How to Turn Off Read Receipts

Learn how to turn off read receipts on iPhone and common messaging apps, understand limits, avoid privacy mistakes, troubleshoot, and read FAQs.

TechnologyEdited by Pramod Tiwari

2 min read

Quick Answer

To turn off read receipts, open the messaging app settings, find Privacy or Messages settings, disable Read Receipts, and check whether the change applies globally or only to selected conversations.

What You Need

Phone or messaging app
Account settings access
Conversation to check
Updated app version

Safety Precautions

Read receipt settings vary by app.
Some group chats may still show read status.
Turning receipts off may also stop you seeing others receipts.
Check per-contact settings on iPhone.
Do not rely on read receipts for urgent communication.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1
Open app settings
Go to the messaging app or phone settings.
Step 2
Find privacy options
Look for Privacy, Messages, or Account settings.
Step 3
Disable receipts
Turn off Send Read Receipts or the equivalent option.
Step 4
Check conversation settings
Some apps or iPhone contacts have per-chat controls.
Step 5
Test with a trusted contact
Ask someone to confirm if receipts still appear.
Step 6
Review group behavior
Group messages may work differently.
Step 7
Update app if needed
Install updates if settings are missing.

Practical Example

Example: On iPhone, you open Settings > Messages and turn off Send Read Receipts for all iMessage conversations.

Common Mistakes

Changing the wrong app
Forgetting per-contact settings
Expecting group chats to behave the same
Assuming it hides online status
Not updating app
Using receipts as proof of response

Troubleshooting

People still see read status

Check per-chat settings and whether the app supports disabling receipts.

Cannot find setting

Search app settings for read receipts or privacy.

You cannot see others receipts

Some apps disable both directions when you turn yours off.

Group receipts remain

Check app-specific group chat rules.

Helpful Internal Links

FAQs

Can I turn off read receipts for one person?

Some apps, including iMessage, support per-conversation controls.

Does this hide online status?

No, online or active status is usually a separate setting.

Do group chats show read receipts?

Some apps still show read information in group chats.

Can I still see other people read receipts?

It depends on the app.

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