Turn off read receipts in Messenger settings
You can disable read receipts on Messenger so people won't see when you've read their messages. The setting lives in your privacy controls, and it takes about 30 seconds to change. Once you turn it off, others won't see the "Seen" timestamp that normally appears after you open a message.
The exact steps depend on whether you're using Messenger on your phone or computer. On both platforms, the setting is called "Read Receipts" or sometimes "Show when you're active", and toggling it off stops the notification from reaching the other person.
Key Takeaways
- Read receipts show other people when you've opened and read their message, marked by a "Seen" label with a timestamp.
- Turning off read receipts in Messenger settings prevents others from seeing when you've read their messages, though they can still see if you're active.
- The setting is found under Privacy or Activity Status in Messenger, and the steps differ slightly between the mobile app and the web version.
- Disabling read receipts does not prevent people from knowing you're online if your active status is still turned on.
Steps to disable read receipts on iPhone or Android
Open the Messenger app and tap your profile picture in the top left corner. Scroll down and tap "Privacy". Look for the option labeled "Read Receipts" or "Show when you're active" — the exact wording varies by app version and region. Tap the toggle to turn it off.
After you disable it, the "Seen" label will no longer appear to people you message. They won't receive a notification that you've read their message, though they can still see if you're typing a reply. If you change your mind later, you can turn read receipts back on using the same steps.
Steps to disable read receipts on desktop or web
Go to Messenger.com or open Messenger from your Facebook account. Click the gear icon or your profile picture in the top left. Select "Privacy" from the menu. Find "Read Receipts" or "Show when you're active" and click the toggle to turn it off.
The setting syncs across your devices, so if you turn it off on your phone, it will also be off when you use Messenger on a computer. You don't need to change the setting separately on each device.
What happens when you turn off read receipts
When read receipts are disabled, people won't see the "Seen" label that normally shows up after you open a message. They also won't see the timestamp that indicates when you read it. This applies to one-on-one conversations and group chats.
However, turning off read receipts does not hide your active status. If "Show when you're active" is still enabled, people can still see that you're online right now — they just won't know if you've specifically read their message. If you want to hide both, you'll need to turn off the active status setting as well.
The difference between read receipts and active status
Read receipts and active status are two separate settings that control different information. Read receipts show whether you've opened a specific message. Active status shows whether you're currently using Messenger at this moment.
You can turn off read receipts while keeping active status on, which means people will see you're online but won't know if you've read their particular message. Or you can turn off both, which hides both your active status and your read receipts. The settings are independent, so you control each one separately.
Why someone might turn off read receipts
Some people disable read receipts because they want time to think before responding, without the other person knowing they've already seen the message. Others turn it off to reduce the pressure of appearing always available. There's no right or wrong reason — it's a personal choice about what information you share.
Turning off read receipts doesn't prevent anyone from messaging you or contacting you. It only changes what information they see about your message-reading habits. People can still send you messages, and you'll still receive them normally.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I turn off read receipts, will people know I did it?
No. People won't receive a notification that you've disabled read receipts. They'll simply stop seeing the "Seen" label on their messages to you. They might notice over time that you never show as having read their messages, but Messenger doesn't announce the change.
Can I turn off read receipts for just one person?
No. The read receipts setting applies to all your conversations at once. You can't disable it for one contact while keeping it on for others. If you want to hide read receipts from specific people, you would need to turn off the setting entirely.
Does turning off read receipts stop people from seeing my typing indicator?
No. The typing indicator — the dots that show when someone is composing a message — is separate from read receipts. Even with read receipts off, people will still see when you're typing. You cannot disable the typing indicator in Messenger settings.
Will my read receipts come back on if I update Messenger?
No. App updates don't reset your privacy settings. Once you turn off read receipts, they stay off unless you manually turn them back on. Your settings are saved to your account, not to the app itself.
What if someone has read receipts turned off — can I still see when they read my messages?
No. If someone has disabled read receipts, you won't see the "Seen" label on messages you send them. You'll only see that the message was delivered, not whether they've opened it. Their setting controls what you see, not the other way around.