How to Appear Offline on Instagram

Instagram, like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, has a feature that lets others know when you’re online and when you were last active. It’s a feature called Activity Status, which is enabled by default and can be seen by anyone you follow or direct message.

While seeing when your friends are online is nice, it can feel a bit intrusive at times. Thankfully, Instagram allows you to disable this setting so you can appear offline whenever you please. In this article, we’ll show you how to disable Activity Status and appear offline on Instagram.

What is Activity Status on Instagram?

Activity Status is a feature in Instagram that lets others know when you’re online and when you were last online. Your status appears below your name in your direct messages, and as a green circle by your photo if you’re online.

If you’re actively using Instagram then your status will show “active now”. If you’re offline, it will instead show the amount of time you’ve been away from the app. Your status is only visible to people you follow and those you’ve direct messaged.

Activity Status is enabled by default, but can easily be turned off in Instagram’s settings.

How to Appear Offline in Instagram on Android / iOS

You can appear offline in the Instagram mobile app by disabling the Activity Status feature in your privacy settings. Here’s how to get there and turn it off:

1. Open the Instagram app and sign into your account.
2. Tap your Profile picture in the lower right hand corner.
   
3. Tap the Hamburger menu icon in the upper right corner and select Settings in the menu that appears.
   
4. In Settings, tap Privacy and then Activity Status near the bottom of the Interactions section.
   
5. Toggle Show Activity Status to off by tapping it.
   

With Activity Status disabled, you will appear offline to people you follow or direct message. You also won’t be able to see the activity status of others.

How to Appear Offline in Instagram on PC

You can appear offline on the Instagram website on your PC by disabling the Activity Status feature in privacy settings – here’s how:

1. Open instagram.com in your web browser and sign into your account.
2. Click your Profile picture in the upper right corner and select Settings.
   
3. On the Settings page, click Privacy and Security in the leftmost menu.
   
4. Now in the right panel, uncheck Show Activity Status to disable it.
   

Once you uncheck Activity Status, you will appear offline to people you follow or direct message. You also won’t be able to see the activity status of others.