What read receipts do and how to find the setting
A read receipt is a notification that tells you when someone opens an email you sent them. When you turn on read receipts in Outlook, the person who receives your message gets a prompt asking whether they want to let you know they've read it. If they say yes, you'll get a message back confirming they opened the email.
Read receipts work differently depending on which version of Outlook you use — desktop, web, or mobile — and the setting lives in a different place in each one. This guide covers the most common versions: Outlook for Windows, Outlook on the web (the version you access through a browser), and Outlook for Mac.
Keep in mind that read receipts are optional for the person receiving your email. They can decline to send you a receipt, and many people do. A missing receipt doesn't mean they didn't read the message — it just means they chose not to confirm it.
Key Takeaways
- Read receipts ask the recipient to confirm they opened your email, but they can decline, so a missing receipt doesn't mean the email wasn't read.
- In Outlook for Windows, turn on read receipts under File > Options > Mail > Tracking, then check "Request a read receipt for all messages I send".
- In Outlook on the web, go to Settings > Mail > Compose and reply, scroll to "Tracking", and toggle on "Request read receipts for messages I send".
- In Outlook for Mac, go to Outlook > Preferences > Composing, find "Tracking", and check "Request read receipt for all messages I send".
- You can also request a read receipt for a single email without turning on the global setting by using the Options or Message menu in that email alone.
How to turn on read receipts in Outlook for Windows
Open Outlook and go to File in the top left corner. Click it, then look for Options near the bottom of the menu that appears. Click Options.
In the Options window, click Mail on the left side. Scroll down until you see a section called Tracking. Under Tracking, you'll see a checkbox that says "Request a read receipt for all messages I send." Check that box. Then click OK at the bottom of the window to save your change.
From now on, every email you send will include a read receipt request. The recipient will see a notification asking if they want to send you a receipt when they open the message.
How to turn on read receipts in Outlook on the web
Log into your Outlook account in your web browser. In the top right corner, click the gear icon (Settings). A menu will drop down. Click View all Outlook settings at the bottom of that menu.
On the left side of the settings page, click Mail. Then click Compose and reply. Scroll down until you find the Tracking section. You'll see a toggle switch next to "Request read receipts for messages I send." Turn that toggle on (it will turn blue).
Your change saves automatically. Every email you send from now on will request a read receipt.
How to turn on read receipts in Outlook for Mac
Open Outlook on your Mac. In the menu bar at the very top of your screen, click Outlook. A dropdown menu will appear. Click Preferences.
In the Preferences window, look for Composing and click it. Find the Tracking section. You'll see a checkbox that says "Request read receipt for all messages I send." Check that box. Close the Preferences window — your change saves automatically.
How to request a read receipt for just one email
You don't have to turn on read receipts for all your emails. If you only want to request a receipt for a specific message, you can do that while composing the email.
In Outlook for Windows: While writing your email, go to the Options tab at the top of the compose window. Click Request Read Receipt. Then send the email as normal.
In Outlook on the web: While writing your email, click the three dots (more options) near the bottom of the compose box. Look for Request read receipt and click it. A checkmark will appear next to it. Then send the email.
In Outlook for Mac: While writing your email, go to the Message menu at the top of your screen. Click Request Read Receipt. Then send the email.
What happens when someone receives your read receipt request
When a recipient opens an email with a read receipt request, Outlook will show them a notification. The message usually says something like "The sender of this message has asked to be notified when you read this email. Do you want to notify the sender?" They'll have the option to click Yes or No.
If they click Yes, you'll receive an email notification telling you they opened your message. If they click No or dismiss the notification, you won't hear anything — but that doesn't mean they didn't read it. Many people decline read receipts as a matter of privacy or habit.
Some email systems (like Gmail or older versions of Outlook) may not support read receipts at all, so the recipient might not even see the request. In those cases, you won't receive a receipt no matter what.
Troubleshooting read receipts that aren't working
If you've turned on read receipts but aren't receiving any confirmations, the most common reason is that recipients are declining them. This is normal and doesn't indicate a problem with your settings.
If you suspect a technical issue, check that your setting is actually saved. Go back to the location where you turned on read receipts (File > Options > Mail > Tracking in Windows, for example) and confirm the checkbox or toggle is still on. Sometimes settings revert if Outlook didn't save properly.
Also check whether you're sending to people outside your organization. Some companies block read receipts for security reasons, so internal recipients might send receipts while external ones don't. If you're using Outlook through your work email, ask your IT department whether read receipts are allowed in your organization.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn off read receipts for one person while keeping them on for everyone else?
No, Outlook doesn't have a way to exclude specific people from read receipt requests. If you have the setting turned on globally, everyone you email will be asked. Your best option is to turn off the global setting and request receipts only for individual emails where you really need confirmation.
If I turn on read receipts, does that mean people can see when I read their emails?
No. Read receipts are one-way. Turning on read receipts for your outgoing emails doesn't let other people see when you open theirs. They would need to have their own read receipt setting turned on to request that information from you.
What's the difference between a read receipt and a delivery receipt?
A delivery receipt confirms that your email reached the recipient's mailbox. A read receipt confirms that the recipient actually opened the email. Delivery receipts are more reliable because they're automatic, while read receipts depend on the recipient choosing to send one.
Why am I not getting read receipts even though I have the setting on?
The most common reason is that recipients are declining the receipt requests. Other reasons include: the recipient's email system doesn't support read receipts, their organization blocks them, or they're using an email client that doesn't show the receipt prompt. You can't force someone to send a read receipt.
Can I request a read receipt from an email I already sent?
No. Read receipt requests have to be included when you send the email. If you've already sent a message without requesting a receipt, you can't go back and add one. You would need to send a follow-up email with a receipt request if you need confirmation they read the original.