Read receipts tell the sender when you have opened their message
A read receipt is a notification that tells someone you have opened and seen their message. When you read a message in an app or service that supports read receipts, that app sends a signal back to the person who sent it. They then see a small indicator — often a checkmark, a timestamp, or the word "read" — showing that you have viewed what they wrote.
Read receipts exist on most messaging platforms you use daily: text messages on iPhone, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Gmail, Slack, and many others. They are not the same as a delivery receipt, which only means the message reached your phone. A read receipt means you actually opened it and saw the words.
The person sending the message does not know what you do with the message after you read it — whether you understood it, agreed with it, or plan to respond. They only know that the message appeared on your screen.
Key Takeaways
- Read receipts show the sender that you have opened their message, not that you have responded or understood it.
- Most messaging apps let you turn read receipts on or off in your settings, though the option location varies by app and device.
- Turning off read receipts means others cannot see when you read their messages, but you also cannot see when they read yours.
- Some apps let you disable read receipts for everyone, while others let you turn them off for specific conversations only.
- Read receipts are optional — you control whether your device sends them, and the sender cannot force you to send them.
How read receipts appear on different platforms
The way read receipts look depends on which app or service you are using. On iPhone text messages, two gray checkmarks mean delivered, and two blue checkmarks mean read. On WhatsApp, one checkmark means sent, two gray checkmarks mean delivered to the recipient's phone, and two blue checkmarks mean the recipient opened the message. Facebook Messenger shows a small circular profile picture of the person who read it, positioned below the message.
Gmail shows "opened" next to an email if the recipient has opened it, though this feature is not always turned on by default. Slack shows a small clock icon that changes to a checkmark when someone reads your message. The exact symbol or label varies, but the purpose is always the same: to show you that the other person has seen what you sent.
Some apps show the exact time the message was read, while others just show that it was read at some point. A few apps show whether the person is currently typing a response. These are all variations on the same basic idea: giving the sender information about what the recipient is doing with the message.
How to turn read receipts on or off
On iPhone, open the Settings app and scroll down to Messages. Tap "Send Read Receipts" to toggle it on or off. When it is on, people who message you will see when you read their texts. When it is off, they will not see that indicator, but you also will not see when they read your messages.
On Android, the steps depend on which messaging app you use. In the default Messages app, open it and tap the three-line menu, then go to Settings and look for "Advanced" or "Chat features." The exact name and location varies by phone manufacturer and Android version. In WhatsApp, go to Settings, then Account, then Privacy, and toggle "Read Receipts" on or off. In Facebook Messenger, go to your profile picture, then Settings and Privacy, then Notifications, and look for read receipt options.
Gmail read receipts work differently. The sender can request a read receipt when they compose an email, and you will see a prompt asking whether you want to send one. You can choose to send it or decline each time. Some email services let you set a default preference in settings, but Gmail does not have a blanket on-off switch.
If you cannot find the setting in your app, check the app's help section or search for "[app name] how to turn off read receipts." The location moves between app updates, and different versions may have different menus.
Why someone might turn read receipts off
People turn off read receipts for several reasons. Some do not want others to know they have seen a message but are not ready to respond. This is common in work settings where a quick read does not mean you have time to reply, or in personal relationships where someone might feel hurt if you read their message but do not answer right away.
Others turn them off for privacy reasons — they do not want anyone tracking when they are active or paying attention to their phone. Some people find read receipts create pressure to respond when ready, and turning them off reduces that feeling. A few turn them off because they find the feature annoying or distracting.
Turning off read receipts is a personal choice. It does not affect your ability to send or receive messages, and it does not prevent anyone from contacting you. It only changes what information they see about your activity.
What read receipts do not tell the sender
Read receipts have a clear limit: they only show that you opened the message. They do not show whether you understood it, agreed with it, or plan to do anything about it. Someone might read your message in a rush and forget about it five minutes later. The sender will still see it as read.
Read receipts also do not show whether you read the entire message. If someone sends a long paragraph, the read receipt appears as soon as the message opens on your screen — even if you only glanced at the first sentence. The sender cannot tell how much of it you actually read.
They also do not indicate emotion or tone. A read receipt does not mean the person agreed with you, was happy to hear from you, or understood your joke. It means only that the message appeared on their device and they looked at it at some point.
Read receipts in group conversations
In group chats, read receipts work the same way but show information about multiple people. On iPhone group texts, you will see checkmarks next to each person's name showing whether they have read the message. In WhatsApp groups, you see the blue checkmarks next to the message itself, and if you tap it, you can see which group members have read it and which have not.
Some people find group read receipts more intrusive because they make it obvious who is ignoring the conversation. Others find them useful for coordinating group plans — you can see at a glance whether everyone has seen the message about where to meet. Like individual read receipts, you can usually turn them off in group settings too, though the option may be in a different menu.
The difference between read receipts and typing indicators
Read receipts and typing indicators are related but different. A typing indicator (the three dots that appear when someone is composing a message) shows that the person is actively writing right now. A read receipt shows that they have already opened and seen a message you sent in the past.
Typing indicators are often more intrusive because they show real-time activity. Some people turn off typing indicators separately from read receipts. On most apps, you can control these two settings independently — you might turn off read receipts but leave typing indicators on, or vice versa.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone tell I read their message if I turn off read receipts?
No. When you turn off read receipts, the sender will not see any indicator that you have opened their message. However, they might guess you read it based on other clues — like if you respond to it later, or if they see you active in the app. But they will not see an official read receipt notification.
If I turn off read receipts, can I still see when others read my messages?
No. Read receipts work both ways on most platforms. When you turn them off, you stop sending them to others, and you also stop receiving them from others. You will not see when people read your messages. Some apps may handle this differently, so check your specific app's settings.
Do read receipts work across different devices?
It depends on the app. On iPhone, read receipts work between iPhones and also between iPhones and Android phones using iMessage or other cross-platform apps. WhatsApp read receipts work the same way regardless of device. However, if someone reads a message on their computer while you are watching on your phone, the timing might not sync when ready.
What if someone screenshots my message after reading it?
Read receipts do not tell you if someone took a screenshot. Some apps like Snapchat notify you when someone screenshots, but standard messaging apps do not. A read receipt only shows that the message was opened, not what the person did with it afterward.
Can I turn off read receipts for just one person?
On most apps, you cannot. When you turn off read receipts in settings, it applies to everyone. However, some apps like Facebook Messenger let you mute notifications from specific people or conversations, which is a different feature. Check your app's settings to see if it offers per-contact control.