How to hide online status on WhatsApp

Young asian business woman wearing glasses and working using computer laptop covering eyes with hand, looking serious and sad.
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
Tools and requirements

● System: Android or iPhone
● Tools: Internet connection or data plan
● Skill Level: Beginner

WhatsApp is one of the most well-known and widely used messaging applications and voice chat apps around the globe. 

With over 2 billion users throughout Latin America, India, and large parts of Europe and Africa, what's app is one of the best encrypted messenging apps for Android and iPhone. WhatsApp is mainly used to send text messages, images, and files, as well as to make voice and video calls. But there are plenty of other settings that you can customize, like changing your background image.

Many users know about the online status near your name that shows whether you’re online and active on the app. But it’s less known that you can hide your online status as well if you’d rather not be bothered by your contacts or want to use WhatsApp privately. And thankfully, it’s a simple process to change or hide that online status, which will also hide the “last seen” status that normally tells your contacts the last time you used the app.

Like most changes to WhatsApp settings, you’ll need to access your Settings menu and then choose from the various options what you want to customize or change. After that, you simply follow the remaining steps, which are both the same whether using Android or iPhone. This guide will show you how to hide your online status on the best Android phones or the best iPhones, both the easiest and more complicated methods.

Steps for how to hide online status on WhatsApp

  • Go to More Options and Settings
  • Tap Privacy then Last Seen
  • Change the options from there

Step by step guide for Android

Go to the three dots at the top right of the screen for ‘More Options’ 

A WhatsApp settings screen

(Image credit: Future)

Tap Settings 

A WhatsApp settings screen

(Image credit: Future)

Tap Privacy

A WhatsApp settings screen

(Image credit: Future)

Tap Last Seen and online

A WhatsApp settings screen

(Image credit: Future)

Under ‘who can see my last seen’ choose Nobody and under ‘who can see when I'm online choose Same as last seen

A WhatsApp settings screen

(Image credit: Future)

Step by step guide for iPhone

  • Go to Settings and Tap Privacy

A WhatsApp settings screen

(Image credit: Future)
  • Tap Last Seen

A WhatsApp settings screen

(Image credit: Future)
  • Under ‘who can see my last seen’ choose Nobody and under ‘who can see when I'm online’ choose Same as last seen

A WhatsApp settings screen

(Image credit: Future)

Final thoughts

There are alternative ways to prevent contacts from seeing your online status. Go to the Settings menu, tap Account, then Privacy. But instead of going to Last Seen, tap Status and then My contacts except… and choose the contacts you want to keep from seeing your status.

Another method you can use to avoid having online status and last seen shown on WhatsApp is through using your phone’s Airplane mode. Activate Airplane mode, then launch WhatsApp and choose the contact you want to message. Write and send the message, which will actually not go through but instead stay in a state of non-delivery. Close the app, then disable Airplane mode. Once the mobile data or internet connection turns on again, the message will send without revealing your online status or last seen.

While both online status and last seen are useful tools to let you know if and when someone is available to chat, sometimes you simply want privacy and discretion while using WhatsApp. Being able to hide your status is a great way to give you that sense of privacy, and the best part is that it’s not permanent.

TOPICS
Allisa James
Computing Staff Writer

Named by the CTA as a CES 2023 Media Trailblazer, Allisa is a Computing Staff Writer who covers breaking news and rumors in the computing industry, as well as reviews, hands-on previews, featured articles, and the latest deals and trends. In her spare time you can find her chatting it up on her two podcasts, Megaten Marathon and Combo Chain, as well as playing any JRPGs she can get her hands on.

Read more
Instagram on a phone
How to turn off active status on Instagram
Bangalore, India - October, 10, 2024: Close up image of WhatsApp logo on a windows desktop running windows 11. Windows on Desktop.
How to use WhatsApp on desktop
Collage of hand with a key and a smartphone
Is it possible to send a truly anonymous message?
Young woman using mobile phone
Best encrypted messaging app for Android of 2025
Photograph of a hand holding a smartphone with two googly eyes
Every tap, every message – how to stop your smartphone spying on you
Photograph of a woman looking at map on a smartphone
How to use location apps without leaving a trail of data and getting followed everywhere you go
Latest in Email & Messaging
Gmail at 20
No joke, Gmail is 20 and we're probably better for it
Google introduced Gmail to the public on April 1, 2004, leading many to believe it was an April Fools' Day prank
Google's next AI update for Gmail could let you ask it to write emails with your voice
A laptop screen on an orange background showing the Gmail logo and an inbox
Final warning: it’s your last chance to save your old Gmail account from deletion
A phone showing WhatsApp video calling on a pink background
WhatsApp video calls get handy screen-sharing feature – here's how to use it
Gmail
Watch out Google users – your account could get deleted if it’s not used
Google Chat messaging friends
Google wants to make its Chat app a lot more personal by copying WhatsApp
Latest in How Tos
Cheltenham racing festival 2024 day four: Paul Townend on Galopin Des Champs crosses the finishing line for victory in the Gold Cup
Cheltenham Festival 2025 live stream: How to watch world-class horse racing online
Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid in action during the UEFA Champions League in March 2025
Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid live stream: How to watch Champions League online
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta attending a press conference before a UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg match in March 2025
Arsenal vs PSV live stream: How to watch the UEFA Champions League match online
Ousmane Dembele of Paris Saint-Germain watches the ball during a UEFA Champions League 2024/25 match in March 2025
Liverpool vs PSG live stream: How to watch today's UEFA Champions League match online, team news
Still from the sneak peek trailer of Ring & Friends showing the ex-beatles singer on stage at the Ryman
Ringo & Friends at The Ryman: how to watch the country music show online
Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Scuderia Ferrari waves to the crowd from the stage during F1 75 Live in the run up to the 2025 F1 season
How to watch F1 online: your guide to 2025 Formula 1 season