The activity status on Instagram allows you to see when accounts you’ve messaged or followed were last active (or are currently active) on the platform. This can be very useful, but some users prefer to browse in peace, without feeling the pressure of having to reply because they’re shown as online. So, how can you turn off the activity status?
You can update your activity status on Instagram by launching the app, tapping your profile picture, and then tapping the “hamburger” menu icon at the top-right corner. Next, hit Settings > Privacy > Activity Status, and then toggle the ‘Show Activity Status’ option on or off.
Now that you’ve got an idea how the activity status can be turned on and off, let’s take a closer look at its function, how you can use it to get the behavior your want out of the device. We’ll also look at whether you ca set the feature to operate automatically.
How Does Instagram’s Activity Status Work?
Instagram’s activity status shows people you’ve followed and direct messaged (DMed) whether you’re currently active and when you were last online on the platform.
Keep in mind that your status will only be shown to accounts you follow. So, if an account follows you but you don’t follow it back, your status won’t be visible to that account. Remember that you can turn the activity status off or on at any time.
If you’ve turned on your activity status, there will be a green dot or a timestamp showing when you were last online next to your profile picture. Instagram also gives you the option to share whether you’re currently active in a chat.
It’s important to note that when you turn off the activity status, you won’t be able to see when accounts you’ve direct messaged or followed were recently active, are active, or are currently online in the same chat as you.
Basically, by turning off your activity status, you lose access to other people’s activity status as well.
How Do You Turn On Your Activity Status?
The steps to turning on your activity status are exactly the same for both Android and iOS devices. Once you turn the status on, the people you’ve followed and direct messaged will be able to tell whether you’re active on the platform.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Launch your Instagram app and tap the profile icon or profile picture at the bottom-right corner of your screen.
- Tap the hamburger menu (three line) icon at the top-right corner.
- Tap ‘Settings’ in the pop-up menu.
- Tap ‘Privacy.’
- Tap ‘Activity Status’ under the Interactions heading.
- Toggle the ‘Show Activity Status’ option.
Does Your Activity Status Change Automatically?
Just like the activity status on WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, Instagram’s activity status also shows when you were last active on the app. While this feature is enabled by default, you can disable it whenever you want.
If you turn on your activity status, it becomes easier to know when a user is active or was last active. However, not everyone feels comfortable sharing their online status. So, if you want to turn the feature off, simply follow the same steps above and toggle the option off.
What Does It Mean When Someone Is Active With No Green Dot?
If you suddenly stopped seeing a green dot next to your friend’s profile picture — or were never able to see it in the first place — there are a few possible explanations:
They’re Not Following You
If the person whose activity status you want to see isn’t following you, then you won’t be able to see a green dot next to their profile picture — even if they’re active.
Your activity status on Instagram is only visible to those people you follow, so it’s the same the other way around.
You’ve Never DMed Them
The activity status is only reserved for people you’ve recently had a conversation with in your direct inbox. If you haven’t messaged them directly, you won’t be able to see a green dot.
25-User Limitation
You can only see the activity status of the first 25 users in your direct messages list. So, if you haven’t sent a message to a user recently, you won’t be able to see whether they’re currently active.
They Disabled Their Last Activity
The most common reason for not seeing a green dot next to a person’s profile picture is that they’ve disabled their activity status feature.
You’ve Disabled Your Last Activity
It’s understandable if you want to hide your last activity from your friends and followers. But it’s important to note that this is a two-way street. If your followers can’t see your online status, you won’t be able to see theirs.
They Restricted Your Profile
If none of the above reasons apply to your case, there’s one more possibility. This might be a bitter pill to swallow, but the user may have restricted your account.
Restricting is essentially a subtler way of blocking someone. At its core, it prevents unwanted interactions with other Instagram users without notifying them.
When you restrict a profile, their messages and comments won’t appear on your profile until you decide otherwise. Restricting a profile will hide your activity status from that person as well.