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

Co-authored by Nicole Levine, MFA Reviewed by Candace Gasper

Last Updated: August 4, 2024 Fact Checked

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.^{[1]
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Research source} 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.

Tips to Appear Offline on Instagram

Tap the profile icon or your profile photo.
Tap the three-line menu in the top-right corner.
Tap the “Settings” button on the menu.
Tap the “Privacy” button near the top of the menu.
Tap “Activity Status” at the bottom of the “Interactions” section.
Tap the “Show Activity Status” button to switch it off.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using the Mobile App

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You'll see either a small version of your profile photo or an outline of a person at the bottom-right corner of Instagram.
It's the three horizontal lines at the top-right corner.^{[2]
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This is the gear icon on the menu.^{[3]
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This option has a lock icon and is near the top of the menu.
It's near the bottom of the "Interactions" section.
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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.^{[4]
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- 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.^{[5]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using a Computer

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If you're using Instagram on a computer, it's easy to disable your activity status to appear offline.
You'll see this on the menu. This expands the Edit Profile window, as well as other settings you can manage.^{[6]
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You'll see this in the left panel.
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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.^{[7]
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- 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.^{[8]
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Tips

It's not possible to disable read receipts for Instagram direct messages.

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Turning off your activity status is an account-wide change—if you turn it off on your phone or tablet, it'll stay turned off when you sign in on another phone, tablet, or computer.

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