Ryan Mitchell 
To turn off your active status on Instagram, go to your profile, tap the menu (☰), open Settings and activity, tap Messages and story replies, then Show activity status, and switch it off. Once it is off, people you follow and people you message won’t see when you are online or when you were last active, but you won’t see their status either.
- Activity status shows a green dot and “Active now” or “Active 5m ago”.
- You can turn it off in the app or on the web.
- If you hide your status, you can’t see other people’s status.
- The setting syncs across devices logged in to the same account.
What does active status show on Instagram?
Activity status lets people see when you are online. According to the Instagram Help Center, when it is on, accounts you follow and anyone you message can see when you were last active on Instagram. It shows up as:
- a green dot next to your profile picture in chats
- “Active now” or “Active 10m ago” in direct messages
How to turn off active status on iPhone and Android
- Open Instagram and tap your profile picture at the bottom right.
- Tap the menu icon (☰) at the top right.
- Tap Settings and activity.
- Scroll to How others can interact with you and tap Messages and story replies.
- Tap Show activity status.
- Switch off Show activity status.
Instagram changes its menus from time to time. If you can’t find the option, use the search bar at the top of Settings and activity and type “activity status”.
How to turn off active status on the web
- Go to instagram.com and log in.
- Click More (☰) at the bottom left, then Settings.
- Find Messages and story replies or Show activity status.
- Turn the setting off.
What happens when you turn it off?
- Others won’t see the green dot or your “last active” time.
- You won’t see anyone else’s activity status either. Instagram makes this a two-way setting.
- People can still see that you viewed their story and, depending on their settings, when you’ve read their message.
Does it hide me when I’m typing or viewing stories?
No. Activity status only controls the online indicator. Story views, typing indicators and read receipts in DMs are separate features.
Turned it off but still showing as active?
- Make sure the setting is off in every account you use. Each account has its own setting.
- Close and reopen the app, or log out and back in.
- Update Instagram to the latest version.
- Give it a few minutes to sync.
More privacy how-tos
Frequently asked questions
Can someone see I’m online if my activity status is off?
Not through the green dot or “Active” label. But if you reply quickly or view their story, they may guess you’re online.
Can I hide my active status from one person only?
No. The setting applies to everyone. You can mute or restrict a specific account instead.
Does turning off active status affect Facebook Messenger?
Instagram and Facebook have separate settings, so check both if you use both.
Is there a way to see others’ status while hiding mine?
No. Instagram only shows you other people’s activity if yours is visible too.
