Instagram shows the “Active Now” status even when you are not using the app to encourage real-time connectivity.
You can disable the Instagram active now status feature by going to your Instagram profile, tap the three lines in the top right corner, select Settings, then Privacy > Activity Status and toggle off the “Show Activity Status” option.
This feature indicates that your account is currently logged in and can receive direct messages or notifications. Although it may seem misleading, it aims to foster immediate engagement and enhance user experience on the platform.
The Instagram “Active Now” status feature
The “Active now” status on Instagram is a feature that indicates when a user was last active on the app.
When someone you follow has the “Active now” status on their profile, it means that they are currently using Instagram.
This status can help know when someone is likely to respond to a direct message or to see if they’re available to chat.
It’s important to note that the “Active now” status only appears if the person has allowed their activity status to be visible to others.
Following a user’s last use of the app, the status normally stays for about 15 minutes. After that it will disappear, indicating that the person is no longer active on the app.
However, the exact length of time that the “Active now” status is visible may vary depending on several factors, such as the person’s device and network connection.
Additionally, some users may choose to turn off the “Active now” feature in their privacy settings, which will prevent the status from appearing at all.
The “Active Now” status feature is only visible in Instagram Direct; which is the equivalent of Facebook Messenger.
This means that if someone has recently been using the app, their status will show as “Active Now” to their friends or followers when they are using Direct.
The feature is not visible on the user’s public profile or feed.
Additionally, your status is only shown to people you follow. So if someone follows you but you don’t follow them back, they won’t be able to view your status.
Why does Instagram say Active Now when I’m not?
Below are the common reasons why your Instagram may display “Active Now” even when you are not active on the app:
1. Instagram technical glitches
Like any other app, sometimes, technical glitches on Instagram can cause unexpected issues or malfunctions that impact the user experience.
You may be experiencing the Instagram active now glitch on your app hence causing the “Active Now” status to display incorrectly.
How to fix it
If you are experiencing technical glitches with the “Active Now” status on Instagram, you may need to wait for a bug fix from the company or try restarting the app or your device.
In some cases, disabling the feature in your privacy settings may also resolve the issue.
To disable your Instagram activity status feature go to your Instagram profile, tap the three lines in the top right corner, select Settings, then Privacy > Activity Status and toggle off the “Show Activity Status” option.
2. Background data usage
If your Instagram app is running in the background, it may still show as active, even when you are not actively using it.
How to fix it
You need to disable background data on your device’s settings.
To turn off background data for Instagram on an Android device, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app on your phone.
- Tap on Data Usage or Data Usage and Storage.
- Find and tap on Instagram in the list of apps.
- Toggle off the switch next to Allow background data usage.
To turn off background data for Instagram on an iOS device, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap on “Cellular” or Mobile Data.
- Scroll down to find and tap on Instagram.
- Toggle off the switch next to Cellular Data.
This will prevent the app from using data in the background and may help you save on your mobile data usage as well.
Note that this will limit some features of the app, such as notifications and automatic updates.
3. Background notifications
If you have notifications enabled for your Instagram app, receiving a notification can cause your status to show as active, even if you are not using the app.
How to fix it
To fix this you need to disable background notifications for your Instagram app. Follow these steps to do so:
On Android devices:
- Open the Instagram app.
- Tap on your profile icon in the bottom right corner.
- Tap on the three lines in the top right corner.
- Tap on Settings.
- Tap on Notifications.
- Toggle off the switch next to “Allow notifications”.
On an iOS device, follow these steps:
- Open the iPhone’s Settings app.
- Tap on Notifications.
- Scroll down and find Instagram.
- Tap on it.
- Toggle off the switch next to “Allow Notifications”.
Doing this will prevent the app from sending you notifications in the background. You will only receive notifications when you have the app open.
4. Third-party apps
In certain instances, some third-party apps, such as task killers or battery savers, can cause the “Instagram shows active when I’m not” problem.
f you’re using any third-party apps or services with your Instagram account or on your device, it’s best to stop using them and change your account password as well.
5. Instagram’s algorithm
Instagram’s activity status is based on its algorithm, which is designed to show you the most relevant content and activity from people you follow.
Sometimes, the algorithm may falsely show you as active if it thinks you’re likely to engage with certain content or if it detects activity on your account from another device or location.
Unfortunately, there is no direct fix for the “Instagram says active when not” problem or false “active now” status when it’s caused by Instagram’s algorithm because the algorithm is designed to show you relevant content and activity.
But you may try logging out of Instagram on all devices (if you were using multiple devices), or clearing your Instagram app cache and data to reset the app’s settings.
Additionally, you could try using Instagram in incognito or private browsing mode which can help prevent the app from tracking your activity and showing false “active now” status.
Additional fixes for the “Why does Instagram say I’m active when I’m not” problem
The simplest way to resolve the question/issue of “why does Instagram show active when not” is to give Instagram enough time to update any new status updates and reflect them on your profile.
Most of the time, you will discover that doing this resolves any “Active Now” status problems you might get while using the Instagram app.
It can take Instagram anywhere between 5 to 10 minutes for your account to update and reflect your inactivity.
You may also try:
-Updating your Instagram app to the latest version.
–Clearing your app’s cache and data. Note that clearing your app data will log you out of Instagram, so make sure you know your login credentials before doing this.
–Restart your device to make sure everything is working as well as it should.
Note:
While these solutions may help reduce the occurrence of false “active now” status, they are not guaranteed to fix the issue completely. Ultimately, it’s up to Instagram’s algorithm to accurately detect and display your activity status.
Instagram says active when not FAQ
Q. How long does Instagram say active now?
A. The Active Today status will last for 24 hours. You will find this status next to a user’s name when they are inactive for about 8 hours or more at a stretch. This status will change into Active yesterday when you have been inactive on Instagram for more than 24 hours.
Q. What’s the difference between the green dot and active now on Instagram?
A. The green dot and “Active now” status on Instagram serve similar purposes, but there is a difference between the two. The green dot is a feature that appears next to a person’s profile name in the Direct Messages section of the app. It indicates that the person is currently active on Instagram and available to chat.
The “Active now” status, on the other hand, appears on a person’s profile page and indicates when they were last active on the app. The “Active now” status may show a specific time, such as “Active 10 minutes ago,” or simply display the “Active now” label.
Q. What triggers being active on Instagram?
A. Instagram considers a user as “active” when they perform any of the following actions on the app:
1. Scrolling through the feed
2. Posting a new photo or video
3. Liking, commenting or sharing a post
4. Sending or receiving messages on Direct
5 . Searching for new accounts, hashtags, or posts
6. Opening the Explore page
7. Updating the profile or settings
These actions result in a small amount of network activity and refresh the user’s active status on the app.
Q. What is the Instagram active status glitch?
A. The Instagram active status glitch is an issue that some users have reported experiencing on the Instagram app, where the active status of their followers or friends may not be displayed correctly.
Normally, when a user is active on Instagram, a green dot appears next to their profile picture in the direct message section of the app, indicating that they are currently online and available to chat.
However, in some cases, this green dot may not appear even when the user is active, or it may appear when they are not actually using the app.
Q: What happens if I disable the Instagram activity status?
A. If you disable the Instagram activity status, your followers and friends will not be able to see when you are active or the last time you were active on the app.
This means that the green dot next to your profile picture will not appear in their Direct Messages section, and they will not receive notifications when you are online or active. This can be useful if you don’t want others to know when you’re using the app or if you want to maintain your privacy.
Note:
-Disabling the activity status feature does not prevent your followers and friends from seeing your posts, stories, and any other activity you perform on the app.
-If you disable activity status, you will not be able to see the activity status of your followers and friends if you have this setting turned off.
-Disabling the activity status feature does not completely remove your presence on the app. You will still be able to like, comment, and post on Instagram.
Q: Will disabling Instagram’s activity status feature fix the Instagram active now glitch?
A. Disabling the activity status feature may not necessarily fix your false activity status glitch or Instagram active now glitch, as this is a separate issue that is caused by technical problems and other issues within the app or on your device.
However, it can help to prevent others from seeing your incorrect activity status, and may also help to alleviate the issue in some cases.
Q: If Instagram Is Running In The Background, Does It Show Online?
A. If Instagram is running in the background, it does not show online. This means that even if the app is open but not actively being used, the user will not appear as “online” to their followers.
Therefore, individuals can browse through their Instagram feed or engage in other activities on their device without worrying about being perceived as available for direct communication.
This feature provides users with privacy and flexibility in managing their online presence on the platform.
Q: How Accurate Is Instagram Active Now?
A. Instagram considers a user active if they engage with the platform at least once within a 30-day period, which includes activities such as posting, liking, commenting, or viewing stories.
Therefore, accurately quantifying the exact number of users currently active on Instagram at any given moment is challenging and subject to change.
Q: Green Dot On Instagram… But Not Active?
A. This particular indicator serves as an indication of a user’s online status, symbolized by a small green dot displayed beside their profile picture.
However, this feature indicates that your account is currently logged in and can receive direct messages or notifications.
Conclusion
In summary, if you’re one of the users experiencing the “Instagram shows active when I’m not” conundrum, note that Instagram uses an “Active Now” status feature to show when a user was last active on the app.
But it is not always an accurate representation of a user’s real-time activity on the app because the feature may display incorrect information for a variety of reasons, such as outdated cached data, network connectivity issues, or other technical glitches.
Additionally, some users may have turned off the feature in their settings, so it is not always possible to know whether someone is truly active on the app at a given moment.
