How to appear offline on WhatsApp: iPhone, Android, web
WhatsApp does not allow users to control their online or offline status. Each time users open the application, they are shown as "online" to all their contacts. Luckily, for users who would like to use the application in "offline mode," we explain several possible workaround solutions below.
How to appear offline on WhatsApp for Android?
- Android users who want to appear offline can simply disable their internet connection. You can do this temporarily by entering Airplane or Flight mode.
- Alternatively, the W-Tools application can be used to achieve an offline status on WhatsApp.
How to appear offline on WhatsApp for iPhone?
- iPhone users can achieve an offline status through a quick tweak to their user settings.
- Launch WhatsApp, and head to your Settings tab in the bottom right-hand corner.
- Next, go to Chat Settings/Privacy > Last Seen & Online.
- Select Nobody in the Who can see my last seen section to disable the application timestamps. And in the Who can see when I'm online section, select Same as Last Seen option.
Note: This process can be reversed by simply toggling the Last Seen Timestamp option to Everyone/My Contacts/etc.
How to appear offline on WhatsApp for the web?
You will need to use Google Chrome, as we will install a Chrome extension to enable incognito mode in WhatsApp.
- Go to the Chrome web store and search for the WAIncognito extension.
- Install the WAIncognito extension.
- Go into the WAIncognito settings and choose not to send read confirmations and not to send last seen updates.
How to chat while appearing offline on WhatsApp?
Did you know that you can even reply to messages on WhatsApp while appearing offline? To do so, there is a trick: you need to reply via the notifications panel.
- On iPhone, slide the message from your notifications panel to the left, select View and reply.
- On Android, tap the message from your notifications panel, select Reply and send the message.
Another option we've mentioned in the Android paragraph is Airplane mode. You can also use it while chatting and replying on both Android and iPhone. You need to turn it on, then go to WhatsApp and type the message, then tap Send, leave the app and exit the Airplane mode.