Android has read receipts, but they work differently than on iPhone
Android does have read receipts — a feature that tells the sender when you have opened their message. However, Android read receipts are not built into the operating system the way they are on iPhone. Instead, they depend on which messaging app you use and whether both people have the same app installed.
The most common Android messaging apps — Google Messages, Samsung Messages, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger — all support read receipts. But the feature works only when both the sender and receiver use that same app. If you text someone through Google Messages and they use Samsung Messages, neither of you will see read receipts from the other.
Read receipts also require you to turn them on. By default, most Android apps either have them disabled or set to show only to people in your contacts. This means you control whether others can see when you have read their messages.
Key Takeaways
- Android read receipts are not a system-wide feature — they exist only within individual messaging apps like Google Messages, WhatsApp, and Samsung Messages.
- Both people must use the same messaging app for read receipts to work; if one person uses Google Messages and the other uses WhatsApp, neither will see them.
- Read receipts are usually turned off by default in Android apps, so you have to enable them yourself if you want senders to know when you have read their messages.
- You can control your read receipt settings separately for each messaging app, allowing you to turn them on for some apps and off for others.
How to turn on read receipts in Google Messages
Google Messages is the default texting app on most newer Android phones. To turn on read receipts, open Google Messages and tap the three-line menu icon in the top left corner. Select Settings, then tap Advanced, and toggle on Send read receipts.
Once you enable this setting, anyone who texts you through Google Messages will see a small checkmark or "Read" indicator when you open their message. The person texting you must also have Google Messages installed for this to work. If they use a different app, they will not see your read receipt.
How to turn on read receipts in WhatsApp
WhatsApp shows read receipts by default, but you can adjust the setting if you want to turn them off or change who sees them. Open WhatsApp and tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner. Go to Settings, then Privacy, and look for Read Receipts.
You have two choices here: turn read receipts on (so senders see when you have read their message) or turn them off (so no one knows when you have opened their message). WhatsApp does not let you show read receipts to some people but not others — the setting applies to everyone.
How to turn on read receipts in Samsung Messages
If your phone came with Samsung Messages as the default texting app, open the app and tap the three-dot menu in the top right. Select Settings, then Chat features, and toggle on Read receipts.
Samsung Messages read receipts work only between two Samsung Messages users. If you send a text to someone using Google Messages or another app, they will not see your read receipt even if you have the feature turned on.
Why read receipts sometimes do not show up
The most common reason read receipts do not appear is that the other person is not using the same messaging app as you. If you use WhatsApp and they use Google Messages, neither of you will see read receipts from the other, even if both apps have the feature turned on.
Another reason is that the other person has read receipts turned off in their app settings. If they have disabled the feature, you will not see when they read your messages, and they will not see when you read theirs.
Network issues can also delay read receipts. If someone is offline or has a poor connection, the read receipt may not send right away. Once they reconnect, the receipt usually arrives within a few seconds.
The difference between read receipts and delivery receipts
Read receipts and delivery receipts are two different things, and it is straightforward to confuse them. A delivery receipt tells you that your message reached the other person's phone — it arrived on their device. A read receipt tells you that they have actually opened and read the message.
Most Android messaging apps show delivery receipts as a single checkmark and read receipts as a double checkmark or the word "Read". Delivery receipts usually arrive within seconds of sending. Read receipts only appear after the person opens the message.
How to turn off read receipts if you do not want others to see them
If you do not want people to know when you have read their messages, you can disable read receipts in any Android messaging app. The steps are the same as turning them on — go to Settings in your messaging app and toggle off the read receipt option.
Keep in mind that turning off read receipts means you also will not see when others read your messages. The setting is usually all-or-nothing; you cannot show read receipts to some people but hide them from others within the same app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do read receipts work across different messaging apps?
No. Read receipts only work when both people use the same messaging app. If you text someone through Google Messages and they use WhatsApp, neither of you will see read receipts from the other, even if both apps have the feature turned on.
Can I turn off read receipts for just one person?
Most Android messaging apps do not allow you to control read receipts on a per-contact basis. You either turn the feature on for everyone or off for everyone. WhatsApp, Google Messages, and Samsung Messages all work this way.
What is the difference between a checkmark and a double checkmark?
A single checkmark usually means your message was delivered to the other person's phone. A double checkmark or the word "Read" means they have opened and read the message. The exact symbols vary by app.
If I turn off read receipts, can I still see when others read my messages?
No. Turning off read receipts is a two-way setting. When you disable it, others cannot see your read receipts, and you cannot see theirs. You cannot receive read receipts while hiding your own.
Do read receipts work in group chats?
Yes, most Android messaging apps show read receipts in group chats. You will see which people have read the message and which have not. Some apps display this as individual checkmarks next to each person's name.