Turn off read receipts in Messenger settings on any device
You can disable read receipts in Facebook Messenger so that when you open a message, the sender won't see a notification that you've read it. The setting lives in Messenger's privacy controls and works the same way whether you use the app on your phone or the website on a computer.
On a phone, open Messenger, tap your profile picture in the top left corner, scroll down to "Privacy", and toggle off "Read Receipts". On a computer, click your profile picture in the top left, select "Privacy", and uncheck the box next to "Read Receipts". The change takes effect immediately.
One important detail: turning off read receipts is mutual. When you disable them, you also stop seeing when other people have read your messages. You'll still see delivery confirmations (a single checkmark when the message reaches their phone), but not the double checkmark that means they've opened it.
Key Takeaways
- Read receipts can be turned off in Messenger's Privacy settings on both the mobile app and the website.
- Disabling read receipts prevents others from seeing when you've read their messages, but also hides when they've read yours.
- The setting applies to all your Messenger conversations at once — you cannot turn off read receipts for just one person or one chat.
- Turning off read receipts does not affect delivery confirmations, which still show whether a message reached the recipient's device.
Why someone might want to turn off read receipts
Read receipts create a social expectation that you'll respond quickly once you've seen a message. If you read something at 2 a.m. but don't reply until morning, the sender knows you saw it and chose not to answer. That can feel like pressure, especially in group chats or with people who expect fast replies.
Some people disable read receipts because they want to read messages without committing to a conversation right away. Others do it because they find the constant visibility stressful — knowing that every time they open Messenger, people can see exactly when they're active.
What happens when you turn read receipts back on
If you change your mind later, you can re-enable read receipts the same way you turned them off. Go back to Privacy in your Messenger settings and toggle "Read Receipts" back on. When you do, you'll start seeing double checkmarks again, and other people will see them too.
Turning read receipts back on does not show your past activity. It only affects messages you receive from that point forward. People won't suddenly see that you read old messages — only new ones after you've re-enabled the setting.
Read receipts in group chats
The read receipts setting applies to all your Messenger conversations, including group chats. You cannot turn them off for just one person or one group. If you have read receipts disabled, no one in any of your chats will see when you've read their messages.
In a group chat, you'll still see when other people have read messages if they have read receipts turned on. The setting is individual — it only controls what others see about you, not what you see about them.
The difference between read receipts and active status
Active status is separate from read receipts. Active status shows people when you're currently using Messenger — a green dot next to your name. You can turn off active status independently in the same Privacy settings menu, and many people disable both together.
If you turn off active status but leave read receipts on, people won't see that you're online right now, but they will see the double checkmark when you read their messages. If you do the opposite — keep active status on but turn off read receipts — people will see you're using Messenger but won't know when you've actually read what they sent.
Messenger on different devices and accounts
The read receipts setting is tied to your Facebook account, not to a specific device. If you turn off read receipts on your phone, they're also off when you use Messenger on your computer or tablet. Changing the setting on any device updates it everywhere.
If you have multiple Facebook accounts, each one has its own read receipts setting. You'd need to turn off read receipts separately for each account if you want the same privacy level across all of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn off read receipts for just one person?
No. The read receipts setting is all-or-nothing — it applies to every conversation you have in Messenger. You cannot disable it for one person while keeping it on for everyone else. If you want to hide your read status from a specific person, you'd need to turn off read receipts for all your chats.
Will people know I turned off read receipts?
They might notice over time that you never show a double checkmark, but Messenger doesn't send a notification saying "this person disabled read receipts". There's no way for someone to see your privacy settings directly.
Does turning off read receipts hide when I'm typing?
No. The typing indicator — the three dots that show someone is composing a message — is separate from read receipts. You cannot turn off the typing indicator in Messenger's standard settings. Some third-party apps claim to hide it, but they are not official Messenger features.
If I turn off read receipts, can I still see when others read my messages?
No. When you disable read receipts, the setting works both ways. You won't see double checkmarks on your messages, and others won't see them on theirs. You'll only see single checkmarks, which mean the message was delivered to their device.
What if someone screenshots my message before I turn off read receipts?
Messenger does not notify you when someone takes a screenshot of a regular message. That's different from disappearing messages in Instagram Direct Messages, which do send a notification. Regular Messenger messages have no screenshot detection.