How to disable the 'Active Now' green dot on Facebook
Over the years, my Facebook feed has turned into a hodgepodge of MLM peddlers, COVID misinformation, rage over said COVID misinformation, and Minions memes. Yet, embarrassingly, I still check up on it every now and again — and I know I'm not alone in that.
In keeping with this surreptitious Facebook use, I don't want anyone to spy that green bubble next to my icon and actually know that I'm checking it. Here's how to disable the 'Active Now' green dot on Facebook.
On desktop, press the Messenger icon on the top right of the homepage.
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Next, select the ellipsis (...) at the top of the dropdown.
Chat Settings will open up. Go to Turn Off Active Status.
You can choose whether to turn off the green bubble for everyone, or blacklist/whitelist certain names. Click "Okay" when you're done.
On mobile, this is a little different. When you tap Messenger on the Facebook app, it'll open up the dedicated Messenger app. From there, click your profile picture at the top left. Select Active Status, and then toggle whether you want to show that you're active:
That's it! Enjoy your private Facebook scrolling.
Topics Facebook Social Media
Anna Iovine is the associate editor of features at Mashable. Previously, as the sex and relationships reporter, she covered topics ranging from dating apps to pelvic pain. Before Mashable, Anna was a social editor at VICE and freelanced for publications such as Slate and the Columbia Journalism Review. Follow her on Bluesky.
