WhatsApp does have read receipts, and they are turned on by default
When you open a message in WhatsApp, the person who sent it sees two blue checkmarks next to their message — that is the read receipt. One checkmark means the message reached WhatsApp's servers. Two checkmarks mean you opened the conversation and saw the message. The sender knows the exact moment you read it.
This happens automatically unless you change your settings. Many people find out they have read receipts only when someone asks why they read a message but did not reply. The feature exists to let people know their message was seen, but it also removes the option to read something privately without the sender knowing.
Read receipts work the same way across iPhone, Android, and the web version of WhatsApp. If you turn them off on one device, they stay off on all your devices because the setting is tied to your WhatsApp account, not your phone.
Key Takeaways
- Two blue checkmarks in WhatsApp mean you have opened and read the message, and the sender can see this happened.
- Read receipts are on by default for all new WhatsApp accounts, so the sender knows when you see their message.
- You can turn off read receipts in Settings, but this also hides when you read messages from everyone — you cannot turn them off for one person only.
- If you turn off read receipts, you will still see when other people read your messages if they have read receipts turned on.
- Turning off read receipts does not delete the blue checkmarks from old messages; it only affects messages sent after you change the setting.
How to turn off read receipts on iPhone
Open WhatsApp and tap the Settings icon at the bottom right of the screen. Tap Account, then Privacy. Look for the option that says "Read Receipts" and toggle it off. The switch will turn from green to gray.
After you turn off read receipts, the sender will see one checkmark when you open a message, but not two. They will know the message reached WhatsApp, but not whether you actually read it. This change takes effect when ready for all new messages.
How to turn off read receipts on Android
Open WhatsApp and tap the three vertical dots at the top right. Tap Settings, then Account, then Privacy. Find "Read Receipts" and tap the toggle to turn it off.
The setting works the same way on Android as on iPhone — you will show only one checkmark instead of two, and the sender will not know when you read their message. The change applies to all future messages right away.
How to turn off read receipts on WhatsApp Web
Open WhatsApp Web in your browser and click the three vertical dots at the top left. Click Settings, then Privacy. Toggle off "Read Receipts."
WhatsApp Web uses the same account settings as your phone, so turning off read receipts on the web also turns them off on your phone, and vice versa. If you have WhatsApp open on both your phone and your computer, the change will sync within a few seconds.
What happens when you turn off read receipts
When read receipts are off, senders see one checkmark instead of two. They know their message arrived at WhatsApp's servers, but they do not know whether you have opened the conversation or read the message. This can be useful if you want to read messages without feeling pressured to reply when ready.
Turning off read receipts does not hide your last seen time — that is a separate setting. If your last seen time is visible, people can still tell roughly when you were last active in WhatsApp, even without read receipts. To hide your last seen time, go to Settings, Account, Privacy, and toggle off "Last Seen."
One important limit: you cannot turn off read receipts for one person only. The setting applies to everyone. If you turn off read receipts, nobody will see when you read their messages.
Why senders still see your read receipts if you turn them off
If you turn off read receipts but the person sending you a message has read receipts turned on, you will still see two checkmarks on their messages. Read receipts are not mutual — they depend on the sender's settings, not the receiver's.
This means if someone has read receipts on, they will see when you read their messages even if you have turned off read receipts. Your setting only controls whether other people see when you read their messages, not whether you see when they read yours.
The difference between read receipts and last seen
Read receipts show the exact moment you opened a message. Last seen shows the last time you opened WhatsApp at all, whether or not you read any specific message. You can turn off read receipts without hiding your last seen time, or hide your last seen time without turning off read receipts — they are separate settings.
If you want maximum privacy, turn off both. But keep in mind that hiding your last seen time can make people wonder if you are avoiding them, even if you are just trying to reduce distractions. Read receipts and last seen are both in Settings, Account, Privacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn off read receipts for just one person?
No. Read receipts are an account-wide setting. When you turn them off, nobody sees when you read their messages. There is no way to hide read receipts from one contact while showing them to another.
If I turn off read receipts, will old messages show one or two checkmarks?
Old messages will still show two checkmarks if you already read them before turning off read receipts. The setting only affects messages you receive after you change it. The blue checkmarks on past messages do not change.
What if someone screenshots my message before I read it?
WhatsApp does not notify you when someone takes a screenshot of a regular message. Screenshots are only detected in View Once messages, which disappear after you view them. For regular messages, you have no way to know if someone took a screenshot.
Does turning off read receipts affect group chats?
Yes. When you turn off read receipts, the group admin and other members will see one checkmark instead of two when you read group messages. Your setting applies to both one-on-one chats and groups.
Can I see if someone has turned off read receipts?
Not directly. If someone has read receipts off, you will see only one checkmark on your messages to them. But you cannot tell if they turned off read receipts or if they straightforward have not opened the message yet. One checkmark could mean either thing.