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- You can turn off your active status on the Facebook website, Facebook mobile app, and Messenger mobile app.
- When your active status is turned off, you will appear offline even when you're online.
- You can also choose to appear offline only for certain people that you select.
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Facebook may be responsible for putting the word "social" in social media, but there are times when you don't want – or don't have time – to engage with friends.
If you want to log into Facebook without your friends knowing you're online, you can easily turn off your "active status" so you appear offline.
There are three different places where you can control your active status: on Facebook in a web browser, in the Facebook mobile app, and in the Facebook Messenger mobile app.
How to appear offline in the Facebook mobile app
- Open the Facebook app on your phone.
- Tap the three horizontal lines (called the "hamburger menu") in the top-right corner on Android or the bottom-right corner on iPhone.
Tap the icon of three horizontal lines.
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- Tap "Settings & Privacy," and then tap "Settings."
Tap "Settings" in the "Settings & Privacy" drop-down.
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- Tap "Active Status" under the Privacy section.
Select "Active Status" at the bottom of the "Privacy" section.
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- Turn off "Show when you're active" by moving the slider to the left and then confirm by tapping "Turn Off" in the pop-up.
After swiping the slider to the left, select "Turn Off" in the pop-up.
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How to appear offline in the Facebook Messenger mobile app
- Open the Facebook Messenger app on your phone.
- Tap your profile's avatar at the top-left of the screen.
Tap your profile icon in the upper-left corner.
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- Tap "Active Status."
Select "Active Status."
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- Turn off "Show when you're active" by moving the slider to the left and then confirm by tapping "Turn Off" in the pop-up.