You can disable read receipts in TikTok's direct message settings so people won't see when you've opened their messages
TikTok shows a small checkmark or timestamp when you open a direct message. Turning off read receipts removes that signal — the sender won't know whether you've read their message or not. The setting is in your privacy controls, and it takes about 30 seconds to change.
This is different from muting notifications (which stops the sound or banner from appearing) or blocking someone (which prevents them from messaging you at all). Read receipts are purely about visibility: whether the other person can see proof that you opened their message.
Key Takeaways
- Read receipts are turned on by default in TikTok direct messages, showing the other person when you've opened their message.
- You can disable read receipts by going to Settings and Privacy, then Messages, then toggling off "Show read receipts".
- Turning off read receipts applies to all your incoming messages — you cannot disable it for one person only.
- When read receipts are off, you still receive messages and can still send them; the sender straightforward won't see a timestamp or checkmark.
Where to find the read receipts setting
Open TikTok and tap the profile icon in the bottom right corner. From there, tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) in the top right. Scroll down and tap "Settings and privacy".
Once you're in Settings and Privacy, tap "Messages". You'll see an option that says "Show read receipts" with a toggle switch next to it. Tap the toggle to turn it off. The switch will change color (usually from blue to gray) to show it's now disabled.
What happens when you turn read receipts off
When read receipts are disabled, people who message you won't see any indicator that you've opened their message. No checkmark, no timestamp, no "seen" label. From their perspective, your message will straightforward sit in their inbox without confirmation that you've read it.
You can still read messages normally. You can still reply to them. The only change is that the other person loses visibility into whether you've seen what they sent. If you send someone a message, you'll still see their read receipts (if they have them turned on), but they won't see yours.
The difference between read receipts and other message settings
Read receipts are about visibility only. Muting a conversation silences notifications from that person but doesn't hide the fact that you've read their messages. Blocking someone prevents them from sending you messages at all. Restricting someone lets them message you, but you control whether they see when you're active.
If you want to stop seeing notifications from someone without hiding your read status, mute the conversation instead. If you want to prevent someone from contacting you entirely, use the block feature. Read receipts sit in between: they let you receive and read messages privately, without the sender knowing you've seen them.
Why someone might turn off read receipts
Some people disable read receipts because they don't want the pressure of appearing to ignore someone. If you read a message but don't reply right away, a read receipt can feel like an obligation to respond when ready. Without it, you can take time to think about your reply without the sender knowing you've already seen their message.
Others turn them off for privacy reasons — they prefer not to broadcast their activity or availability. Some people use it to avoid awkward situations where someone knows they've read a message but haven't answered yet.
You cannot turn off read receipts for one person only
TikTok's read receipts setting is all-or-nothing. When you disable it, it applies to every direct message you receive. You cannot turn read receipts off for one person and keep them on for someone else.
If you want to hide your read status from one specific person but keep it visible to others, your only option is to restrict that person's messages or block them entirely. There is no middle ground that lets you selectively hide read receipts from certain contacts.
What to do if you change your mind
If you turn off read receipts and later decide you want them back on, the process is identical. Go to Settings and Privacy, tap Messages, and toggle "Show read receipts" back on. The switch will turn blue again, and people will start seeing when you've opened their messages.
Turning the setting back on doesn't retroactively show your old read receipts — it only applies to messages you open after you've re-enabled it. People won't be able to see that you read their previous messages while the setting was off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will people know I turned off read receipts?
No. People won't receive a notification that you've disabled read receipts. They'll straightforward notice over time that they never see a checkmark or timestamp when they message you. There's no way for them to know whether you've turned it off or if you just don't use TikTok much.
Can I see other people's read receipts if I turn mine off?
Yes. Disabling your own read receipts doesn't affect your ability to see when other people have read your messages. If someone has read receipts turned on, you'll still see when they've opened your messages. The setting only controls what others see about you.
Does turning off read receipts hide my online status too?
No. Read receipts and online status are separate settings. Turning off read receipts only hides whether you've opened a specific message. Your active status (whether you're currently using TikTok) is controlled by a different privacy setting. You can disable that separately if you want.
What if someone screenshots my message before I read it?
Read receipts don't affect screenshots. TikTok doesn't notify you when someone takes a screenshot of your message, whether read receipts are on or off. If you're concerned about what you're sharing in direct messages, assume anything you send could be saved or shared.
Can I turn off read receipts just for group chats?
No. The setting applies to all your direct messages — both one-on-one chats and group conversations. You cannot disable read receipts for group chats while keeping them on for individual messages, or vice versa.