Where to find read receipts in Android

Read receipts let the person you're texting know when you've opened their message. On Android, the steps depend on which messaging app you use — the built-in Messages app works differently from Google Messages, WhatsApp, or third-party options. Most Android phones ship with one default app, but you may have installed others.

The most common setup is Google Messages, which Google has made the default SMS and RCS app on many newer Android phones. If you're not sure which app you're using, look at your home screen or app drawer for an icon labeled "Messages" or "Google Messages" — that's the one to open.

Read receipts only work in certain conditions. For standard SMS text messages, read receipts depend on your carrier and the recipient's phone — many carriers don't support them at all. For RCS messages (a newer standard that looks like texting but works over data), read receipts work more reliably. For messaging apps like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger, read receipts are built in and work whenever both people have the app installed.

Key Takeaways

  • Google Messages and Samsung Messages both have read receipt settings in their preferences, but the exact menu location differs between apps.
  • Read receipts for standard SMS texts often don't work because most carriers don't support them, even if you turn the setting on.
  • RCS messages (the newer texting standard) show read receipts more reliably than SMS, but only if both people have RCS enabled.
  • Third-party apps like WhatsApp and Telegram have their own read receipt settings separate from your phone's default messaging app.

Turning on read receipts in Google Messages

Open Google Messages and tap the three-line menu icon (hamburger menu) in the top left corner. Scroll down and tap Settings. From there, tap Advanced, then look for Show read receipts or Read receipts depending on your version. Toggle it on.

Once you turn this on, people texting you will see when you've read their messages — but only if they're also using Google Messages or another app that supports RCS. If someone is using a different messaging app or a basic phone, they won't see your read receipts even though you've turned the setting on. The same applies in reverse: you'll only see read receipts from people whose phones support them.

Turning on read receipts in Samsung Messages

If your phone came with Samsung Messages as the default app, open it and tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner. Select Settings, then tap Chat features or Conversations depending on your phone model. Look for Read receipts and toggle it on.

Samsung Messages uses RCS when available, so read receipts work best when texting other Samsung users or people on networks that support RCS. Like Google Messages, standard SMS texts won't show read receipts on most carriers, even with this setting enabled. If you're texting someone on an older phone or a different platform, they likely won't see when you've read their message.

Read receipts in WhatsApp and other third-party apps

WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook Messenger, and similar apps manage read receipts independently from your phone's default messaging settings. In WhatsApp, open the app and tap the three-dot menu, then Settings > Privacy. You'll see a Read receipts toggle — turn it on to let contacts see when you've read their messages.

These apps show read receipts as small checkmarks next to your messages. One checkmark means the message was sent, two checkmarks mean it was delivered, and two blue checkmarks (or filled checkmarks, depending on the app) mean the recipient has read it. Unlike SMS and RCS, these apps control read receipts entirely within the app itself, so your phone's messaging settings don't affect them.

Why read receipts might not work

The most common reason read receipts don't show up is that the other person is using a different messaging platform or an older phone that doesn't support them. Standard SMS texts rarely show read receipts because most carriers in the United States don't support the technical standard required. Even if you turn read receipts on in Google Messages or Samsung Messages, the person receiving your text may not see them.

Another reason is that RCS (Rich Communication Services) may not be enabled on your network. RCS is the newer texting standard that supports read receipts, typing indicators, and larger file sizes, but it's not available everywhere. Some carriers roll it out slowly, and some older phones don't support it at all. You can check if RCS is active by looking for "Chat" or "RCS" in your messaging app's settings — if it says "Connected" or shows an RCS icon, you're using it.

If you've turned on read receipts but still don't see them, ask the person you're texting what app they're using. If they're on iPhone using iMessage, they have their own read receipt system that works only between iPhones. If they're on Android but using a different app, you'll need to use that same app to see read receipts from them.

Turning off read receipts if you change your mind

You can turn read receipts off the same way you turned them on. In Google Messages, go to Settings > Advanced > Show read receipts and toggle it off. In Samsung Messages, go to Settings > Chat features > Read receipts and toggle it off. In WhatsApp, go to Settings > Privacy > Read receipts and toggle it off.

Keep in mind that turning off read receipts means you won't send them to others, but you'll still see when they've read your messages if they have read receipts turned on. There's no way to hide the fact that you've read someone's message if they have read receipts enabled on their end — you can only control whether you send them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do read receipts work between Android and iPhone?

Not through standard texting. If you're texting an iPhone user via SMS, read receipts won't work because iMessage (Apple's system) doesn't communicate with Android's messaging apps. If both of you are using a third-party app like WhatsApp or Telegram, read receipts will work fine between Android and iPhone.

Can I see read receipts if the other person has them turned off?

No. Read receipts only work when both people have them enabled. If someone has turned off read receipts, you won't see when they've read your messages, even if you have them turned on.

What's the difference between RCS and SMS read receipts?

RCS (Rich Communication Services) is a newer texting standard that supports read receipts more reliably than SMS. SMS read receipts depend on your carrier and often don't work at all. RCS works over data and shows typing indicators and read receipts, but it's not available on all carriers or older phones.

Will turning on read receipts use more data or battery?

No. Read receipts use a negligible amount of data — just a small signal sent back to the sender. They won't noticeably affect your battery life or data usage.

Can I turn on read receipts for only certain contacts?

Most Android messaging apps don't offer per-contact read receipt settings. You either have read receipts on for everyone or off for everyone. Some third-party apps may have more granular controls, but the default messaging apps don't.