Instagram’s Active Status is a feature that shows when you’re actively using the app. While it can be useful to see if your friends are online, many users find it creates pressure to respond to direct messages (DMs) immediately. Fortunately, Instagram, owned by Meta, lets you completely disable this feature, allowing you to browse without anyone knowing your online status.
If your goal is to reduce your Instagram screen time, disabling your Active Status can help. You can read messages at your leisure without feeling obligated to reply instantly because a friend sees you online. The best part? Turning it off on one device applies the setting across all your logged-in Instagram accounts.
Why You Should Consider Turning Off Your Instagram Active Status
Just like with other messaging apps that display your “online” status, Instagram’s Active Status (the little green dot) can make you feel compelled to reply to DMs right away. Since this feature is enabled by default, you’ll need to navigate to Instagram’s in-app settings to manually switch it off.
Once your Active Status is disabled, your friends will no longer see when you’re online or when you were last active on Instagram. This means you can respond to messages on your own schedule and enjoy browsing the app privately. However, remember that by disabling your own status, you also lose the ability to see when other users are active.
How to Disable Active Status on Instagram for Android Devices
Here’s how to turn off your Active Status on Instagram, whether you’re using the standard app or Instagram Lite on an Android phone:
- Launch the Instagram or Instagram Lite application.
- Go to your profile page.
- Tap the three-line menu icon located in the top-right corner.
- From the Settings and Activity menu, scroll down and choose Messages and story replies.
- Find Show Activity Status and toggle the switch to the off position.
How to Turn Off Active Status on Instagram for iPhone and iPad
For iPhone and iPad users, disabling your Instagram Active Status is straightforward:
- Open the Instagram app on your Apple device.
- Navigate to your profile and tap the three-line menu.
- Under the Settings and Activity section, select Messages and story replies.
- Choose Show Activity Status and then tap the toggle to turn off the Active Status for your account.
How to Turn Off Active Status on Instagram for Web Browsers
You can also turn off your Instagram Active Status when accessing the service via a web browser, whether you’re on a desktop or mobile device:
- Go to instagram.com in your web browser and log in to your account.
- Click or tap on More (represented by the three-line menu icon) in the navigation bar.
- Proceed to Settings > Messages and story replies > Show Activity Status.
- Click or tap the toggle to switch off your Active Status.
Once your Active Status is successfully turned off, the familiar green dot indicating your online presence will vanish. Your friends will no longer be able to see when you’re active or when you last used Instagram. A key detail to remember: while your activity remains private, you will also not be able to see the Active Status of your friends as long as this setting is disabled on your account.