Read receipts let you know when someone has opened your email
Read receipts are a request you attach to an email asking the recipient's email program to send you a message back saying "I opened this." When you turn on read receipts in Outlook, you're asking the other person's computer to confirm they've read what you sent — not that they understood it, acted on it, or even finished reading it, just that they opened it.
Outlook has two separate read receipt settings: one that controls whether you send read receipts when others request them, and one that controls whether your outgoing emails request read receipts from recipients. Most people want to turn on the second one — requesting receipts from others — but leave the first one off so they're not constantly sending confirmations back.
The process is different depending on whether you use Outlook on Windows, Mac, or the web version. Each takes about 30 seconds once you know where to look.
Key Takeaways
- Read receipts confirm that someone opened your email, but not that they read or understood it.
- You can request read receipts on individual emails or turn on a setting to request them on all emails you send.
- The recipient can decline to send a read receipt, so you may not always get confirmation even if they opened the message.
- Some email systems and corporate networks block read receipts entirely, so the feature may not work with all recipients.
How to request read receipts on a single email in Outlook
If you only want a read receipt for one specific email, you can request it without changing your default settings. In Outlook on Windows, open a new email, write your message, then look for the Options tab at the top of the compose window. Click it, then find the Request a Read Receipt checkbox and turn it on. Send the email normally.
In Outlook on the web, click the three dots (more options) at the bottom of the compose box, then select Request a read receipt. In Outlook on Mac, click the Options button in the compose window, then check the box next to Request Read Receipt.
When the recipient opens the email, their Outlook will ask them whether to send you a read receipt. They can click yes or no — many people click no because they don't want to confirm they've read something, or because their company's email policy blocks the feature.
How to request read receipts on all emails in Outlook on Windows
If you want every email you send to request a read receipt, you need to change your default settings. Open Outlook and go to File at the top left, then click Options. In the left sidebar, click Mail.
Scroll down until you see a section called Tracking. Check the box that says Request a read receipt for all messages I send. Click OK at the bottom to save. From now on, every email you send will ask for a read receipt.
If you change your mind later, go back to the same place and uncheck the box. You can also turn off read receipts for a single email even if this setting is on — just uncheck the box in the Options tab when you're composing that specific message.
How to request read receipts on all emails in Outlook on Mac
On a Mac, open Outlook and click Outlook in the top menu bar, then select Preferences. In the window that opens, find and click Composing or Mail (the exact name depends on your Outlook version). Look for an option that says Request read receipt or Request a read receipt for all messages and turn it on.
If you don't see this option in Composing, check under General or Mail settings instead. Once you've turned it on, click the red close button to save your changes. Every email you send will now request a read receipt.
How to change whether you send read receipts to others
When someone sends you an email with a read receipt request, Outlook will ask you whether to send one back. You can set a default answer so you don't get asked every time. In Outlook on Windows, go to File > Options > Mail, then scroll to the Tracking section. Look for an option that says When receiving a message that requests a read receipt and choose one of three options: Always send a read receipt, Never send a read receipt, or Ask me.
Most people choose Never send a read receipt because they don't want others to know exactly when they opened an email. Some workplaces set this to Always send for internal emails. Choose whichever matches your preference, then click OK.
On Mac, go to Outlook > Preferences > Mail and look for the same option under Tracking or General.
Why read receipts don't always work
Even if you request a read receipt, you may never get one. The recipient's email program might not support read receipts, or their company's email system might block them entirely. Some people have their email set to never send read receipts, so they'll decline the request. Others use email clients like Gmail or Apple Mail that don't handle Outlook read receipts the same way.
If you're sending to someone outside your organization, assume read receipts won't work. They're most reliable when everyone in a group uses the same email system — like a company where everyone uses Outlook on Windows.
What read receipts actually tell you
A read receipt means the recipient opened the email. It does not mean they read it carefully, understood it, or will act on it. Someone might open an email, see it's not urgent, and move on. A read receipt just confirms the message arrived and was opened at a specific time.
If you need to know whether someone actually read and understood your message, read receipts won't give you that information. For important messages, it's better to ask the person directly to confirm they received it, or to follow up with a phone call or meeting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone refuse to send me a read receipt?
Yes. When your email arrives with a read receipt request, their Outlook will ask them whether to send one back. They can click no, and you'll never know they opened it. Some people decline because they don't want to confirm they've read something, or because their workplace policy blocks read receipts.
Will read receipts work if I send to a Gmail address?
Not reliably. Gmail doesn't support Outlook read receipts the same way. The recipient may not even see the request, or their Gmail may not send a receipt back. For external recipients, assume read receipts won't work and use another method to confirm they received your message.
Can I see read receipts I've already sent?
Yes. In Outlook on Windows, open the email you sent, then look at the top of the message. You should see a line that says "Read:" with a date and time if the recipient sent a receipt back. In Outlook on the web, click the email in your Sent folder and look for read receipt information in the message details.
What's the difference between a read receipt and a delivery receipt?
A delivery receipt confirms your email reached the recipient's mail server. A read receipt confirms they actually opened it. Delivery receipts are more reliable because they don't depend on the recipient's choice — the mail server sends them automatically. Read receipts depend on the recipient's settings and their willingness to send one back.
Does turning on read receipts slow down my email?
No. Requesting read receipts doesn't affect how fast your email sends or receives. It just adds a small request to each message asking the recipient's program to send a confirmation back if they open it.