Alex Ruben
How To Deactivate Your Active Status on Instagram Effortlessly
Dealing with that constant “online now” indicator on Instagram can get a bit annoying—especially if you’re trying to sneak some quiet time or just don’t want everyone knowing when you’re scrolling. Disabling your active status isn’t super intuitive, and, honestly, the options seem buried in menus. But once you get the hang of it, it’s pretty straightforward. This guide walks through how to turn off that little green dot on both Android and iOS, so you can step back from the digital spotlight without deleting your account or anything extreme.
How to Turn Off Your Active Status on Instagram
Access the Instagram App & Your Profile
First up, open the Instagram app. Make sure you’re logged in—you don’t want to jump into settings only to realize you’re not even signed in. Head to your profile by tapping the icon at the bottom right (that little profile picture). If the app’s being stubborn or slow to load, sometimes just closing and reopening it helps, or ensuring your app’s updated to the latest version, because of course, Instagram has to make this harder than necessary.
Reach the Settings Menu
Tap on the three horizontal lines (hamburger icon) in the top right corner. A menu will slide out—scroll to the bottom and select Settings. It’s usually the last option, so don’t panic if it takes a second to find. In some cases, if your app is glitchy, signing out then back in can help, or reinstalling might fix weird menu issues.
Navigate to Privacy Controls
Within Settings, tap on Privacy. It’s where Instagram keeps most of the user controls, including who sees what and when you appear active. On some setups, this section is a bit buried, so be prepared to scroll down a little.
Disable Your Active Status
Scroll until you find Activity Status. Tap on that. You’ll see a toggle switch—if it’s green or show as ‘on,’ tap it to switch it off. Why it’s a toggle instead of a checkbox? No idea—Instagram loves making things confusing. When you turn it off, it’s supposed to hide your online status from everyone, but note that you also won’t see others’ activity. It’s kind of a trade-off, but if you’re serious about privacy, that’s what you get.
Double-Check & Confirm
After toggling off, go back to the Activity Status screen to confirm the switch is off. Sometimes, this setting doesn’t save automatically, or it’s cached for a bit—so give it a few seconds or restart the app. On one setup, I noticed the switch didn’t stick the first time, but after closing and reopening the app, it finally stayed off. Welcome to Instagram’s weird world.
Extra Tips & Common Pitfalls
- Turning off your active status means you won’t see when friends are online either, which some find unfortunate.
- Ensure your app is updated—older versions sometimes ignore new privacy features, or just glitch out.
- If things aren’t working, try clearing cache (Android: Settings > Apps > Instagram > Storage > Clear Cache) or reinstalling the app. Also, check your internet connection; sometimes, it’s a simple sync issue.
Wrap-up
Disabling activity status on Instagram isn’t complicated once you find the menu. It’s a bit hidden, and the toggle is sneaky, but with a bit of poking around, it’s doable. It won’t stop all tracking—Instagram still knows when you’re active via other signals—but it keeps your online status from being so blatantly obvious. Just be aware that this setting applies across the entire app, not just DMs or your profile.
Summary
- Open Instagram app and go to your profile
- Tap the hamburger menu at top right, select Settings
- Choose Privacy, then Activity Status
- Switch off the toggle to hide your active status
- Double-check the toggle is off, restart app if needed