One switch controls it: go to Settings and activity, then Messages and story replies, then Show activity status, and turn it off. The green dot and the “Active now” or “Active 5m ago” label then stop showing for your account.
It works both ways. While your status is off, you can’t see when other people are active either.
Turn off active status on iPhone or Android
- Go to your profile and tap the menu (three lines, top right).
- Tap Settings and activity.
- Scroll to Messages and story replies.
- Tap Show activity status and switch it off.
If the same screen also shows Show when you’re active together, turn that off as well. It lets people see when you’re both in the same chat.
On a computer
- On instagram.com, click More at the bottom left, then Settings.
- Open Messages and story replies.
- Switch off Show activity status.
Instagram moves its settings from time to time, so the names may differ slightly in your version. If you can’t find the option, search for “activity status” in the settings search bar.
Who can see your activity status
When the setting is on, accounts you follow and anyone you’ve messaged can see when you were last active (Instagram Help). They see it in two places:
- A green dot on your profile picture in their inbox, which means you’re active right now.
- “Active now” or “Active 20m ago” under your name at the top of the chat.
Since December 2023 your Instagram activity status is no longer shown on Facebook, because Instagram and Messenger chats were separated.
Hide your status from one person only
The activity status switch is all or nothing. To hide it from a single account, restrict that account: open their profile, tap the three dots and choose Restrict. Restricted accounts can’t see when you’re online or whether you’ve read their messages (Instagram Help).
Blocking also hides your status, along with your profile. A blocked account may see you as “Instagram User”; our guide on what “Instagram User” means explains why.
Read receipts are a separate setting
Turning off activity status doesn’t hide the “Seen” under your messages. Read receipts have their own switch, for all chats or for one chat at a time, which Instagram added in January 2024. If you want to read a message without replying yet, you can also mark it as unread.
Threads has its own setting
If you use Threads, its online status is controlled separately in the Threads app under Settings, Privacy, Online status.
FAQ
If I turn off active status, can I still see when others are online?
No. You only see other people’s status while yours is on.
Can people still message me when my activity status is off?
Yes. It only hides when you’re online. Messages, calls and story replies work as before.
Why can’t I see when someone was last active?
Your own status may be off, they may have turned theirs off, you may not follow each other or have chatted, or they may have restricted or blocked you.
Does the green dot mean they are in my chat?
No. It means the account is active on Instagram right now, not that they have your chat open.