What a read receipt does and when to use it
A read receipt is a notification that tells you when someone has opened an email you sent them. When you request one, Outlook asks the recipient's email system to send you a message back the moment they open your message — not when they reply, but when they first look at it.
Read receipts are useful when you need to know whether someone has seen something time-sensitive: a meeting reschedule, a important date change, or a document you need feedback on. They are less useful for casual messages, because many people disable read receipts on their accounts, and some email systems ignore the request entirely.
The person receiving your email will see a notification asking whether they want to send you a read receipt. They can choose to send it, decline it, or ignore the prompt — Outlook does not force them to respond.
Key Takeaways
- Read receipts must be turned on for each individual email you send; they are not a permanent account setting.
- The recipient sees a prompt asking whether to send a read receipt, and many people decline or ignore it.
- Some email systems and corporate networks block read receipts entirely, so you may not receive one even if the person opens the message.
- Outlook on the web, Outlook desktop, and Outlook mobile all have the option, but the steps differ slightly between versions.
How to request a read receipt in Outlook on the web
Open Outlook in your browser and start composing a new message. Click the three dots (more options) at the bottom of the compose window — this is usually near the formatting buttons. A menu will appear with additional settings.
Look for the option labeled "Request a read receipt" or "Request delivery and read receipts" depending on your version. Click the checkbox next to it. The option will now be active for this email only. Finish writing your message and send it as normal.
When the recipient opens the email, they will see a notification at the top of the message asking if they want to send you a read receipt. If they click "Send Receipt," you will receive a notification in your inbox confirming they opened it.
How to request a read receipt in Outlook desktop
Open Outlook on your computer and create a new email. In the ribbon at the top, look for the "Options" tab or "Message" tab depending on your version. Click it to reveal additional buttons.
Find the button labeled "Request Read Receipt" or "Delivery Receipt" — the exact name varies by Outlook version. Click it once. You should see a small indicator appear in the compose window confirming the receipt has been requested. Write your message and send it.
If you cannot find this button in the ribbon, try right-clicking in the compose window or looking under the "File" menu for "Properties" or "Message Options." The read receipt setting is usually nested in one of these locations.
How to request a read receipt in Outlook mobile
Open Outlook on your phone or tablet and tap the compose button to start a new message. Write your message as normal. Before you send, look for a menu button — usually three dots or lines at the top or bottom of the compose screen.
Tap "Options" or "More" from that menu. Scroll down to find "Request a read receipt" or "Request read receipt" and toggle it on. The setting will turn blue or show a checkmark. Send your message.
The mobile version of Outlook sometimes hides this option deeper in the settings, so if you do not see it in the main options menu, try looking under "Message Settings" or "Advanced Options."
Why you might not receive a read receipt
Even if you request a read receipt, you may never see one. The most common reason is that the recipient has disabled read receipts in their own Outlook settings, or they declined the notification when it appeared. This is their choice, and Outlook respects it.
Corporate email systems and some organizations block read receipts entirely for privacy reasons. If someone works at a company with strict email policies, their system may strip out the read receipt request before it reaches them. You will not know this happened — you straightforward will not receive a notification.
Some email providers outside of Outlook (Gmail, Yahoo, Apple Mail) do not support read receipts the same way, so requesting one from an Outlook account to a Gmail account may not work. The recipient's email system has to understand and honor the request for it to function.
The difference between read receipts and delivery receipts
A delivery receipt tells you that your email reached the recipient's mail server — that it was successfully delivered. A read receipt tells you that the person actually opened and viewed the message. They are two different things.
Outlook can request both at the same time. A delivery receipt is more reliable because mail servers are designed to send them, whereas read receipts depend on the recipient's willingness to share that information. If you only need to know the email arrived, request a delivery receipt. If you need to know they saw it, request a read receipt.
What to do if read receipts are not working
First, check that you actually requested the receipt. Go back to your Sent folder, open the message you sent, and look for any indication that a read receipt was requested. If you do not see one, the setting did not save — try requesting it again on your next message.
Wait at least a few hours before assuming the receipt will not arrive. The recipient may not have opened the email yet, or they may have declined the notification without you knowing. If several days pass and you still have not heard back, the recipient's system likely does not support read receipts or they have disabled them.
If read receipts worked before but have stopped working, check your Outlook version — sometimes updates change where this setting is located. You can also try requesting a delivery receipt instead to confirm the email is reaching them, then follow up with a phone call or message through another channel to confirm they saw it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I request a read receipt after I have already sent an email?
No. The read receipt request must be set before you send the message. Once an email is in the recipient's inbox, you cannot add a read receipt request to it. You would need to send a new message with the receipt requested.
Will the person know I requested a read receipt?
Yes. When they open your email, they will see a notification asking if they want to send you a read receipt. They will know you asked for one, though they can choose not to send it.
What happens if someone opens my email multiple times?
You will receive only one read receipt, the first time they open the message. If they close it and open it again later, you will not receive a second notification.
Do read receipts work with forwarded emails?
No. If someone forwards your email to another person, the read receipt request does not carry forward. It only applies to the original recipient you sent it to.
Can I turn off read receipts for all my emails at once?
You cannot request them for all emails automatically, but you can set your account to always decline incoming read receipt requests from others. This is done in Outlook settings under "Mail" or "Privacy," where you can choose how Outlook handles requests sent to you.