What read receipts do and how to turn them on

A read receipt is a notification that tells you when someone opens an email you sent them in Outlook. When you enable read receipts, Outlook sends you a message back to your inbox the moment the recipient opens your email — not when they receive it, but when they actually read it.

Read receipts work differently depending on which version of Outlook you use and whether the person receiving your email has read receipts turned on in their own settings. If their Outlook is set to never send read receipts, you won't get one even if you request it. The recipient will usually see a prompt asking whether they want to send you a read receipt, and they can choose to decline.

You can turn on read receipts in two ways: request them for individual emails as you send them, or set Outlook to request them automatically on every email you send. Most people use the first method because requesting read receipts on every single email can annoy recipients.

Key Takeaways

  • Read receipts notify you when someone opens an email, but only if their Outlook is set to send them — the recipient can refuse.
  • You can request a read receipt on a single email before you send it, or set Outlook to request them on all emails automatically.
  • The steps to enable read receipts differ between Outlook on the web, Outlook desktop for Windows, and Outlook for Mac.
  • A read receipt confirms the email was opened, but not that the recipient actually read or understood the message.

How to request a read receipt on one email in Outlook desktop (Windows)

Open Outlook and start a new email or reply to one. 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 your email as normal.

When the recipient opens the email, they will see a dialog asking whether they want to send you a read receipt. If they click Yes, a message will arrive in your inbox confirming they opened it. If they click No or close the dialog without responding, you won't receive a notification.

How to request a read receipt on one email in Outlook on the web

Log into your Outlook account at outlook.com or outlook.office.com. Start composing a new email. Look for the three dots menu (more options) near the bottom of the compose box and click it. Select Request a read receipt from the dropdown menu. Send your email.

The recipient will see the same prompt asking whether to send a read receipt. Your notification will arrive in your inbox once they open the email and choose to send it.

How to request a read receipt on one email in Outlook for Mac

Open Outlook and create a new email. Click the Options button in the ribbon at the top. Check the box next to Request Read Receipt. Send your email.

The process works the same way as Windows — the recipient sees a prompt, and you receive a notification in your inbox if they choose to send one.

How to set Outlook to request read receipts on all emails automatically

In Outlook desktop (Windows): Click File at the top left, then Options. Select Mail from the left sidebar. Scroll down to the Tracking section and check the box next to For all messages, request a read receipt. Click OK.

In Outlook on the web: Click the gear icon in the top right corner and select View all Outlook settings. Go to Mail > Message handling. Under the Tracking section, toggle on Request a read receipt for all messages I send. Your changes save automatically.

In Outlook for Mac: Click Outlook in the menu bar at the top, then Preferences. Select Composing from the list. Check the box next to Request read receipt. Close the window to save.

Once you turn this on, every email you send will request a read receipt. Recipients will see the prompt each time, and many may find this annoying if you send frequent emails. You can turn it off anytime by following the same steps and unchecking the box.

What to do if you're not receiving read receipts

If you request read receipts but never receive them, the most common reason is that the recipient's Outlook is set to never send them. They may have declined the prompt, or their organization may have disabled read receipts in their settings. There is no way to force someone to send you a read receipt.

Another possibility is that the recipient is using a different email client entirely — Gmail, Apple Mail, or another program — and their system doesn't support read receipts the same way Outlook does. Read receipts work most reliably when both people are using Outlook.

If you're not receiving read receipts even from other Outlook users, check your own settings to make sure you haven't accidentally turned off the ability to send them. In Outlook desktop, go to File > Options > Mail and look for an option that says something like Always send a read receipt or Never send a read receipt. Make sure it's not set to never.

When read receipts don't work the way you expect

Read receipts only confirm that someone opened your email, not that they read it thoroughly or understood it. A recipient could open your email, see the first line, and close it — you would still get a read receipt. If you need to know whether someone actually read and understood your message, a read receipt won't tell you that.

Read receipts also don't work if the recipient has Outlook set to preview emails in the reading pane without fully opening them. Depending on their settings, opening an email in the preview pane might or might not trigger a read receipt. This varies by Outlook version and configuration.

If you're sending emails to people outside your organization, read receipts are less reliable. Some companies block read receipt requests for security or privacy reasons, so your request may never reach the recipient at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see a read receipt if someone opens my email on their phone?

Yes, if they are using the Outlook mobile app and their phone is set to send read receipts. However, some mobile email apps don't support read receipts at all, so it depends on which app the recipient is using and how they have it configured.

What's the difference between a delivery receipt and a read receipt?

A delivery receipt confirms that your email reached the recipient's mailbox. A read receipt confirms that they actually opened it. Delivery receipts are more reliable because they don't depend on the recipient's settings — the mail server sends them automatically. Read receipts depend on the recipient choosing to send one.

If I request a read receipt, can the recipient see that I requested it?

Yes. When they open your email, they will see a prompt asking whether they want to send you a read receipt. This prompt makes it clear that you requested one. Some recipients may feel this is intrusive, which is why many people only request read receipts for important emails rather than using it on every message.

Can I turn off read receipts for emails from one specific person?

No. Read receipt settings in Outlook apply to all emails you send, or to individual emails you choose at the time of sending. You cannot set different rules for different people. If you want to stop sending read receipts to one person, you would need to turn off the automatic setting and manually request them only for emails to other people.

Do read receipts work if I send an email to a group or distribution list?

Read receipts can be unpredictable with group emails. Some recipients in the group will send read receipts and others won't, depending on their individual settings. You may receive multiple read receipts from the same group email as different people open it at different times.