Ever opened Instagram or WhatsApp just to scroll peacefully, and suddenly felt the pressure to reply because that tiny green “online” dot gave you away?
Good newsies that you can stay online and still appear offline. Both Instagram and WhatsApp give you the option to hide your activity status, so you can browse in peace without anyone tracking when you’re active. Here’s how it works, in simple words. How to appear offline on Instagram/ How to turn off the online option Instagram now lets you turn off your Active Status, which means people won’t see the green dot next to your name in DMs. They also won’t know when you were last online. So yes, you can scroll reels, check stories, and reply when you want, not when others expect you to. What is Active Status? Active Status is the feature on Instagram that lets others know when you are using the app. When it is turned on, a small green dot appears next to your profile picture in Direct Messages, showing that you are currently online.
It can also display your “last seen” time, telling others when you were last active. This setting is mainly designed to make chatting easier, as friends can quickly see if you are available to respond.
However, it also means your activity is visible to people you follow or message. If you switch Active Status off, no one can see when you are online or when you last used the app. Why turn it off? Because sometimes you just want to: How to turn off active status on Instagram Follow these steps: Once you switch it off, no one can see when you’re online. And if you disable it on one device, it turns off everywhere, even on Instagram Lite. Also read: Samsung launches its flagship lineup, Galaxy S26 series, does its ‘Privacy Display’ justify ₹1.4 lakh price tag?
How to appear offline on WhatsApp WhatsApp also allows you to hide both your “Last Seen” and “Online” status. But here’s something important: if you hide your activity, you won’t be able to see other people’s activity either. It works both ways. Here’s what you need to do: That’s it. Now, even if you’re using the app, others won’t see that you’re online. Also read: Here’s how you can delete or block promotional messages on Android and iPhone
More privacy, less pressure Whether you’re a student, working professional, creator, or just someone who likes to quietly scroll, hiding your online status gives you more control. You decide when to respond, and most importantly, you use social media on your own terms.
Sometimes, staying online but appearing offline is exactly the digital peace we all need.
