Slack shows you when someone has read your message, but only in direct messages and threads

Slack does have read receipts, but they work differently depending on where you send the message. In direct messages (one-on-one conversations), you'll see a small checkmark icon next to your message once the other person has opened and read it. In channels (group conversations), read receipts don't appear at all — you have no way to know if anyone actually read what you wrote.

The read receipt appears as a small icon next to the timestamp of your message. One checkmark means the message was delivered. Two checkmarks mean the person has read it. This only works if both people have read receipts turned on in their workspace settings, and it only shows up in one-on-one conversations.

If you're in a thread within a channel, read receipts also don't show. This is intentional — Slack designed it this way to keep channel conversations from feeling like a performance where everyone is watching to see who read what.

Key Takeaways

  • Read receipts in Slack only work in direct messages between two people, not in channels or group conversations.
  • A single checkmark means your message was delivered; two checkmarks mean the person has read it.
  • Both people must have read receipts enabled in their workspace settings for the feature to work.
  • Threads within channels do not show read receipts, even if the thread is a conversation between two people.
  • You can turn read receipts off in your personal settings if you don't want others to see when you've read their messages.

Where read receipts appear and where they don't

The location of your message determines whether a read receipt will show. Direct messages are the only place where Slack displays read receipts by default. When you send a message to one person in a DM, and they open Slack and view that conversation, the two-checkmark icon appears next to your message.

Channels work differently. Even if you send a message in a channel and someone reads it when ready, you won't see any indication. This applies whether the channel has two members or two hundred. The same rule holds for threads — if you start a thread in a channel and reply to someone's message, read receipts won't show even though it's technically a conversation between two people.

Group direct messages (a DM with three or more people) also do not show read receipts. Only one-on-one direct messages display them.

How to turn read receipts on or off

Read receipts are usually on by default in Slack, but you can disable them if you don't want people to see when you've read their messages. To change this setting, open Slack and click your profile picture in the top right corner. Select "Preferences" from the menu that appears.

In Preferences, look for "Privacy" on the left side. Click it, then find the option that says "Read receipts." You'll see a toggle switch. Turn it off if you don't want others to know when you've read their direct messages. Turn it on if you want read receipts to work normally. Your choice only affects whether others can see that you've read messages — it doesn't prevent you from seeing when they've read yours.

If someone has read receipts turned off, you won't see the two-checkmark icon even if they've opened and read your message. You'll only see the single checkmark indicating delivery.

Why Slack limits read receipts to direct messages

Slack intentionally keeps read receipts out of channels because they can create pressure and anxiety in group conversations. If everyone could see exactly who read a message and who didn't, people might feel obligated to respond when ready or worry about being judged for not reading everything. Channels are meant to be asynchronous — people check them when they have time, not in real-time.

Direct messages are different. A one-on-one conversation is more like a text message or email between two people, so the expectation of responsiveness is higher. Read receipts make sense there because both people are usually waiting for a reply from each other.

This design choice is one reason Slack feels less stressful than some other messaging platforms. You can read a channel message at 3 a.m. and no one will know you were awake.

What read receipts don't tell you

A read receipt only means the person opened the conversation and the message appeared on their screen. It doesn't mean they understood the message, agreed with it, or will act on it. Someone might read your message and then get distracted before responding. Read receipts also don't show whether someone read your message on their phone, computer, or both.

If someone has Slack open in the background on their computer but is working in another program, opening the Slack window might trigger a read receipt even if they weren't actually paying attention to it. The feature is less precise than it appears.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see read receipts in a group direct message with three or more people?

No. Read receipts only work in one-on-one direct messages. If you add a third person to a conversation, the read receipt feature stops working, and you won't see any indication of whether people have read your messages.

What does it mean if I see one checkmark but not two?

One checkmark means your message was delivered to Slack's servers and the other person's Slack account received it. Two checkmarks mean they have actually opened the conversation and viewed the message. If you only see one checkmark after a long time, the person either hasn't opened Slack or has read receipts turned off.

If I turn off read receipts, can I still see when others have read my messages?

No. Turning off read receipts is a two-way street. When you disable it, others can't see that you've read their messages, and you also won't see read receipts from them. It's a workspace-wide setting that affects both directions.

Do read receipts work if someone is using Slack on their phone?

Yes. Read receipts work the same way whether someone is using Slack on a phone, computer, or web browser. As long as they open the direct message conversation, the read receipt will show.

Why don't I see read receipts in channels when I know people are reading them?

Slack deliberately disabled read receipts in channels to reduce pressure and anxiety in group conversations. The feature only works in direct messages between two people. This is by design, not a bug or limitation you can change.