I. Introduction
Instagram’s Active Status feature shows when users are online or last active in direct messages (DMs).
While this is useful for staying connected, some users prefer more privacy and may want to turn it off.
In this guide, we’ll show you step-by-step methods to disable Active Status on Instagram mobile and desktop.
II. How to Turn Off Active Status on Instagram (Mobile App – iPhone & Android)
By default, Instagram shows your online status to people you’ve chatted with. To turn it off:
✅ Steps to Disable Active Status on Instagram Mobile:
- Open Instagram and tap your Profile icon at the bottom right.
- Tap the Menu (☰) in the top-right corner.
- Select Settings & Privacy.
- Scroll to Messages and Story Replies > Activity Status.
- Toggle off “Show Activity Status”.
🚀 What Happens When You Turn It Off?
- Others can’t see when you were last active or if you’re online.
- You won’t see others’ Active Status either.
✅ Best for: Users who want to use Instagram without being seen as online.
III. How to Turn Off Active Status on Instagram (Desktop – Web Version)
If you use Instagram on a computer, you can turn off Active Status via the web version.
✅ Steps to Disable Active Status on Instagram Web:
- Open Instagram.com in a browser and log in.
- Click your Profile Picture in the top-right corner.
- Select Settings from the dropdown menu.
- Click Messages & Story Replies.
- Toggle off “Show Activity Status”.
🚀 Why It Works:
- This setting syncs across devices, meaning it applies to both mobile and web.
✅ Best for: Users who use Instagram on desktop frequently.
IV. Can You Turn Off Active Status for Specific People?
Currently, Instagram does not allow hiding Active Status from specific users only.
However, you can restrict a user to prevent them from seeing your activity.
✅ How to Restrict Someone on Instagram:
- Open the person’s profile.
- Tap the three dots (⋮) in the top-right corner.
- Select Restrict.
🚀 What Happens When You Restrict Someone?
- They won’t see your Active Status.
- Their messages go to Message Requests, and you won’t get notifications.
- They won’t know they’ve been restricted.
✅ Best for: Avoiding unwanted messages without blocking someone.
V. Conclusion
Turning off Active Status gives you more control over your privacy on Instagram.
✅ You can disable it via:
- Settings & Privacy > Activity Status (on mobile).
- Instagram Web > Settings > Messages & Story Replies (on desktop).
✅ Bonus Tip: If you want to hide from certain people only, use the Restrict feature instead.
📌 Once you turn off Active Status, you also won’t be able to see when others are online! 🚀
