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How to Turn Off Active Status on Instagram in 5 Taps

To turn off your active status, go to Messages and story replies in your settings, tap Show Activity Status and switch it off. People will stop seeing the green dot and the time you were last active.

Quick answer

Profile → ☰ → Messages and story replies → Show Activity Status → switch off Show Activity Status

The catch: while yours is off, you can't see when anyone else is active either. You can switch it back on any time.

How to Turn Off Active Status on Instagram (iPhone and Android)

Instagram calls it Activity Status, so this is also how to turn off activity status on Instagram. The purple circle shows what to tap. Checked November 2026 against Instagram's Help Center.

  1. Step 1: Open the Instagram app. Tap your profile picture in the bottom-right corner.

  2. Step 2: Tap the three lines (☰) in the top-right corner.

  3. Step 3: Scroll down. Under How others can interact with you, tap Messages and story replies.

  4. Step 4: Tap Show Activity Status.

  5. Step 5: Tap the switch next to Show Activity Status so it turns off (gray).

    If you also see Show when you're active together, it switches off along with it.

How to Turn Off Online Status on Instagram on a Computer

Go to instagram.com and log in. Click More in the bottom-left corner, then Settings. Under How others can interact with you, click Messages and story replies, then Show Activity Status, and click the switch to turn it off.

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What Changes When Your Active Status Is Off

  • People you follow and anyone you message stop seeing your green dot and when you were last active.
  • You stop seeing their active status too. It works both ways.
  • It doesn't hide Seen in chats. That's a separate switch, below.
  • It doesn't make you invisible. Your likes, comments and story views still show your name.

How to Hide Active Status on Instagram From One Person

Activity Status is all or nothing. To hide it from one person only, restrict them. Instagram says people you restrict can't see when you're online or if you've read their messages.

  1. Step 1: Go to their profile. Tap the three dots in the top-right corner.

  2. Step 2: Tap Restrict.

That's how to hide active status on Instagram from one person while everyone else still sees it. Their messages move to your message requests, and their new comments on your posts only show to them unless you approve them.

Turn Off Read Receipts Too

Turning off your active status doesn't hide when you've read a message. To stop people from seeing Seen, do steps 1 to 3 above, then:

  1. Step 4: Tap Show read receipts.

  2. Step 5: Tap the switch next to Read receipts so it turns off.

    Only want it off in one chat? Open the chat, tap their name at the top, tap Privacy and safety, then turn off Read receipts.

Instagram's read receipts help page has the same steps.

Is Instagram Active Status Accurate?

Mostly, but not to the minute. A green dot next to someone in your messages means they're on Instagram now, or were a moment ago. A time under their name shows when they last used the app. Keep in mind:

  • It can lag. Someone can still look active for a few minutes after they close the app.
  • Active doesn't mean they're reading your chat. They could be watching Reels.
  • No status doesn't mean they're offline. They may have turned theirs off, or yours is off.
  • You only see it for people who follow you or chat with you.

Frequently asked questions

How to turn off active status on Instagram on iPhone?

Tap your profile picture, then the three lines (☰). Under How others can interact with you, tap Messages and story replies, then Show Activity Status, and tap the switch so it turns off.

How to turn off activity status on Instagram on Android?

The steps are the same as on iPhone: profile picture, the three lines (☰), Messages and story replies, Show Activity Status, then switch it off.

Can people see I'm online if my active status is off?

No. They won't see the green dot or when you were last active. They can still see your likes, comments and story views, and Seen in chats unless you also turn off read receipts.

How to turn off active status on Instagram for one person?

Restrict them. Go to their profile, tap the three dots in the top-right corner and tap Restrict. Instagram says people you restrict can't see when you're online or if you've read their messages.

Is Instagram active status accurate?

It's close, but not to the minute. A green dot means they're on Instagram now or were a moment ago, and a time shows when they last used the app. It can lag a little, and it doesn't mean they're reading your chat.

How to turn off online status on Instagram on a computer?

On instagram.com, click More in the bottom-left corner, then Settings. Under How others can interact with you, click Messages and story replies, then Show Activity Status, and click the switch to turn it off.

Why can't I see when my friends are active on Instagram?

Your own Activity Status may be off, which hides everyone else's from you, or theirs is off. You also only see it for people who follow you or chat with you.

What does the green dot mean on Instagram?

Next to someone's picture in your messages, it means they're active on Instagram right now. A green ring around a story is different: it means they shared it with their Close Friends list, and you're on it.

Wrapping Up 👋

That's how to turn off active status on Instagram: Messages and story replies, then Show Activity Status, then switch it off. Want more privacy? Here's how to hide your followers, and the Instagram unfollowers checker shows who doesn't follow you back without you opening a single profile.

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