Instagram has evolved far beyond a photo-sharing app it’s now a fully immersive social platform used for messaging, content creation, shopping, and networking. Among its many features is something called Activity Status, which allows others to see when you were last active or currently online. While this can be helpful for staying connected, not everyone wants to broadcast their online presence.
If you’re looking for a more private experience, it’s easy to turn off Instagram activity status. This guide will show you how to do it step by step, and explain what changes when you disable this feature.
What Is Instagram Activity Status?
The activity status is a feature that shows when you were last active or whether you’re currently online on Instagram. When it’s enabled, your friends, followers you message, and anyone you’ve had a conversation with can see when you were last using the app like “Active 5m ago” or “Active now.”
This feature appears in two primary places:
In your Direct Messages (DMs), where your contacts can see your online status.
In your inbox list, where you can also see the status of others.
While this feature can be convenient for keeping conversations timely, many users find it invasive. That’s where learning how to hide activity status on Instagram becomes useful.
Why Turn Off Your Instagram Activity Status?
There are several reasons why someone might want to turn off this feature:
Privacy: You might simply not want others to know when you’re online.
Avoiding Pressure: Disabling the status can reduce the pressure to respond immediately.
Digital Boundaries: It’s a simple way to regain control over your time and presence on the app.
Focus: Less social accountability can mean fewer distractions and more productivity.
Turning off your activity status helps you manage your presence without disconnecting entirely from the app or your contacts.
How to Turn Off Instagram Activity Status (Step-by-Step)
Follow these easy steps to disable your activity status on Instagram:
1. Open the Instagram App
Launch the Instagram app on your smartphone and log in if necessary.
2. Go to Your Profile
Tap your profile icon at the bottom-right corner of the screen.
3. Access the Menu
Tap the three horizontal lines (hamburger icon) in the top-right corner.
4. Tap “Settings and Privacy”
This will take you to the main settings hub for your Instagram account.
5. Navigate to “Messages and Story Replies”
Scroll down and tap Messages and story replies under the How others can interact with you section.
6. Tap “Show Activity Status”
Here, you’ll see a toggle for showing your activity.
7. Turn Off the Toggle
Switch off the “Show Activity Status” option. Once disabled, your contacts will no longer see when you’re online or last active.
And that’s it you’ve now successfully learned how to turn off Instagram activity status.
What Happens When You Disable Activity Status?
It’s important to note that once you disable your Instagram last active status, you won’t be able to see the activity status of others either. This mutual trade-off ensures fairness but may limit how quickly you respond to time-sensitive DMs.
Also, keep in mind:
Disabling this setting won’t hide your likes, comments, or story views.
People can still see when you’ve read their messages, unless they disable read receipts (which is a different feature).
Extra Privacy Tips for Instagram Users
If you’re taking steps to protect your privacy, there are a few other settings worth exploring:
1. Restrict or Block Accounts
You can restrict accounts to prevent unwanted interactions without fully blocking them. This limits their ability to see your activity and posts.
2. Hide Your Stories
Control who sees your stories by using the “Hide Story From” feature under Story settings.
3. Use Close Friends
Share stories with a select group of people by using the Close Friends list, giving you tighter control over what you share and with whom.
4. Turn Off Read Receipts (for select users)
Though Instagram doesn’t have a universal setting to turn off read receipts, you can read messages through notifications or airplane mode to avoid sending a “Seen” confirmation.
Conclusion
Taking control of your digital presence is more important than ever. Whether you’re avoiding constant DMs, taking a break from social interactions, or just prefer a little more privacy, learning how to turn off Instagram activity status is a quick and effective step.
I’m Maxwell Warner, a content writer from Austria with 3+ years of experience. With a Media & Communication degree from the University of Vienna, I craft engaging content across tech, lifestyle, travel, and business.
