Read receipts let you know when someone has opened your email
A read receipt is a notification that tells you when the person you emailed has opened your message. When you turn on read receipts in Outlook, the recipient gets a prompt asking whether they want to confirm they've read your email. If they say yes, you get a message back saying they opened it.
Read receipts work differently depending on which version of Outlook you use — the desktop app, Outlook on the web, or Outlook for Mac. The steps are slightly different for each one, and not all email providers support read receipts the same way. Some recipients may also have their settings configured to never send read receipts back, so you won't always get a response even if you request one.
Key Takeaways
- In Outlook desktop, you can request a read receipt for a single email by checking a box before you send, or set it as your default for all emails in File > Options > Mail > Tracking.
- Outlook on the web lets you request read receipts one email at a time through the message options menu, but there is no setting to make it automatic for all emails.
- On Mac, read receipts are turned on in Outlook > Preferences > Mail > Accounts, then selecting your account and checking the read receipt option.
- The recipient will see a prompt asking whether to send you a read receipt, and many people decline or have it turned off entirely.
- Read receipts do not work reliably across all email providers, and some corporate email systems block them for privacy reasons.
How to request a read receipt for one email in Outlook desktop
Open Outlook and start composing a new email. Click the Options tab at the top of the compose window. In the Tracking group, check the box next to "Request a Read Receipt". Then send the email as normal.
When the recipient opens your email, they will see a dialog box asking if they want to send you a read receipt. If they click "Yes", you will receive an email notification that they opened your message. The notification arrives in your inbox as a separate message with the subject line "Read: [Original Subject]".
How to set read receipts as your default in Outlook desktop
If you want read receipts turned on for every email you send, you can change your default settings. Click File in the top left, then select Options. In the left sidebar, click Mail.
Scroll down to the section labeled "Tracking" and check the box next to "Request a read receipt for all messages I send". From that point forward, every email you send will request a read receipt. You can still turn it off for individual emails by unchecking the box in the Options tab before you send.
How to request a read receipt in Outlook on the web
Outlook on the web does not have a default setting for read receipts, so you must request them one email at a time. Compose your email, then look for the three-dot menu icon (often labeled "More options" or similar) in the compose window. Click it and select "Request a read receipt" or "Request delivery and read receipts".
The exact wording and location of this option can vary depending on your version of Outlook on the web and your email provider. If you cannot find it in the three-dot menu, look for a "Tracking" or "Options" section within the compose window itself.
How to set read receipts in Outlook for Mac
Open Outlook and click Outlook in the menu bar at the top. Select Preferences. In the preferences window, click Mail, then select Accounts from the list on the left.
Click the account you want to change, then look for an option labeled "Request read receipt" or "Send read receipts". Check the box next to it. This setting applies to all emails sent from that account. If you have multiple email accounts in Outlook for Mac, you can set different preferences for each one.
Why you might not get a read receipt even if you request one
Read receipts are not may provide to work. The recipient's email provider, their Outlook settings, or their organization's email policies may prevent read receipts from being sent back to you. Many people also have read receipts turned off in their personal settings because they prefer not to send notifications when they open emails.
Some corporate email systems and security policies block read receipts entirely for privacy reasons. If you are sending to someone at a large company, a government agency, or an organization with strict email policies, they may never receive the prompt to send you a read receipt, even if you request one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see if someone read my email without asking for a read receipt?
No. Without requesting a read receipt, you have no way to know if someone opened your email. Outlook does not track opens automatically. You must request a read receipt before sending the email.
What happens if the recipient declines to send a read receipt?
If they click "No" on the read receipt prompt, you will not receive any notification. You will not know whether they declined or simply did not see the prompt. There is no way to tell the difference.
Do read receipts work with Gmail or other email providers?
Read receipts work best between Outlook users. Gmail, Yahoo Mail, and other providers have limited or no support for read receipts. If you send a read receipt request to a Gmail user, they may not see the prompt at all, or the system may not send the receipt back to you even if they open the email.
Can I turn off read receipts so others cannot track when I open emails?
Yes. In Outlook desktop, go to File > Options > Mail > Tracking and uncheck "Allow requested read receipts to be sent". On the web, this setting is usually in your account settings or preferences. On Mac, uncheck the read receipt option in Outlook > Preferences > Mail > Accounts.
If I set read receipts as my default, can I turn them off for one specific email?
Yes. Even if you have read receipts turned on by default, you can uncheck the "Request a Read Receipt" box in the Options tab before sending any individual email. This lets you request receipts for most emails but skip them when you do not need them.