your account using your credentials.
2. Go to Settings:
- Click on your profile icon in the top-right corner of the screen, which opens a drop-down menu.
- Select Settings from the drop-down options.
3. Access Privacy Settings:
- On the left sidebar of the Settings menu, click on Privacy and Security.
- Scroll down to the Activity Status section.
4. Turn Off Active Status:
- You will see a checkbox next to “Show Activity Status”. Uncheck this box to disable your active status.
- This will stop Instagram from showing your online status to other users, and in turn, you won’t be able to see others’ statuses either.
What Happens When You Turn Off Active Status?
- You Won’t Appear Active: Other Instagram users won’t see the green dot next to your profile or know when you were last active.
- No Last Active Time: The “Last Active” information (e.g., “Active now” or “Active X minutes ago”) won’t appear for others in your direct messages.
- You Can’t See Others’ Activity: When your active status is turned off, you also lose the ability to see the activity status of your friends and followers.
Reasons to Turn Off Active Status:
- Privacy: If you prefer a more private experience on Instagram, disabling the active status is a good step. It stops people from knowing when you’re online or recently active.
- Limiting Interactions: Turning off active status can help limit the pressure to respond to messages right away. This is especially helpful if you want to use Instagram without feeling the need to immediately engage with followers or friends.
- Productivity: If you use Instagram while working or studying, turning off the active status can help minimize distractions and keep people from seeing that you’re online during times you want to focus.
Can You Still See Messages and Notifications?
Yes, even if you turn off your active status, you will continue to receive notifications for new messages, likes, comments, and other activities. The only difference is that others won’t be able to see when you were last active.
Conclusion:
Turning off your active status on Instagram is a quick and easy way to maintain more privacy and control over your social media usage. Whether you’re using the mobile app or Instagram’s web version, the steps are straightforward, allowing you to turn off this feature at any time. Keep in mind that this also hides others’ active statuses from you, so the change goes both ways.
