How to prevent showing online status in WhatsApp?

How to prevent showing online status in WhatsApp - briefly?

To prevent your online status from being shown on WhatsApp, you can adjust the privacy settings for "Last Seen" and "Read Receipts." By setting these to "Nobody," you ensure that no one will see when you are online or have read their messages.

How to prevent showing online status in WhatsApp - in detail?

To prevent your online status from being displayed in WhatsApp, you can follow these detailed steps:

  1. Adjust Your Privacy Settings:

    • Open WhatsApp on your device.
    • Tap on the three dots (⋮) located at the top right corner of the screen to access the menu.
    • Select "Settings" from the dropdown menu.
    • In the settings menu, tap on "Account".
    • Choose "Privacy".
    • Under the "Who can see my personal info" section, select "Last seen & online".
    • You will be presented with three options: Everyone, My contacts, and Nobody. To prevent your online status from being displayed, choose "Nobody".

  2. Disable Read Receipts:

    • While still in the Privacy settings, look for the "Read receipts" option.
    • Toggle off the switch next to "Read receipts". This will prevent others from seeing when you've read their messages.

  3. Turn Off Last Seen:

    • In the same Privacy settings menu, you can also turn off your "Last seen" status by toggling off the switch next to it.

  4. Avoid Using WhatsApp Web or Desktop:

    • WhatsApp Web and desktop applications do not offer the same level of privacy control as the mobile app. If you use these platforms, others will be able to see when you are online. It is advisable to stick with the mobile application for maximum privacy.

  5. Use Airplane Mode:

    • If you need to check messages without being seen as online, you can enable airplane mode on your device before opening WhatsApp. This will prevent WhatsApp from connecting to the internet and displaying your online status. Remember to turn off airplane mode after reading your messages if you want to send replies.

  6. Block Contacts (If Necessary):

    • In some cases, blocking a contact may be necessary to prevent them from seeing your online status. However, this should be used as a last resort since it blocks all communication with the contact.

By following these steps, you can effectively manage your online presence on WhatsApp and maintain a higher degree of privacy.