Read receipts tell the sender when you have opened their message
A read receipt is a notification that gets sent back to someone who messaged you, letting them know you have opened and seen their message. When read receipts are turned on, the sender sees a small indicator — often a checkmark, timestamp, or the words "read at" — showing exactly when you looked at their message.
Read receipts work differently depending on which app or service you are using. Text messages, email, instant messaging apps like iMessage or WhatsApp, and workplace chat tools like Slack all handle read receipts in their own way. Some let you turn them on or off. Others do not give you that choice.
The core idea is the same everywhere: the sender knows whether you have seen what they wrote, and when. This is different from a delivery receipt, which only tells the sender that the message reached your device — not that you actually opened it.
Key Takeaways
- Read receipts show the sender when you have opened their message, usually with a timestamp or checkmark icon.
- Different apps handle read receipts differently — some let you turn them off, while others do not offer that option.
- Turning off read receipts means the sender will not know when you have seen their message, but they may still see that the message was delivered.
- Read receipts work on one-to-one messages and group conversations, though group read receipts can show you who has seen a message and who has not.
- Your choice to turn read receipts on or off affects only what others see about you — it does not change whether you can see their read receipts.
How read receipts appear in text messages and iMessage
On iPhones, iMessage (Apple's messaging service for iPhone-to-iPhone messages) shows read receipts as two blue checkmarks. One checkmark means the message was delivered to the other person's device. Two checkmarks mean they have opened and read it. If read receipts are turned off on their phone, you will see only one checkmark no matter how long they have had the message.
Standard text messages (SMS) sent to Android phones or older devices do not support read receipts in the same way. You may see a delivery confirmation, but not a read receipt. Some Android messaging apps like Google Messages offer read receipts, but only if both people are using that same app.
To turn off read receipts on an iPhone, go to Settings, tap Messages, and toggle off "Send Read Receipts." On Android, the steps vary by phone and messaging app — check your Messages app settings or your phone's main Settings under Apps or Notifications.
Read receipts in email and workplace apps
Email services like Gmail and Outlook can send read receipts, but they work differently than text messages. When you send an email with a read receipt request, the recipient gets a prompt asking whether to send a receipt back. They can choose to send it or decline. Many people decline because read receipts in email feel intrusive, and some email clients do not support them at all.
Workplace chat apps like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Google Chat show read receipts automatically in most cases. When you open a message in Slack, the sender sees a small checkmark or avatar showing you have read it. In Teams, you see "Seen by" followed by names or a count of people who have viewed the message. These apps usually do not let you turn this off — it is built into how the app works.
If you want to avoid showing read receipts in a workplace app, your only real option is to read messages through notifications without opening the app itself, though this does not always work and can be impractical.
What happens when you turn read receipts off
When you disable read receipts on your device, people who message you will not see when you have read their messages. They may still see that the message was delivered, but they will not get the "read at" notification or the double checkmark. From their perspective, your message status will stay at "delivered" indefinitely.
Turning off read receipts does not hide the fact that you received the message — it only hides the timing of when you opened it. The sender may still figure out you have read it based on context (like if you reply to them), but they will not get an automatic notification.
One important thing to know: turning off your own read receipts does not affect whether you can see other people's read receipts. If someone else has read receipts turned on, you will still see when they have read your messages to them.
Read receipts in group chats and conversations
Group read receipts work the same way as one-to-one messages, but with more information. In a group iMessage conversation, you see two blue checkmarks next to your message, and below that you can see which people have read it and which have not. Some apps show this as a list of names, while others show avatars or a simple count.
In Slack group channels, you see "Seen by" with the number of people who have viewed the message, and you can click to see their names. In WhatsApp groups, you see checkmarks for delivered and read, and if you tap the message you can see exactly who has read it and when.
Group read receipts can feel more awkward than one-to-one ones because everyone in the conversation can see who is paying attention and who is not. Some people turn off read receipts partly to avoid this visibility in group settings.
Why someone might turn off read receipts
People disable read receipts for several reasons. Some want privacy and do not like the idea that others can track exactly when they are looking at messages. Others turn them off to avoid the pressure of feeling like they have to respond immediately once someone sees they have read a message. In workplace settings, read receipts can create an expectation of constant availability.
Some people turn off read receipts because they read messages but are not ready to respond, and they do not want the sender to know they have seen it yet. This is common when someone is busy or needs time to think about how to reply.
In relationships, read receipts can sometimes create conflict — if someone sees you have read their message but you have not replied, they may feel ignored or hurt. Turning them off removes that source of tension.
The difference between delivery receipts and read receipts
A delivery receipt tells the sender that the message reached your device and was not blocked or lost in transit. A read receipt tells the sender that you actually opened the message and saw it. Delivery is automatic on most services — the sender knows the message got through. Read receipts are optional on many platforms and require you to have them turned on.
You might see a delivery receipt as a single checkmark or a "delivered" label. A read receipt is usually a second checkmark, a timestamp, or a "read at" notification. Some services combine them into one indicator, while others show them separately.
On some older phones or with certain carriers, you may not see either type of receipt. This is especially true with standard SMS text messages, which do not reliably support receipts at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone tell I read their message if I have read receipts turned off?
Not automatically. They will not get a notification or see a checkmark showing you have read it. However, if you reply to them or they see you are active on the app, they may figure it out through context. Some apps also let people see when you were last active, which can give away that you have been using the app.
Do read receipts work across different messaging apps?
No. Read receipts only work within the same app or service. If you message someone on iMessage, they will see iMessage read receipts. If you text them via SMS, they will not see read receipts (unless their phone supports them). If you message them on WhatsApp, they will see WhatsApp read receipts. Each service is separate.
What if someone keeps messaging me after I turn off read receipts?
Turning off read receipts does not stop people from messaging you or change how they can contact you. It only hides the notification that you have read their messages. They may message you more because they cannot see that you have read their previous message, or they may think you have not seen it yet.
Can I turn off read receipts for just one person?
Most apps do not let you disable read receipts for individual people — it is an all-or-nothing setting. If you turn off read receipts, everyone you message will not see when you have read their messages. Some apps like iMessage let you turn read receipts on or off per conversation, but this is not common.
Do read receipts work the same way on all phones?
No. iPhones using iMessage show read receipts with blue checkmarks. Android phones vary depending on which messaging app you use — Google Messages, WhatsApp, and Samsung Messages all handle read receipts differently. If you are messaging between an iPhone and Android, read receipts may not work at all, or they may work only if both people are using the same third-party app.