What read receipts are and why you might want to turn them off
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.
When read receipts are on, the other person can see exactly when you read their messages too. This means they know you saw their text but chose not to reply. Some people find this creates pressure to respond when ready, or they prefer not to broadcast that they have read something without answering yet. Others straightforward want more privacy about when they are actually using the app.
Turning read receipts off is a privacy choice that affects both directions — when you turn them off, others cannot see your blue checkmarks, and you will not see theirs either.
Key Takeaways
- Read receipts are the two blue checkmarks that show when someone has read your message, and turning them off hides this information from everyone.
- On iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy > Read Receipts and toggle the switch off; on Android, go to Settings > Account > Privacy > Read Receipts and uncheck the box.
- When you turn read receipts off, you will also stop seeing when others have read your messages, so the trade-off works both ways.
- You can turn read receipts on or off at any time, and the change takes effect when ready for new messages.
How to turn off read receipts on iPhone
Open WhatsApp and tap the Settings icon in the bottom right corner (it looks like a gear). From the menu that appears, select Privacy.
You will see a toggle switch next to "Read Receipts." Tap it to turn the switch off. The toggle will no longer be highlighted in blue, which means read receipts are now disabled. This change happens right away — any messages you receive or send after this point will not show read receipts to anyone.
How to turn off read receipts on Android
Open WhatsApp and tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner of the screen. Select Settings from the menu.
Tap Account, then Privacy. You will see a checkbox next to "Read Receipts." Tap the box to uncheck it. Once unchecked, read receipts are off. Like on iPhone, this takes effect when ready for all future messages.
What happens when you turn read receipts off
When read receipts are disabled, the second blue checkmark will never appear next to messages you send. People will see one checkmark (delivered) but not the second one (read). This means they cannot tell whether you have actually opened their message or not.
The same applies in reverse: you will not see the second blue checkmark on messages you receive, so you will not know when someone has read what you sent them. You will only see one checkmark until they reply. This is the trade-off — privacy works both ways on WhatsApp.
When you might want to keep read receipts on
Read receipts can be useful in group chats or work conversations where you need to confirm that important information actually reached someone. If you are coordinating plans or sharing time-sensitive details, the second checkmark gives you confidence that the person has seen it.
For personal relationships, some people prefer read receipts on because it shows they are engaged and paying attention. Turning them off can sometimes feel like you are avoiding contact, even if that is not your intention.
You can change this setting anytime
Turning read receipts off is not permanent. You can go back into Settings > Privacy > Read Receipts (iPhone) or Settings > Account > Privacy > Read Receipts (Android) and toggle it back on whenever you want. There is no penalty or waiting period — the change takes effect when ready.
Some people turn read receipts off during busy periods when they know they will be reading messages but not responding right away, then turn them back on later. Others leave them off permanently. The choice is entirely yours and can be adjusted as your comfort level changes.
Read receipts and group chats
Read receipts work the same way in group chats as they do in one-on-one conversations. When you turn them off, group members will not see when you have read the group message. However, they will still see when you send a message of your own — that always shows as delivered and read by you when ready.
If you are in a group where read receipts matter for coordination (like a work team or event planning), turning them off might make others feel like you are not engaged. Consider the context of the group before making this change.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I turn off read receipts, can I still see when other people read my messages?
No. When you disable read receipts, the setting applies to both directions. You will not see their blue checkmarks, and they will not see yours. If you want to see when others read your messages, you need to have read receipts turned on.
Will people know I turned off read receipts?
Not directly. They will straightforward notice that the second blue checkmark never appears next to their messages to you. They might assume you have read receipts off, or they might think you are just not opening the chat. There is no notification that tells them you changed the setting.
Does turning off read receipts hide my last seen time?
No. Read receipts and last seen are separate settings. You can turn off read receipts but still have your last seen time visible, or hide your last seen time while keeping read receipts on. Both are found in Settings > Privacy on your phone.
If I turn read receipts back on, will I see old messages as read?
No. When you turn read receipts back on, it only applies to new messages going forward. Old messages that you received while read receipts were off will not retroactively show as read. The checkmarks only appear on messages sent after you re-enable the setting.