What read receipts do and why you might want them
A read receipt is a notification that tells you when someone has opened an email you sent them. When you turn on read receipts in Outlook, the person who receives your message gets a prompt asking whether they want to let you know they've read it. If they say yes, you'll see a notification in Outlook confirming the date and time they opened the email.
Read receipts are useful when you need to know whether an important message actually reached someone's attention — a important date reminder to your team, a document you need feedback on, or a request that requires a response. They're not a may provide that someone read every word, only that they opened the message.
Keep in mind that read receipts only work if the other person agrees to send one. Many people decline them for privacy reasons, so you may not always get a response even if the email was read.
Key Takeaways
- Read receipts in Outlook send you a notification when someone opens your email, but only if they choose to allow it.
- You can request a read receipt for a single email or set Outlook to request them automatically on all messages you send.
- The steps differ slightly between Outlook on the web, Outlook for Windows, and Outlook for Mac.
- Many people decline read receipt requests, so you may not receive confirmation even if your email was opened.
How to request a read receipt on one email in Outlook for Windows
Open Outlook and start composing a new email. Click the Options tab at the top of the compose window. In the Tracking group, you'll see a checkbox labeled Request a Read Receipt — click it to turn it on. The checkbox will show a checkmark when it's active.
Write your email normally and send it. When the recipient opens the message, they'll see a prompt asking if they want to send you a read receipt. If they click Yes, you'll receive a notification in your inbox confirming they've read it.
How to request a read receipt on one email in Outlook on the web
Open Outlook in your web browser and click New Message. Start typing your email. Look for the three dots (more options menu) near the bottom of the compose area and click it. Select Request a read receipt from the dropdown menu.
The option will show a checkmark once it's turned on. Finish writing your email and click Send. The recipient will see a read receipt request when they open the message.
How to request a read receipt on one email in Outlook for Mac
Create a new email in Outlook for Mac. In the compose window, click the Options button in the toolbar. Check the box next to Request Read Receipt. Send your email as usual.
The recipient will receive a prompt asking whether to send you a read receipt when they open the message.
How to set read receipts automatically for all emails
In Outlook for Windows: Click File in the top menu, then Options. Select Mail from the left sidebar. Scroll down to the Tracking section and check the box next to Always request a read receipt. Click OK to save. From now on, every email you send will automatically request a read receipt.
In Outlook on the web: Click the gear icon in the top right corner and select View all Outlook settings. Go to Mail and then Message handling. Look for the option to request read receipts and toggle it on. Your changes save automatically.
In Outlook for Mac: Click Outlook in the top menu, then Preferences. Select Composing and check the box for Request read receipts for all messages. Close the preferences window to save your changes.
What happens when someone receives your read receipt request
When a recipient opens an email with a read receipt request, Outlook shows them a message bar asking if they want to send you a notification that they've read it. They have three choices: send the receipt, don't send it, or never send receipts to you again.
If they choose not to send a receipt, you won't be notified. This is why read receipts aren't reliable — many people decline them because they prefer not to share when they've read messages. Some organizations also have policies that prevent employees from sending read receipts.
Why read receipts might not work
Read receipts only function when both people are using email clients that support them — Outlook, Gmail, Apple Mail, and most other major email programs do, but some older or specialized systems don't. Even when both systems support them, the recipient has to actively choose to send the receipt.
If you don't receive a read receipt, it could mean the person declined it, their email program doesn't support it, they haven't opened the email yet, or there's a technical issue preventing the notification from reaching you. A missing read receipt doesn't necessarily mean the email wasn't read.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see read receipts for emails I sent in the past?
No. Read receipts only work for emails you send going forward. You can't request them retroactively for messages already in someone's inbox. If you need to know whether an old email was read, you'll have to ask the person directly.
What's the difference between a read receipt and a delivery receipt?
A delivery receipt confirms that your email reached the recipient's mail server — that it was successfully delivered. A read receipt confirms that the person actually opened and viewed the message. Delivery receipts are more reliable because they're automatic, while read receipts require the recipient's permission.
If I turn on automatic read receipts, can I turn them off for one specific email?
Yes. Even if you've set Outlook to request read receipts on all emails, you can uncheck the read receipt option when composing a single message. Open the Options or More menu and deselect the read receipt checkbox before sending.
Do read receipts work if someone forwards my email to someone else?
No. Read receipts are tied to the original recipient. If they forward your email to another person, you won't receive a read receipt when that third person opens it. Only the original recipient can send you a read receipt.
Can someone tell if I declined their read receipt request?
They'll know you didn't send a receipt because they won't receive one, but Outlook doesn't send a separate notification saying you declined it. From their perspective, you either didn't open the email or your email program doesn't support read receipts.