What read receipts are and why you might want to turn them off
Read receipts are notifications that tell the person who sent you a message that you have opened and read it. When read receipts are on, a checkmark, timestamp, or "seen" indicator appears next to their message — usually in messaging apps like iMessage, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or Gmail. The sender knows the moment you read their words, even if you do not respond right away.
Turning them off means the sender will not see when you have read their message. They will know it was delivered, but not whether you have actually opened it. This is a privacy choice: some people do not want others tracking their availability or response patterns. Others turn them off to reduce the pressure to reply when ready, or to avoid the awkwardness of being seen reading a message and not responding.
The steps to disable read receipts vary by app and device. Most platforms let you turn them off globally (for all conversations) or per conversation (for specific people). You control this setting on your own device — you cannot prevent someone else from seeing your read receipts unless they turn off the feature themselves.
Key Takeaways
- Read receipts show the sender when you have opened their message, and turning them off hides that information from everyone who messages you.
- Most messaging apps have a global setting to disable read receipts for all conversations, usually found in Settings or Privacy options.
- Some apps let you turn off read receipts for individual conversations rather than all of them, giving you more control over who sees when you read messages.
- Disabling read receipts on your device does not prevent others from seeing your read receipts — they must turn off the feature on their own devices.
How to turn off read receipts on iPhone and iPad
On iMessage (Apple's built-in messaging app), open Settings on your iPhone or iPad. Scroll down and tap Messages. Look for the toggle next to Send Read Receipts and turn it off. This disables read receipts for all iMessage conversations.
If you want to keep read receipts on overall but turn them off for one specific person, open the conversation with that person in Messages, tap their name or number at the top, and toggle off Send Read Receipts for just that thread.
For other messaging apps on iPhone — WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, Signal — the process differs. In WhatsApp, go to Settings > Privacy and toggle off Read Receipts. In Facebook Messenger, tap your profile icon, go to Privacy, and turn off Read Receipts. Check the app's own settings menu if you are unsure where the option lives.
How to turn off read receipts on Android
On Android, the location of read receipt settings depends on which messaging app you use. For the default Messages app (which varies by phone manufacturer), open Settings within the app, look for Advanced or Privacy, and disable Send Read Receipts.
In WhatsApp on Android, tap the three dots in the top right corner, go to Settings > Privacy, and turn off Read Receipts. In Facebook Messenger, tap your profile picture, scroll to Privacy, and disable Read Receipts. Telegram's setting is in Settings > Privacy and Security > Read Receipts.
If you cannot find the setting in your default messaging app, check whether your phone manufacturer has documentation online — Samsung, Google Pixel, and other brands sometimes place privacy settings in different locations.
How to turn off read receipts on Gmail and email
Gmail does not have a built-in read receipt feature in the way messaging apps do. However, if someone sends you an email with a read receipt request, Gmail will ask you whether you want to send a receipt when you open it. You can click No each time, or you can set a default preference.
To set a default, open Gmail settings by clicking the gear icon in the top right, then See all settings. Go to the General tab and scroll down to Signature. Below that, look for Default reply behavior — though Gmail does not have a direct "always decline read receipts" option, you can straightforward choose not to send them when prompted.
If you send emails and want to request read receipts from others, most email providers (Outlook, Gmail through third-party tools, Apple Mail) require you to enable this per email or through a plugin. Gmail's native interface does not offer a way to request read receipts when you send a message.
How to turn off read receipts on Facebook Messenger and Instagram Direct Messages
In Facebook Messenger, tap your profile picture in the bottom right corner. Scroll down to Privacy and toggle off Read Receipts. This hides when you have read messages from everyone in Messenger.
In Instagram Direct Messages, the process is similar. Open your profile, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), go to Settings and Privacy, then Privacy, and look for Read Receipts or Message Requests. Toggle off Read Receipts if the option appears. Note that Instagram's interface changes frequently, so the exact path may differ depending on your app version.
What happens when you turn off read receipts
When you disable read receipts, people who message you will see that their message was delivered but not whether you have read it. On iMessage, they will see one checkmark (delivered) instead of two (read). On WhatsApp, they will see a single checkmark instead of two blue checkmarks. On other apps, the "seen" timestamp or indicator will not appear.
Turning off read receipts does not hide your typing indicator (the "typing..." notification that appears while you compose a reply). If you want to hide that as well, look for a separate Typing Indicators or Show When Typing toggle in the same privacy settings menu.
Be aware that some people may notice you have turned off read receipts and interpret it as avoidance or disinterest. In professional or close personal relationships, you might want to explain why you have disabled the feature if it comes up.
Why read receipts matter for privacy and boundaries
Read receipts create a record of your availability and attention. Even if you do not respond to a message, the sender knows you have seen it — and they may expect a reply. This can create pressure to respond when ready, or guilt if you read a message and do not answer right away.
In some relationships or workplaces, read receipts can become a source of tension. A manager might expect faster responses if they can see you have read their message. A partner might feel hurt if you read their message but do not reply. Disabling read receipts gives you space to respond on your own timeline without that visibility.
From a privacy standpoint, read receipts also reveal patterns about when you are using your device and how engaged you are with different people. Turning them off limits the data you share about your habits and attention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn off read receipts for just one person?
Yes, on most platforms. In iMessage, open the conversation, tap the person's name at the top, and toggle off Send Read Receipts for that thread only. In WhatsApp and Messenger, you typically have to disable read receipts globally for everyone, not per conversation — check your app's settings to confirm whether a per-person option exists.
If I turn off read receipts, will people know I did it?
They may notice over time that they never see a "read" indicator from you, but the app will not send them a notification saying you have disabled the feature. Some people will assume you turned it off intentionally; others may not notice at all.
Do read receipts work the same way on all messaging apps?
No. iMessage uses checkmarks, WhatsApp uses blue checkmarks, Messenger uses a "Seen" timestamp, and other apps have their own indicators. The underlying idea is the same — showing when you read a message — but the visual design and settings location vary by app.
What if someone sends me a message asking if I read it?
You can straightforward tell them you did not see the message, or that you saw it but were busy. Turning off read receipts does not prevent you from being honest about whether you have read something — it just removes the automatic proof that you have.
Can I turn off read receipts but keep my typing indicator on?
Yes. Read receipts and typing indicators are usually separate toggles in the privacy settings. You can disable one and keep the other on, depending on what feels right for your boundaries.