Turn off read receipts, online status, and last seen — in every app

Lets other people forward your stories into their own messages. Off keeps your stories in front of the audience you picked and nobody else.

By default, anyone on Instagram can send you a message request. This screen sets which groups are allowed to send one, so strangers stop landing in your inbox.

Controls who can send you snaps and chats. "Everyone" means any Snapchat user can message you directly. "Friends" limits it to people you've mutually added.

Two controls sit on this screen, Potential connections and Others on TikTok, and each one is set to either Requests or Don't receive. There's no Friends setting and no No one setting, so closing your inbox means changing both.

When on, people can see that you viewed their profile, and you can see who viewed yours. It's off by default, and TikTok offers it only to accounts 16 and over with fewer than 5,000 followers. If you never switched it on, there's nothing here to switch off.

Shows a green dot on Facebook and Messenger when you're online. People use it to gauge whether you're available. Off removes the dot and you can still use Messenger normally, though Facebook warns you may keep showing as active in the other app, so check both. Full guide to Facebook active status ↗

The default is "Everyone." "Friends of friends" reduces requests from complete strangers.

This one isn't about search. Typing an email address into Facebook no longer surfaces a profile; what this controls is whether your profile gets suggested to people who already have your address, in People You May Know. The choices run Possible Connections, Friends of Friends, Friends, No one.

Same as WhatsApp — shows the last time you opened Telegram. "Nobody" hides it completely. You can also set exceptions: always show for specific contacts, never show for others.

Controls whether your number shows on your profile. "Nobody" hides it from everyone, and you can add exceptions for specific contacts.

The second control on the same screen, and the one people miss. It decides who can turn up your account by typing your number. There's no Nobody option here; "My Contacts" is as tight as it goes.

Controls who can add you to group chats and channels without your permission. "Everyone" means any Telegram user can drop you into a group. "My Contacts" limits it. Android labels this screen Invites; iPhone guides call it Groups & Channels, which is why the menu never matches the instructions.

Controls what others see when you view their profile. The default shows your name and headline. Private mode shows "LinkedIn Member" instead, which is the setting to check before researching someone who'd notice.

Shows a green dot when you're on LinkedIn. Recruiters, colleagues, and connections can see you're online. "No one" hides it.

Shows your friends what you're listening to in real time. On desktop that surfaces behind a "Listening Activity" button; the mobile app has no equivalent feed. Spotify ships it off by default, so this is one to confirm rather than assume. The catalog check that targeted this row reads a label Spotify renamed in 2026 and was pulled from delivery, so you set this one yourself.

Broadcasts the game or app you currently have open to anyone who can see your profile. Off stops the "Playing" line appearing under your name. It doesn't touch the green dot: that's your Online status, and hiding it means setting yourself to Invisible. The catalog check that targets this row still looks for it on the retired Privacy & Safety screen, so it cannot reach the new location yet.