How to take off online on whatsapp
How to Hide Your Online Status on WhatsApp
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Users are becoming more aware of how exposed their privacy is on WhatsApp. You appear online to your contacts by simply opening a message, and it can give people the false impression you’re available for a chat every time you use the app. But a little trick that can help is turning off your online status on WhatsApp.
If you’ve been looking for ways to hide your online status on WhatsApp, you’ve come to the right place. This article will offer all you need to know about this trick, whether you’re accessing WhatsApp on a PC, iPhone, or Android user.
How to Hide Your Last Seen Status in WhatsApp on an iPhone
WhatsApp’s “Last Seen” status lets users see the most recent time other people were online on the app and whether they’re currently using the platform. As convenient as this may be for some users, it’s a major privacy concern for others. Disabling your online status is the first logical step to protecting your privacy.
However, note that after disabling your “Last Seen” status, you also won’t be able to see your contacts’ online status.
If you’re an iPhone user and would like to hide your online status on the app, follow the steps below.
- Launch WhatsApp.
- Tap on the Settings button in the bottom menu.
- Navigate to the Account section.
- Tap on the Privacy button from the options list.
- A new options list will appear where you can change who can see your personal information. Tap on Last Seen to tweak your online status settings.
- Hide your Last Seen status by tapping on Nobody. You can select My Contacts if you want only your contacts to see your status or Everybody for everyone to see your Last Seen status.
How to Hide Your Last Seen Status in WhatsApp on an Android Device
People often want to hide their online status to keep a bit of privacy for themselves. If you’re better off texting on WhatsApp incognito, you can do so on your Android device. Just follow the steps below.
- Launch WhatsApp.
- Tap on the three vertical dots in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.
- Select Settings and navigate to the Account section.
- Go to Privacy.
- Tap on Last seen and select Nobody if you want to hide your online status completely. Tap My contacts if you only want your contacts to see your online status.
How to Hide Your Online Status in WhatsApp from a PC
If you use WhatsApp on your PC, you’re probably on the WhatsApp Web version. This version doesn’t allow tweaking online status through the settings page like the smartphone.
Instead, you need to install plugins for your browser. Assuming you use Chrome, there are two plugins you can use. Just follow the steps below.
- Navigate to the Chrome Web Store and search for the WAIncognito extension.
- Install the extension to use WhatsApp without appearing online.
- Tap on the extension to tweak the settings. You can check the box next to the Don’t send “Last Seen” updates option to hide your online status.
You can also install a plugin called WA Web Plus. Just add the plugin to your Chrome, access the WhatsApp Web as usual, and follow the steps below:
- With the WhatsApp Web open, tap on the WA Web Plus plugin.
- Check the box next to Hide online status to hide your online status from your contacts.
- If the changes don’t apply right away, simply reload the WhatsApp Web app.
Additional FAQs
Here are some more helpful answers to your questions about WhatsApp privacy.
Can I chat while appearing offline on WhatsApp?
Yes! You can use two handy tricks to read and reply to messages on WhatsApp and still appear offline.
The first is the more direct one, and it involves replying to a message via the notification panel:
– For iPhone users, simply slide the message from your notifications panel to the left, select the view option, and reply.
– For Android, tap the message on your Notifications panel, select the Reply button, and send the message.
If you accidentally removed the message preview, you can pull down from your screen top to see unread notifications, hold the chat in question, and hit the Reply button.
The second method to answer a message while appearing offline involves Airplane Mode. You turn on Airplane Mode, and it lets you read a message without appearing online. This way, your last recorded online time on WhatsApp is the one before you turned on Airplane Mode. This is a pretty cool feature, except that it prevents you from receiving new messages while it’s on.
Here are detailed steps on how to perform this “trick:”
1. Switch your device to Airplane Mode.
2. Launch WhatsApp and open the chat to which you want to send a new message.
3. Enter the message and hit the Send button.
4. Switch off the Airplane Mode. The receiver will get your message without you appearing online.
You now know two methods that help you chat without appearing online. Feel free to use the quick reply option when you know the person will continue sending more texts your way if they believe you’re online. If there’s a single text you need answered but want to avoid being seen online, you can always turn on the Airplane Mode.
Can I see others while my status is hidden on WhatsApp?
In WhatsApp settings, you can tweak your online status to make it visible to everyone, only contacts, or nobody. If you set the status to Nobody, no one will be able to see your Last Seen status, but you won’t be able to see other people’s online status either.
If you choose the My Contacts setting, you’ll be able to see when your contacts are online, and they’ll be able to see when you are as well.
Can I hide my status for specific contacts on WhatsApp?
You can hide your status updates for some contacts by following the steps below:
For iPhone users:
1. Launch WhatsApp on your iPhone and navigate to the Settings page.
2. Go to Account, then Privacy.
3. Head over to the Status section and tap on My Contacts Except…
4. Check the circle box next to the contact(s) from whom you wish to hide your status updates.
5. Tap Done when finished.
For Android users:
1. Launch WhatsApp on your phone and head to the three-dotted menu from the upper right-hand of the screen.
2. Tap on Settings from the drop-down menu.
3. Head over to Account.
4. Navigate to Privacy, then Status.
5. Select the My Contacts Except… option.
6. Tap on the circle box next to the contacts from whom you want to hide your status updates.
7. Tap on the green circle from the bottom right-hand to confirm.
Beware that these steps will only hide your Status Updates from specific contacts. They won’t hide your Last Seen status.
You can hide your Last Seen status for Everyone, My contacts, or Nobody. Currently, there’s no feature that allows hiding online status from specific contacts only.
If you want to prevent a specific contact from seeing your online status, you’ll have to block them from your account. After doing so, the person won’t be able to see your Last Seen status, nor other personal information such as your profile picture, stories, or anything else associated with your account.
Here’s how to block a contact:
1. Launch WhatsApp on your phone.
2. Tap on the chat with a person you wish to block.
3. Tap on that person’s name from the top of the screen and select Block.
4. Select Block from the prompt to finish.
WhatsApp Chatting Gone Incognito
Hiding your online status comes with many perks. You won’t feel as pressured to respond to a message as soon as you read it. Meanwhile, scrolling the app late at night when you just want to relax doesn’t make you easy prey to constant messages from your contacts, and your overall privacy levels are higher. This article has shared everything there is to know when it comes to hiding your online status on WhatsApp. Hopefully, you’ll be able to use some of the things you’ve learned.
What are the main reasons you want to hide your online status on WhatsApp? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
How to Hide Your Online Status on WhatsApp (Android, iOS, and Web)
The Meta-owned messaging giant has been trying to make it easier to use WhatsApp on multiple devices (without internet on the primary device) and transfer WhatsApp chats from Android to iPhone. But, over the past year or so, users have started giving importance to privacy online. It has forced the company to rethink its privacy policy, and it’s now testing new features to fulfill these needs. Now, a common gripe most users have with WhatsApp is that you appear online even when you open the app for a split second. And it makes others think you are active and available to chat when that might not be the case. If you are facing this issue and want to appear offline on WhatsApp, it’s easier to do than you think. In this guide, we have explained how to hide your last seen and online status while chatting on WhatsApp. It will help safeguard your privacy and keep snoopy individuals at bay, so let’s get started.
We have explained the step-by-step process (with pictures) to turn off your last seen and online status on WhatsApp in this guide. We have even added an unofficial tool you can use to hide the online status on WhatsApp Web. Use the table below to check out the method suitable for your needs.
Table of Contents
How to Hide Last Seen on WhatsApp (Android)
Before you can hide your online status in the messaging app, you first need to learn how to turn off your last seen status on WhatsApp. And here’s what that process looks like:
1. Open WhatsApp and tap on the ellipses (three dot) icon at the top right corner. Then, select the “Settings” option.
2. Next, navigate to “Account -> Privacy” to access the last seen status setting.
3. Now, tap on the “Last seen and online” privacy setting. After that, select “Nobody” under the “Who can see my last seen” option to hide when you were last online on the messaging app from everyone.
Note: You can also select the “My contacts except..” option if you wish the last seen time to be displayed to select people in your contacts list.
How to Hide Online Status on WhatsApp (Android)
Now that you know how to hide the last seen time on your WhatsApp account, you can also choose who can view whether you are online on the messaging app or not. Here’s how you can appear offline on WhatsApp for everyone but still continue to text whoever you like:
Note: The ability to hide your online status is only available to WhatsApp beta testers on Android and iOS at the moment. For this guide, we used WhatsApp version 2.22.21.12 on the OnePlus 9RT running Android 12.
On the same settings page as the “Last Seen” status, you will now see a new “Who can see when I’m online” option. You just need to select “Same as last seen” here.
And now, if you have selected “Nobody” as the “Last Seen” status, then no one will be able to see the “Online” text under your name in the chat window when using WhatsApp. This way, no one will be able to snoop on your online messaging activity and question why you are not replying to them even though you are active.
How to Hide Last Seen on WhatsApp (iPhone)
The steps to disable the last seen status in Meta’s messaging app on iPhone are pretty much the same as Android, so let’s look at how to go about it:
- Open WhatsApp on your iPhone and tap on “Settings” in the bottom navigation bar. Then, move to the “Account” settings.
2. Next, move to “Privacy -> Last Seen & Online” under the “Account” settings.
Note: The “Last Seen & Online” setting and the option to hide them is only available in WhatsApp beta versions right now. You will only see the option to disable “Last Seen” on your device.
3. Finally, select “Nobody” under the “Who Can See My Last Seen” option to hide your activity on WhatsApp. Now, other users will not be able to see when you were last online and using the messaging app.
How to Hide Online Status on WhatsApp (iPhone)
Similar to the Android settings, you will have to select the “Same as last seen” option under the “Who can see when I’m online” section in the privacy settings. Note: Since this feature is only available to beta testers at the moment, we tried it out on WhatsApp beta version 2. 22.20.75 on iPhone 11 running iOS 16.
Also, as you can see in the screenshot, WhatsApp mentions that disabling the last seen and online options for yourself would mean that you won’t be able to see the status of other users.
How to Hide Last Seen and Online on WhatsApp PC
Now, if you are someone who relies on WhatsApp Web to communicate with friends and family, there’s nothing to worry about, as you can turn off your last seen and online status there as well. On your Mac, Linux, or Windows PC, here’s how you can hide the last seen status:
Hide Last Seen Status on WhatsApp Web
1. WhatsApp Web includes an official way to disable the last seen status, and it is similar to the Android and iPhone versions. So, open the web app, click the three dot (ellipses) icon and select “Settings” from the dropdown.
2. Then, click on “Privacy” under the Settings menu.
3. After that, head to the “Last seen” privacy setting.
4. Next, as we did in the Android and iOS sections, select “Nobody” under the “Last Seen” setting to stop sharing the exact time when you last opened WhatsApp to check your messages.
Hide Online Status on WhatsApp Web
5. Now, the ability to hide your online status is yet to officially reach the web version of WhatsApp, but you can use a third-party tool for the time being. So let’s take a look at how it works.
6. First, download the WA Web Plus for WhatsApp extension from the Chrome Web Store (visit). It’s a popular Chrome extension with a stellar 4.6 rating and 21,000 reviews. Click the “Add to Chrome” button to install the extension.
7. Once the extension is installed, click the “Extension” icon to the right of the address bar and select “WA Web Plus for WhatsApp” from the dropdown menu.
8. The extension settings will now open up. Under the “Enhancements” tab, enable the “Hide online status (Invisible Mode)” option to appear offline while chatting. You can also enable the “Hide typing status” to further make your activity private on WhatsApp.
Note: It takes a couple of seconds for the extension to become active after you open WhatsApp Web on your desktop, so you will appear online for a second or two. We suggest you wait a little before you go ahead and start typing messages to your contacts.
And that’s it. People will no longer see the “Online” tag under your contact name when you are using the messaging app. They would not even see the typing indicator if you enable the said feature and use the web app for all communication purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does online on WhatsApp mean they are talking to someone?
The online status under a contact’s name indicates that they are currently using WhatsApp, but it doesn’t explicitly mean they are talking to someone. They could have just left the messaging app open on their phone. Or could be checking Status updates, setting up fingerprint lock on WhatsApp, and more.
Can I hide when I’m online on WhatsApp?
WhatsApp not only allows you to disable your last seen status but hide your online status as well. That means you can use the messaging app without worrying about others seeing you are active on WhatsApp.
Learn How to Appear Offline on WhatsApp
So yeah, these are all the methods you can use to prevent someone from seeing that you are online on WhatsApp in 2022. You can uphold your privacy while chatting on the messaging app and appear offline to all users. However, remember that you will also not be able to view their online status once you enable this privacy setting. Though, you can always retrace your steps to turn off the feature. Also, we suggest using the WhatsApp Web extension to hide your online status right now instead of waiting for the feature to graduate out of beta. So, did this guide prove helpful for you? Let us know in the comments below.
How to hide online status on WhatsApp - Network without problems
Have you decided to remain hidden in WhatsApp and therefore want to know how to hide online status in WhatsApp while chatting? Or are you worried about privacy on whatsapp?
WhatsApp, the most popular instant messaging app that we all love. Whatsapp has revolutionized the way we communicate and has given people many opportunities to harass us, which is not a good thing.
People can clearly see when you are online and when you were last seen, and if your partner or parent is strict or suspicious, it would be better to take this option away from them and just hide your online status in the WhatsApp messaging app. nine0003
Today, in this guide, we will cover how to hide WhatsApp online status while chatting, how to hide the last seen on WhatsApp messenger, and how to completely hide WhatsApp online status. So anyone without further ado, let's get started.
When it comes to hiding online status on WhatsApp, one of the most common and widely used methods is to hide the last seen on WhatsApp. However, please note that if you turn off your last viewed status for others, you will also not be able to see someone else's last viewed status. nine0003
Here is how to hide last seen on whatsapp to hide your online status on whatsapp app while chatting:
- First open whatsapp messenger app.
- Click on the three vertical dots located in the upper right corner.
- Now from the list of options click on settings.
- Next, click Account > Privacy.
- Finally, click on the "Last viewed" option and select "No one".
After you changed your WhatsApp from "Everyone" to "Nobody" for the last time, no one will be able to know about your WhatsApp online status.
If you don't save someone's number and set the "last seen on WhatsApp" option to "My Contacts", they won't be able to see your online status either.
How to hide your online status on WhatsApp by changing your settings
Apart from the last seen hide on the WhatsApp app, there are several ways you can hide your online status on the WhatsApp messenger. Some methods require you to go offline to hide your WhatsApp online status. nine0003
So now let's look at some of the most popular quick ways and learn how to hide online status on WhatsApp by changing the settings: online or when you were last seen on the WhatsApp messenger, then in this case the most ideal way is to completely abandon the network. You can enable Airplane Mode and disable any kind of connection on your device. This ensures that you won't receive any calls, SMS, or WhatsApp messages unless you disable Airplane Mode. nine0003
You can also turn off Airplane mode, connect to Wi-Fi or mobile data, and allow all WhatsApp notifications to be received. Then put your phone back into airplane mode before opening your WhatsApp messages. In this way, you will be able to avoid whatsapp online status and also fool the time you saw the last time.
Method 2: Block WhatsApp Contacts
The second method is a little more drastic and involves blocking WhatsApp contacts directly so they can't contact you, can't see your picture on the display, or can't see your latest WhatsApp status. Whatsapp contact blocking is one of the most extreme ways to hide online status on whatsapp. nine0003
Follow these steps and learn how to block someone on WhatsApp messenger:
First, open the WhatsApp contact you want to block.
Click on the three vertical dots located in the upper right corner.
Now from the list of options click on Advanced > Block.
Finally, click on the Block option in the pop-up window to confirm it.
Once you block someone on WhatsApp, he/she will not be able to see your online status or latest status in the chat window. They will not be able to see your profile picture, nor will their calls/messages reach you. If you wish, you can unlock them by following the same method. nine0003
Method 3: Hide WhatsApp Blue Tick
In WhatsApp messages, a tick next to a message indicates the status of the message, one tick means it was delivered on your end, double ticks means the message was received on the other end, and double blue ticks means that the message has been read
If you wish to remain incognito, you can turn off read receipts, which will change the status of the blue checkmark. Here's how to hide the double blue tick in whatsapp messenger:
First, open the WhatsApp messenger application.
Click on the three vertical dots located in the upper right corner.
Now from the list of options click on settings.
Next, click Account > Privacy.
Finally, disable the Read Receipts option.
Now when you open any WhatsApp message, the checkmarks will remain gray and the person on the other end will not know if you have read the message or not. nine0003
Method 4: Hide your profile picture and status
If you want to look like you have completely deactivated your WhatsApp account, you can do so by hiding your profile picture and status. Here's how to hide your profile picture and WhatsApp status:
- First of all, open the WhatsApp messenger app.
- Click on the three vertical dots located in the upper right corner.
- Now from the list of options click on settings. nine0016
- Next, click Account > Privacy.
- Finally, click on the "Profile Photo" option and select "Nobody".
- Also click on the "About" option and set it to "Nobody".
So you can easily hide your WhatsApp online status by hiding your profile picture and about it section.
Conclusions
We hope our step by step guide helped you to hide online status in whatsapp messenger and answered your question how to hide online status in whatsapp while chatting. nine0003
If you have any questions, questions or concerns regarding turning off online status on WhatsApp, or would like us to help you with any other WhatsApp issues, please let us know in the comments below.
Also, if you are familiar with any best way to hide whatsapp online status, feel free to tell us how to hide online status on iphone whatsapp and how to hide online status on android whatsapp.
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How to Hide Your Online Status in WhatsApp: New Feature
WhatsApp is testing a feature that allows you not to show if a user is online. This will be an important step in the fight against unwanted harassment by third parties.
WhatsApp messenger users have been waiting and asking for this feature for a long time. Many would like to know how to hide online status in WhatsApp. And now the creators of the service have finally responded to numerous requests and are now working on introducing a new feature. nine0003
Read also: WhatsApp changes: a new feature could save many users
How to hide online status on WhatsApp: the developers promise to make it possible
The company is currently testing the possibility of hiding online status from other users. Or its display only for certain contacts. This writes T‑Online. Note that until now users of the "green" messenger could not hide the status.
The only thing that was available to them was to hide the data about the time of the last connection to the network (“last online”). That is, when a WhatsApp user was last active on the platform. The corresponding time - if not deactivated - is displayed for chat partners to the nearest minute. But as soon as you enter the chat, all interlocutors immediately display your "Online" overlay, and so far it is impossible to remove it. nine0003
The choice will be a little strange
But the "Last online" overlay can be optionally removed for display. In the settings, it has long been possible to choose whether this time should be displayed, and if so, to whom. You can choose from "Everyone", "My Contacts", "My Contacts Except...", and "Nobody". And of course, most users would like the same feature for Online status.
According to insiders, this can be regulated in the future. But for some reason, the choices in this case will be completely different. More precisely, there will be only two possibilities: your online status will either be seen by “Everyone”, or everyone will see it as “Last online”. Such a choice seems at least strange. nine0003
How to hide online status in WhatsApp: new feature may not come out?
The authors of the article do not rule out that WhatsApp Meta simply does not want this feature to be disabled. After all, this creates a degree of pressure to respond to messages in a timely manner. And if the online status is not visible, the messaging intensity may drop.
It is not yet possible to say when the new option will become available to everyone. Theoretically, one can even assume that WhatsApp will not release a new feature at all. It is currently being tested by a limited group of beta testers, and it is not certain that it will live up to expectations. nine0003
Recall that it was previously reported that WhatsApp will soon be able to make video calls without your own image. It can be replaced with a digital avatar.