How to Appear Offline to Some People on Facebook

Using the Messenger App

Open Facebook Messenger. This app is blue with a white lightning bolt on it. If you aren't already signed into Facebook Messenger, enter your phone number and password before continuing.

Tap the People tab. It's the stack of three lines that's either in the bottom-right area of the screen (iPhone) or the top-right area of the screen (Android).

Tap a friend's name. This will open their conversation page; if you've never had a conversation with them, this page will be empty.

Tap their name. It's at the top of the conversation page. Doing so invokes a pop-up menu.

Tap Block. This is the last option on the page.

Slide the "Block Messages" switch right. It will turn green or blue, depending on your device. Doing so will prevent this friend from seeing that you're online, though it will also prevent you from receiving any messages from them. Repeat this process with each person from whom you wish to hide.

Using a Computer

Go to Facebook's website. It's at https://www.facebook.com/. Doing so will open your News Feed if you're already signed into Facebook. If you aren't already signed into Facebook, enter your email address (or phone number) and password before continuing.

Click ⚙️. This icon is in the bottom-right corner of the Facebook window, just below the chat bar. A pop-up menu will appear. If your entire chat is currently turned off, first click the turn on chat link.

Click Turn Off Chat. It's near the middle of the pop-up menu.

Click the "Turn off chat for only some contacts" circle. This option allows you to select specific friends to whom you'll appear offline. If you only want to appear online to a few people, click the "Turn off chat for all contacts except" circle.

Select friends from whom to hide. To do so, type in a friend's name, then click their name when it appears below the text field. If you're turning on chat for a few people instead, just enter the names of the people for whom you wish to appear online.

Click Okay. It's a blue button at the bottom of the window. This will turn off Facebook chat for your selected friends, making you appear offline in the process. You will still be able to receive messages and notifications from these contacts, but they won't see you in their "Active Now" chat bar.