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Shows eligible users when you are currently or recently active on Instagram.
Find Show Activity Status under Messages and story replies in Instagram settings.
Others cannot see your Activity Status, and you generally cannot see theirs either.
Instagram’s Activity Status feature shows other people when you are currently active or when you were recently active on the platform. The indicator is mainly visible around Direct Messages and can include an ‘Active now’ label, a green activity indicator or a recent activity time. Users who do not want this information displayed can turn off Activity Status through Instagram’s settings. The option is available on the mobile app and Instagram’s web version, although menu names can change after updates.
Instagram Activity Status is a visibility setting linked to the platform’s messaging experience. When it is enabled, eligible people, including accounts you follow or have messaged, may be able to see whether you are currently active or when you were last active. Activity information can appear in Direct Messages alongside a profile picture or account name.
Turning off the feature prevents Instagram from displaying your Activity Status to other eligible users. It does not mean that every form of activity on your account becomes invisible.
The following steps apply to the current Instagram app on Android and iPhone. Instagram’s interface can vary slightly depending on the operating system, app version and account configuration.
Open Instagram and tap your profile picture in the bottom-right corner.
Tap the three-line menu in the top-right corner.
Open Settings and activity. Some versions or accounts may use slightly different wording.
Scroll to How others can interact with you and tap Messages and story replies.
Select Show activity status.
Turn off the Show Activity Status toggle.
Instagram saves the change through the setting itself, so there is normally no separate Save button. Recent 2026 interface guides continue to place Activity Status under Messages and story replies.
Instagram also provides the Activity Status control through its website.
Sign in to Instagram using a web browser.
Click More in the bottom-left corner.
Select Settings.
Open Messages and story replies.
Select Show activity status.
Turn off the Activity Status setting.
The exact layout can change as Instagram updates its web interface, so users may see slightly different navigation or labels. Recent guidance indicates that the setting remains available on Instagram’s desktop experience.
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After Activity Status is disabled, other eligible users will no longer see your current or recent Activity Status through the feature. This includes indicators such as “Active now” and recent activity information.
There is also a reciprocal effect. When you hide your own Activity Status, Instagram does not show you other people’s Activity Status either. This means you generally lose access to the same active and recently active indicators for other accounts.
However, switching off Activity Status does not make your account completely invisible. Other Instagram activity, such as posts, comments, Stories and other interactions, is governed by separate settings and features.
No. Disabling Activity Status does not stop you from sending or receiving Instagram Direct Messages. You can continue using chats normally.
Activity Status should also be distinguished from read receipts. Activity Status indicates whether you are active or were recently active, while read receipts can indicate whether a message has been read. Instagram treats these as separate messaging controls, so turning off Activity Status should not be presented as a way to automatically disable “Seen” indicators.
If activity-related information appears after changing the setting, check whether the correct Instagram account was updated, particularly if several accounts are logged into the same app. Temporary delays, app updates and differences between account configurations can also affect how settings are displayed.
If the Activity Status option is missing, updating Instagram and checking the settings search function may help locate the current control. Menu names can change as Instagram releases interface updates.
Activity Status is only one part of Instagram’s privacy controls. Users can also review message controls, read receipt settings and account privacy options. These controls address different aspects of visibility and messaging, so changing Activity Status alone does not provide complete control over every interaction or activity indicator.
Turning off Instagram Activity Status takes only a few steps. Open your profile, access Settings and activity, choose Messages and story replies, open Show activity status and switch it off. The change hides your Activity Status from eligible users, while also preventing you from seeing theirs. Instagram may adjust these menus with future updates.
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Yes. Disabling Activity Status prevents eligible users from seeing whether you are currently active or recently active through Instagram’s Activity Status feature. However, it does not hide every interaction.
No. You can continue sending, receiving and reading Direct Messages normally. Activity Status is a separate privacy control and does not prevent Instagram messaging functionality.
No. Activity Status shows whether you are active or recently active, while read receipts indicate that a message has been opened. They are separate controls.
Instagram regularly changes its interface and settings structure. Check Messages and story replies, update the app, and use Instagram’s settings search if available.
Yes. Return to Instagram’s Show Activity Status setting and switch the toggle back on. Your activity visibility will then follow the setting again.
