The privacy settings on Microsoft’s consoles are robust; there’s an answer for you. “Incognito mode” does exist, so how to appear offline on Xbox One and Xbox Series?
You’ll find the option on the console’s interface or within the Xbox app for smartphones. Both methods are easy to engage.
Playing offline makes your account “invisible.” It hides your online status from your friends. In other words, your contacts won’t see a green dot next to your Xbox profile picture, so it will look like you’re offline.
Appearing offline doesn’t influence your ability to play online on Xbox. You can join multiplayer sessions as usual.
How to Appear Offline on Xbox?
Multiplayer gaming offers a way to interact with friends and family members from your home. Even if you’re oceans apart, you can join a multiplayer session. It’s no secret why online gaming is so appealing.
Sometimes, though, you’re more invested in single-player games. Or, maybe, you’re not in the mood for multiplayer or talking to anyone online.
The Xbox One and the Xbox Series’ privacy settings allow you to customize who gets to see when you’re online. Let’s remember these two console families share interfaces and services. The tutorial is the same for either option.
In summary, you’ll find the relevant options on the console’s privacy or the profile menu. Otherwise, you can find it on the app.
Appear Offline on Xbox Series and Xbox One Consoles
To appear offline on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox One, you can simply go to the Profile side menu and change it quickly.
This is the easiest way, and here’s the tutorial:
- Go to your Xbox’s home page
- Press the Xbox button on the controller to open the menu
- Go to Profile & system, all the way to the right
- Select your profile
- At the bottom of the new menu, select Appear online. If you already selected to appear offline, you’ll see it as “Appear offline” instead.
- Select Appear offline
The process will make you appear offline to every player. It doesn’t matter if someone has you added as a friend; you’ll still be invisible to them, even if you’re playing with them.
Appear Offline to Anyone but Your Friends on Xbox
You can customize it further and decide who gets to see you when you’re online. Even more, you can customize who can talk to you, add you to their contact list, or play with you:
- Go to your Xbox’s home screen
- Press the Xbox button on the controller
- Go to Profile & System
- Select Settings
- Go to Account
- Select Privacy & online safety
- Select Xbox Live privacy
- Select View details & customize
- Select Online status & history
There’re multiple options on the new page, on a series of dropdown menus. These settings offer three options: “Everybody,” “Friends,” and “Block.” To make your profile visible only to your friends, select “Friends” on “Others can see if you’re online.”
Appear Offline through the Xbox App
There’s a third way to appear offline while playing on Xbox One or Xbox Series. The alternative is available through the Xbox app, free for Android and iPhone.
So, first, you can download the app for your smart device, launch it, and log in with the same credentials you use on your Xbox.
Then, here’s what you need to do:
- Open the app
- Tab your profile picture. It’s on the bottom-right of the app’s home page.
- Tab “Appear Offline.” It’s a button on the profile page below your profile picture and name.
Tapping the button will automatically swap between offline and online. If you were online, it would remove the green dot next to your profile, so your friends will always see you as “offline.”
Then, if you want to appear online again, you can tap the “Appear online” button. Alternatively, you can do it on the Xbox with the steps above.
Additional Privacy Options on Xbox
Microsoft offers a broad suite of privacy settings for its console users. If you’re an Xbox owner, you should check the options before playing online.
Particularly, if there’re children at home, you should take care of these settings for them. In other words, use their consoles and accounts to make gaming more private. It’s a matter of safety.
So, go back to the Xbox Live privacy menu, and check its options thoroughly. Alternatively, you can change the configuration on your PC using a web browser:
- Sign in to Xbox on this page. Use the same credentials you’re using on your console.
- Click your Gamertag at the top right of the screen.
- Select Xbox profile
- Go to Privacy settings.
- After selecting Privacy settings, you may have to log in with your Microsoft account. It may even ask you to verify your identity by sending a code to your email or phone.
- Select “Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and Windows 10 devices Online Safety.”
- Review the settings carefully and update what you want to change
- Click on “Submit” at the bottom to save the changes.
- Check the Privacy tab for other settings, and remember to click on “Submit” to save changes.
For example, on the Privacy tab, you can customize who sees when you’re online. 
Manage Your Children’s Privacy Options
The administrator of an Xbox Family group can manage settings for members of his family group. You would become the administrator by opening an account and checking that you’re an adult after inputting your date of birth.
Then, other people opening an account on the same console would become family members if they are underaged.
So, children can see but not manage their settings. Instead, you can check your family settings on the web page as well:
Go back to the Xbox’s webpage and sign in with your credentials
- Click your Gamertag at the top-right
- Select Xbox profile
- Select Privacy & safety and verify your account
Suppose you’re a family group manager. In that case, you’ll be able to select the Gamertag of the account you want to manage in this menu. So, select your children’s accounts, and check:
- The “Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows 10 devices Online Safety” tab
- and the Privacy tab to make relevant changes. Don’t forget to click on “Submit” to save it!
Regarding changing “Online” to “Offline” on your children’s Xbox, you’d be able to do it from their consoles while using their accounts. Alternatively, you can do it on the Privacy tab of the webpage after selecting their Gamertag.
