Android has read receipts, but they work differently than iPhone
Android does have read receipts, but the feature is not built into the operating system itself. Instead, read receipts depend on which messaging app you use. Google Messages (the default texting app on most Android phones) supports read receipts, but you have to turn them on in settings. Other apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Signal also show read receipts, though each one works slightly differently.
The confusion happens because Android phones do not force read receipts the way iMessage does on iPhones. You control whether people can see that you have read their messages, and the person sending you a message controls whether they can see your read status. This means both sides have to opt in for read receipts to actually work.
Key Takeaways
- Google Messages shows read receipts when you turn them on in settings, but only if the person texting you also has read receipts turned on.
- Read receipts in Android work only between two people using the same app — a text from an iPhone user will not show read status in Google Messages.
- WhatsApp, Signal, and other third-party messaging apps have their own read receipt settings separate from your phone's default texting app.
- Turning off read receipts in your app settings prevents others from seeing when you have read their messages.
How to turn on read receipts in Google Messages
Open Google Messages and tap the three-line menu icon in the top left corner. Scroll down and tap Settings. Tap Advanced, then toggle on Send read receipts. This tells people you have read their messages, but only if they are also using Google Messages and have read receipts turned on.
If you do not see this option, your phone may be using a different default texting app. Check your phone's app drawer to see which messaging app is installed. Samsung phones often come with Samsung Messages instead of Google Messages, and the steps to enable read receipts are different for each app.
Why read receipts do not always work between Android and iPhone
When an iPhone user sends you a text message, it arrives as a regular SMS or MMS text, not through iMessage. Android phones cannot send read receipts for regular text messages — that feature only exists in iMessage on Apple devices. This means an iPhone user will not see that you have read their text, even if you have read receipts turned on in Google Messages.
The reverse is also true: if you send a text to an iPhone user from Android, you will not see whether they have read it. Read receipts only work when both people are using the same messaging platform that supports them. This is why many people switch to WhatsApp or another third-party app when texting across iPhone and Android — those apps show read receipts regardless of what phone the other person has.
Read receipts in WhatsApp, Signal, and other apps
WhatsApp shows read receipts by default. When someone reads your message, you will see two blue checkmarks next to it instead of one. You can turn this off by opening WhatsApp, tapping the three-dot menu, going to Settings > Privacy, and toggling off Read receipts. When you turn it off, you also will not be able to see when others have read your messages.
Signal has a different approach. It does not show read receipts by default, and there is no setting to turn them on. Signal prioritizes privacy, so the app simply does not track whether messages have been read. Telegram shows read receipts in one-on-one chats but not in groups. Facebook Messenger shows read receipts and typing indicators by default, and you can turn them off in the app's privacy settings.
What happens when you turn off read receipts
When you disable read receipts in any messaging app, two things happen: people will not see that you have read their messages, and you will not see when they have read yours. It is an all-or-nothing setting in most apps — you cannot hide your read status while still seeing theirs. This is by design, to prevent people from using read receipts selectively to ignore certain conversations.
Turning off read receipts does not delete past read receipts that people already saw. If someone saw that you read their message before you disabled the setting, that information is already on their phone. Disabling read receipts only affects messages sent after you change the setting.
Checking which messaging app is your default
Android phones come with different default texting apps depending on the manufacturer. Google Pixel phones use Google Messages. Samsung phones use Samsung Messages. Other brands may use their own app or Google Messages. To find out which one you have, open your phone's Settings, go to Apps or Applications, and search for "default apps" or "default messaging app."
You can change your default messaging app at any time. If you want to use Google Messages instead of your phone's built-in app, download Google Messages from the Google Play Store, open it, and when prompted, set it as your default. The same process works for any other messaging app you want to use as your primary texting app.
Why some people do not see read receipts even when they are turned on
The most common reason read receipts do not show is that the other person does not have them turned on. Read receipts require both people to have the feature enabled in the same app. If you have read receipts on but the person texting you does not, they will not see that you have read their message.
Another reason is that you are texting across different apps or platforms. A text from an iPhone user arrives as a regular SMS message in Google Messages, and Android does not support read receipts for SMS. Similarly, if you are using WhatsApp but the other person is using regular text messages, read receipts will not work. Both people need to be in the same app for read receipts to function.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see read receipts on Android if the other person has an iPhone?
No. iMessage on iPhone supports read receipts, but only between iPhone users. When an iPhone user sends you a regular text message on Android, you cannot see their read status, and they cannot see yours. If you both use WhatsApp or another third-party app, read receipts will work across both phones.
Does turning off read receipts hide the fact that I read a message?
Yes. When you disable read receipts in your messaging app, people will not see that you have read their messages. However, this setting applies to all conversations — you cannot turn read receipts off for one person and on for another in most apps.
What is the difference between one checkmark and two checkmarks in WhatsApp?
One checkmark means your message was sent. Two gray checkmarks mean the message was delivered to the other person's phone. Two blue checkmarks mean the other person has read your message. If they have read receipts turned off, you will only ever see two gray checkmarks.
Can I use Google Messages if my phone does not have it installed?
Yes. You can download Google Messages from the Google Play Store on any Android phone, even if it comes with a different default texting app. Once installed, you can set it as your default messaging app in your phone's settings.
Do read receipts work in group text messages on Android?
It depends on the app. Google Messages does not show individual read receipts in group texts. WhatsApp shows read receipts in groups only if you have them turned on in your privacy settings. Signal does not show read receipts in groups at all. Check your specific app's settings to see how it handles group message read receipts.