How to Turn Off Active Status on Instagram on iPhone: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Michael Collins

Want to take a break from Instagram notifications or maintain some privacy? Turning off your active status on Instagram on your iPhone is a simple task that can be done in just a few taps. Let’s dive into how to get this done swiftly and easily.

Step by Step Tutorial to Turn Off Active Status on Instagram on iPhone

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, here’s what you’ll achieve by following these steps: you’re going to make it so that your friends can’t see when you’re online on Instagram. This means no more green dots next to your name or "Active now" status. Ready? Let’s go!

Step 1: Open Instagram and go to your profile

Tap on the Instagram app to open it. Once it’s open, head to your profile by tapping on the little person icon at the bottom right of your screen.

Your profile is where all your personal settings and options are housed. By going here, you’re taking the first step toward controlling who sees your active status.

Step 2: Tap the three horizontal lines and go to ‘Settings’

Once you’re on your profile, look at the top right corner of the screen. You should see three horizontal lines. Tap on those, and a menu will pop up. From that menu, select ‘Settings’.

This ‘Settings’ menu is like the control center for your Instagram account. You can change all kinds of preferences here, from your privacy settings to notifications.

Step 3: Scroll down to ‘Privacy’ and select it

In the ‘Settings’ menu, swipe up until you find the ‘Privacy’ option. Tap on it to open up a new set of privacy-related settings.

The ‘Privacy’ settings let you control who sees what on your profile. It’s where you can manage who can send you messages, who can see your stories, and, of course, whether or not people can see when you’re online.

Step 4: Tap on ‘Activity Status’

Under the ‘Privacy’ settings, you’ll find an option labeled ‘Activity Status’. Go ahead and give that a tap.

‘Activity Status’ is the specific setting that controls whether or not people can see when you’re active on Instagram. It’s a simple toggle that can give you a bit more privacy.

Step 5: Switch the toggle off for ‘Show Activity Status’

You’ll now see a toggle next to ‘Show Activity Status’. If it’s green, that means it’s on and people can see when you’re active. Tap on it to turn it off.

Once you turn this toggle off, you’ll be invisible in terms of your active status. That means no more green dot and no more "Active now" or "Active x minutes/hours ago" labels next to your name in your friends’ direct messages.

After you complete the action of turning off your active status, your friends and followers will no longer be able to see when you’re online or how long ago you were active. This gives you a sense of privacy and can be especially useful if you want to browse Instagram without any distractions or just need some time off from constant messaging.

Tips to Turn Off Active Status on Instagram on iPhone

  • Remember that once you turn off your activity status, you won’t be able to see others’ active status as well.
  • If you change your mind, you can always go back and turn the ‘Show Activity Status’ toggle back on.
  • Be aware that even if your active status is off, people can still see when you’ve read their messages.
  • Turning off your active status does not affect your online status on other linked apps like Facebook Messenger.
  • If you use multiple devices to access Instagram, you’ll need to turn off the active status on each device individually.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my active status is off?

If you’ve followed the steps correctly, once you switch off the ‘Show Activity Status’ toggle, it should no longer be green. This means your active status is off.

Can I still use Instagram normally with my active status off?

Absolutely! Turning off your active status doesn’t change anything about how you use Instagram. You can still post photos, stories, and send messages as per usual.

Will turning off active status affect my followers or who can see my profile?

No, turning off active status only affects whether people can see when you’re online. It doesn’t change your privacy settings or who can view your profile and posts.

If I have multiple Instagram accounts, do I need to turn off active status for each one?

Yes, the active status settings are specific to each account. So, if you have more than one account, you’ll need to turn off active status for each one individually.

Can I still see when others are active if I turn off my own active status?

No, once you turn off your own active status, you won’t be able to see when others are active either.

Summary

  1. Open Instagram and go to your profile.
  2. Tap the three horizontal lines and go to ‘Settings’.
  3. Scroll down to ‘Privacy’ and select it.
  4. Tap on ‘Activity Status’.
  5. Switch the toggle off for ‘Show Activity Status’.

Conclusion

Turning off your active status on Instagram on your iPhone is a breeze, and it’s a great way to maintain a bit of online privacy. Whether you’re sneaking a quick Insta-break at work or just not in the mood for social interaction, hiding your active status can give you the peace of mind you need. Just remember, the online world is always there when you’re ready to jump back in. And if you ever feel like flipping that switch back on, it’s just as easy to do so—giving you the flexibility to manage your online presence on your own terms. So, go ahead, take control of your Instagram experience, and enjoy your newfound privacy.