Add the extension
Choose your browser from the official store links and complete its installation prompt.
setup guide
Make yourself comfortable.
Start with the free privacy controls, then set up the Pro tools you want. This guide follows version 2.1.0. Just installed? The getting-started page is a shorter checklist.
Start with the essentials
Stay Unseen runs on supported websites in desktop Chrome, Edge or Firefox. The free privacy controls work without a licence key.
Pin it. Refresh your tabs.
Pin Stay Unseen from your browser's extensions menu, then reload any social tabs that were already open — including after an update.
Open your dashboard
Click the toolbar icon, review the switches for each site, and leave the privacy controls you want enabled.
Coming from 1.1.1? The toolbar icon now opens a full-page dashboard. Your browser may ask for access to the added websites and media downloads. The release notes list the changes.
Find your way around the dashboard
- All Protection: review the overall status, pause controls and platform settings. Each platform has individual switches and an "All" control.
- Platform sections: choose Instagram, Messenger & FB, WhatsApp Web, Threads or TikTok to see the relevant controls.
- In-Page Utilities: manage download buttons, the floating Ghost Pill, Mark Seen, unread markers, Focus mode, screen privacy and the download queue.
- Live Telemetry: local blocked-signal totals, recent activity and charts. These stay in your browser — this is not an analytics upload.
- Pause protection: choose 15m, 1h or 24h, or select Resume to end a pause early.
Core privacy switches start enabled. Pro switches unlock after activation. Focus mode, screen privacy and the download queue start off, so turn them on when you need them.
Read inline feature health
Feature rows show local activity, a runtime-health badge and, where available, a separate public verification date. A blocked count and "last" time come from this browser; "Working" describes local components; "Verified" comes from a recorded compatibility test.
Required local components responded. This does not prove end-to-end suppression.
Open a supported tab to check its content scripts.
A required signal failed, or only some open tabs are healthy.
No fresh content-script response — this does not necessarily mean your internet is offline.
The switch is off or protection is paused, a Pro entitlement is required, or a check is running.
Hover, focus or click a badge to see exact local reasons, such as a missing hook, an older content build, or one of several tabs not responding. Reload affected tabs and check site access. Read the public status page separately for published compatibility.
What works where
Tools appear when the current page has a supported chat, profile or media item. This table separates the original free privacy features from Pro additions.
| Platform | Free privacy | Pro additions |
|---|---|---|
| Story/reel views, DM read receipts, typing controls, native unread markers. | Supported photos, videos, posts, reels, stories and voice-note downloads; follow status; Mark Seen (open chat — not Threads/TikTok); per-chat controls; Focus mode; screen privacy. | |
| Story views, read receipts, typing controls, native unread markers. | Supported photos, videos, posts, reels, stories and voice-note downloads; Mark Seen (open chat — not Threads/TikTok); per-chat controls; Focus mode; screen privacy. | |
| Messenger | Read receipts, typing controls, native unread markers. | Mark Seen (open chat — not Threads/TikTok); per-chat controls; screen privacy. Focus mode covers Instagram, Facebook and Threads only. |
| WhatsApp Web | Not included. | Read receipts, typing and recording, Status views, Mark Seen (open chat); per-chat controls; screen privacy. |
| Threads | Not included. | Seen and typing controls, follow status, unread markers; Focus mode; screen privacy. |
| TikTok | Not included. | Watermark-free video downloads where available, follow status. No profile-visit or read-receipt hiding. |
Activate & move Pro
- Buy Lifetime Pro from the store, then copy your licence key.
- Open the dashboard, go to the Pro section and paste the key to activate. The key covers up to three active browser installations — separate browsers or profiles count separately, even on one computer.
- Moving to a new machine? Release the old device from the dashboard first, then activate the new one. Release before uninstalling or clearing extension data.
- Pro is verified locally and renewed online about daily through the Stay Unseen API. Offline Pro works only until the current entitlement expires. No social account is ever linked.
Ghost Pill & quick controls
The Ghost Pill floats on supported pages and opens quick controls for the site you're on — change a tool, pause protection, or jump to the dashboard without leaving the tab. Drag it with your mouse to move it away from chat buttons; its position is saved per site. A normal click opens the controls, dragging never does, and you can hide the pill and restore it from the dashboard.
Mark Seen, downloads & follow status
- Mark Seen requests a read receipt for the open Instagram, Facebook, Messenger or WhatsApp Web conversation when you choose — not on Threads or TikTok. Sender-visible receipts still depend on the platform's own privacy settings.
- Downloads & queue save supported media you're already viewing: Instagram/Facebook photos, videos, posts, reels, stories and voice-notes, plus TikTok watermark-free video where available (no photo slideshows; 128 MB download limit in Chrome/Edge). The queue shows progress and state, and files are organized by platform and date.
- Follow-status badges show whether a profile follows you when relationship information is available. Instagram shows the badge below the follow control; Threads shows a rounded badge after the username.
Focus & screen privacy
Focus mode hides distracting feeds on Instagram, Facebook and Threads while messaging stays available. Screen privacy blurs and locks supported pages on Instagram, Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp Web and Threads, and the Ghost Pill stays reachable so you can turn it off. Neither feature records your screen or uploads a screenshot.
Troubleshooting
Reload the social tab, confirm the extension is enabled and up to date, and check that the relevant switch is on. See the status page for known issues.
Paste your licence key in the Pro section and activate. If you moved machines, release the old device first.
Drag it somewhere else, or hide it from the dashboard's In-Page Utilities and restore it later.