How to Turn off Active Status on Instagram

If you use Instagram, you might have noticed a small green dot or a timestamp next to some of your friends' profile pictures in the direct message list. This indicates their activity status, which shows when they were last active or currently active on Instagram. But what does this feature mean for your privacy, and how can you control it?

What Is Instagram Activity Status?

The activity status on Instagram is a feature that lets other users you follow and anyone you message see when you were last active or currently active on Instagram. For example, if you are using the app right now, your activity status will show as “Active now”. If you were using the app an hour ago, your activity status will show as “Active 1h ago”. If you have not used the app for more than 8 hours but less than 24 hours, your activity status will show as “Active today”. If you have not used the app for more than 24 hours, your activity status will not show at all.

The activity status on Instagram is only visible to people who follow you or have direct conversations with you. It is not visible to anyone else, such as your followers who do not follow you back or people who visit your profile. You can also choose to share if you are currently active in a chat with someone by enabling the “Show when you're active together” option in your settings.

Why Would You Want to Turn Off Your Activity Status on Instagram?

There are several reasons why you might want to turn off your activity status on Instagram. Some of them are:

• You value your privacy and do not want others to know when you are online or offline.
• You do not want to feel pressured to reply to messages or interact with others based on your activity status.
• You want to avoid unwanted attention or harassment from people who might stalk your online activity.
• You want to have more control over who can see your online presence and when.

How to Turn Off Active Status on Instagram Web (PC)

If you use Instagram in your web browser or via the official Windows app, follow these steps to turn Activity Status on (or off).

1. Click your Instagram profile picture
    
   
   
2. Click the wheel button to open Instagram settings
    
   
   
3. Select “Privacy and security”
    
   
   
4. Uncheck “Show Activity Status”
    
   
   

How to Turn Off Active Status on Instagram Mobile (App)

If you use the Instagram app on your mobile device, follow these steps to turn Activity Status on (or off).

1. Tap your Instagram profile picture
    
   
   
2. Tap the menu button on the top right
    
   
   
3. Select “Settings”
    
   
   
4. Tap on “Privacy”
    
   
   
5. Select “Activity Status”
    
   
   
6. Tap the switch for “Show Activity Status” to turn active status on (or off)