This wikiHow teaches you how to hide your online status on Facebook Messenger, and hide your online friends list.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Hiding Online Status in Phone Apps
Step 1. Tap the lightning icon in the blue chat bubble to open Facebook Messenger
If you're not signed in to Messenger, type in your mobile number. Tap Continue, and enter your password.
Step 2. Tap People in the lower right corner of the screen
Step 3. Tap the Active tab at the top of the screen, just below the search bar
If you look at the tab Active blue, you're on that tab.
Step 4. Slide the switch next to your name towards the left
This way, you will appear offline. Even if it looks offline, you can still send and receive messages.
When you hide your online status, you also cannot see other users' online status in the "Active" tab
Method 2 of 4: Hiding Online Status on Websites
Step 1. Visit the main Facebook page
Facebook will display a news feed.
If you're not logged into Facebook, enter your email address or phone number, followed by your password. After that, click Log in in the upper right corner of the screen.
Step 2. Click the lightning bolt-shaped Messenger icon in the top right corner of the Facebook page
Step 3. Click View All in Messenger at the bottom of the Messenger menu
Step 4. Click the ️ button on the top left corner of the Facebook page
Step 5. Click Settings at the top of the cog menu
Step 6. Click the green slider at the top of the page, next to your name, to hide your online status from friends
Method 3 of 4: Hiding Online Friends List on Phone
Step 1. Tap the lightning icon in the blue chat bubble to open Facebook Messenger
If you're not signed in to Messenger, type in your mobile number. Tap Continue, and enter your password.
Step 2. Next to Active Now, tap the " button
..". It's below the list of recent messages at the top of the screen.
Step 3. Tap Hide to hide the list of contacts who are using Facebook Messenger
Method 4 of 4: Hiding Online Friends List on Website
Step 1. Visit the main Facebook page
If you are logged in, Facebook will display a news feed.
If you're not logged into Facebook, enter your email address or phone number, followed by your password. After that, click Log in in the upper right corner of the screen.
Step 2. Click the ️ button in the lower right corner of the page, just to the right of the search bar in the chat column
Step 3. Click Hide Sidebar
Your Facebook chat field will disappear from the left of the screen. The "Active Now" dot and the names of friends who are currently using Facebook Messenger will not appear.
