How to hide online status on WhatsApp to protect privacy
- You can hide your WhatsApp online status if you don't want others to see when you're online.
- WhatsApp normally allows everyone to view your online status, but it's easy to change in the app's settings.
- If you hide your online status on WhatsApp, you also won't be able to see other people's online status.
If you use WhatsApp regularly, chances are you've spotted the login status next to the name of some of your contacts. Though WhatsApp makes your online status visible to everyone by default, you can easily change it.
WhatsApp online status
WhatsApp online status allows users to see the last time their contacts were active on the platform and whether they are currently using the app.
When someone is "online," it doesn't necessarily mean they've seen your message - it simply means they're currently using the app. "Last seen" refers to the last time the person used WhatsApp and also doesn't mean that they have seen your most recent message. The only way to tell if someone has seen your message is the blue checkmarks beside the message.
If you don't want your WhatsApp contacts to know your "last seen" or online status, you can easily hide your status from everyone, or make it available to only your contacts, through the app's settings.
Note: When you hide your own WhatsApp online status, you also can't view other people's statuses.
Here's how to hide your online status on WhatsApp.
How to hide WhatsApp online status
- Open WhatsApp on your iPhone or Android.
- Select "Settings" from the menu at the bottom of the screen.
Tap "Settings" at the bottom.Meira Gebel/Insider - In Settings, select "Account."
Tap the icon resembling a key to access your account.Meira Gebel/Insider - In the Account page, find and select "Privacy."
Select "Privacy" from the list of options.Meira Gebel/Insider - Tap "Last Seen" to change your online status.
Select the "Last Seen" option at the top.Meira Gebel/Insider - You have two options to hide your online or "Last Seen" status - you can choose for only "My Contacts" to see your status or for "Nobody" to see your status.
Make a selection to hide your WhatsApp status.Meira Gebel/Business Insider - Once you've made a selection, your online or "Last Seen" status will be visible to just your contacts, or no one at all, depending on your selection.