What read receipts are and why you might want to disable them
Read receipts are the two blue checkmarks that appear next to your message on WhatsApp after someone has opened and read it. The first checkmark means the message was delivered to their phone. The second checkmark appears when they actually open the chat and see what you wrote. WhatsApp sends these signals automatically — the other person knows you have read their message whether you want them to or not.
Some people turn off read receipts because they want privacy about when they are actually reading messages. You might not want your boss to know you saw their message at 11 p.m., or you might prefer to read something without when ready signaling that you are available to respond. Turning off read receipts means the other person will never see that second blue checkmark, so they will not know when you have actually opened their message.
Key Takeaways
- Read receipts are the two blue checkmarks that show when someone has delivered and read your message.
- Turning off read receipts in WhatsApp settings removes the second checkmark for all your conversations at once.
- When you disable read receipts, you also stop seeing read receipts from other people — it works both ways.
- The process takes less than one minute and works the same way on iPhone and Android phones.
How to turn off read receipts on iPhone
Open WhatsApp and tap the Settings icon in the bottom right corner of your screen. On the Settings page, tap Account, then Privacy. You will see a toggle switch next to "Read Receipts." Tap the switch to turn it off. The toggle will change color from green to gray, which means read receipts are now disabled.
Once you have turned off read receipts, the change takes effect when ready. Other people will no longer see the second blue checkmark when they send you messages. However, you will also stop seeing read receipts from other people — the setting applies to all your conversations at the same time.
How to turn off read receipts on Android
Open WhatsApp and tap the three vertical dots (menu icon) in the top right corner of your screen. Select Settings from the dropdown menu. Tap Account, then Privacy. You will see a toggle switch next to "Read Receipts." Tap the switch to turn it off. The toggle will change color from blue to gray, which means read receipts are now disabled.
The Android process is nearly identical to iPhone, and the change takes effect right away. You will no longer send read receipts to anyone, and you will no longer receive them from others. If you change your mind later, you can turn the setting back on by following the same steps and flipping the toggle back on.
What happens when you turn off read receipts
When read receipts are disabled, people who message you will see one blue checkmark (delivery) but never a second checkmark (read). They will have no way of knowing whether you have actually opened and read their message. This applies to all your conversations — you cannot turn off read receipts for one person while keeping them on for someone else.
The trade-off is that you also stop seeing when other people have read your messages. If you send someone a message, you will see one checkmark when it reaches their phone, but you will never see a second checkmark even if they open it and read it. This mutual blindness is how WhatsApp designed the feature — you cannot selectively hide your read status from certain people.
The difference between delivery and read receipts
It is important to understand that delivery and read receipts are two different things. A delivery receipt (the first checkmark) means the message reached the other person's phone and WhatsApp server confirmed it. This happens whether or not they have opened the app. A read receipt (the second checkmark) means they actually opened the chat and saw your message.
You cannot turn off delivery receipts — WhatsApp does not offer that option. The first checkmark will always appear once the message reaches someone's phone. You can only control whether the second checkmark appears, which is the read receipt. If you want people to know you received their message but not know when you actually read it, turning off read receipts is the only way to do that.
When you might want to keep read receipts on
Some people choose to leave read receipts enabled because they want others to know they have seen important messages. In group chats, read receipts help people understand who has actually read an announcement or instruction. At work, read receipts can signal that you have received and understood a task or important date.
Read receipts also help you see when other people have read your messages, which can be useful if you are waiting for a response or trying to understand why someone has not replied. If you turn off read receipts, you lose that information for all your conversations. Consider whether the privacy benefit is worth losing that visibility before you make the change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn off read receipts for just one person?
No. WhatsApp's read receipt setting applies to all your conversations at once. You cannot disable read receipts for one contact while keeping them on for another. If you want to hide your read status from a specific person, your only option is to turn off read receipts entirely.
Will people know I turned off read receipts?
They will notice that the second blue checkmark no longer appears on their messages to you, but WhatsApp does not send a notification saying you have disabled read receipts. They may assume you have turned them off, or they may think you straightforward have not opened the chat yet.
Can I still see when someone has read my message if I turn off read receipts?
No. When you disable read receipts, the setting works both ways. You will not see the second checkmark on your own messages, and other people will not see it on theirs. You lose the ability to see read receipts from everyone.
What if I turn off read receipts and then turn them back on?
You can turn read receipts back on at any time by following the same steps and flipping the toggle back to on. Once you re-enable them, the second blue checkmark will start appearing again on all your messages and on messages you receive.
Do read receipts work the same way in group chats?
Yes. In group chats, the second blue checkmark still indicates that you have read the message. When you turn off read receipts, the checkmark will not appear in group chats either. Other group members will not see when you have read their messages.