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How to Turn Off Read Receipts iPhone

Learn how to turn off read receipts on iPhone for all iMessages or one conversation, plus privacy notes, mistakes, troubleshooting, and FAQs.

TechnologyEdited by Pramod Tiwari
2 min read

Quick Answer

To turn off read receipts on iPhone, open Settings > Messages and turn off Send Read Receipts. For one conversation, open the chat, tap the name, and turn off Send Read Receipts.

What You Need

  • iPhone
  • Messages app
  • Settings app
  • iMessage conversation if changing one contact

Safety Precautions

  • Read receipt settings apply to iMessage, not every messaging app.
  • Turning receipts off may affect expectations in personal or work chats.
  • Check per-contact settings if receipts still show.
  • Keep iOS updated if settings look different.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Step 1

    Open Settings

    Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

  2. Step 2

    Tap Messages

    Scroll to Messages and open it.

  3. Step 3

    Find read receipts

    Look for Send Read Receipts.

  4. Step 4

    Turn off globally

    Switch Send Read Receipts off for all iMessage conversations.

  5. Step 5

    Open a conversation

    For one person, open Messages and tap the chat.

  6. Step 6

    Open contact details

    Tap the name or profile at the top of the conversation.

  7. Step 7

    Turn off per contact

    Disable Send Read Receipts for that conversation if available.

Practical Example

Example: You turn off global read receipts in Settings, then check one important chat to confirm its individual setting is also off.

Common Mistakes

  • Expecting it to affect SMS
  • Forgetting per-contact settings
  • Changing settings in the wrong app
  • Assuming delivered means read
  • Not updating iOS
  • Ignoring other messaging apps

Troubleshooting

People still see read receipts

Check individual conversation settings and other messaging apps.

Setting is missing

Confirm you are using iMessage and update iOS if needed.

Only one chat needs privacy

Use the per-conversation read receipt setting.

Receipts appear in WhatsApp or other apps

Change that app’s privacy settings separately.

FAQs

Does turning off read receipts affect SMS?

No, read receipts are an iMessage feature.

Can I turn off read receipts for one person?

Yes, many iPhone versions allow per-conversation settings.

Will people know I turned read receipts off?

They may stop seeing “Read,” but they are not directly notified.

Does delivered mean read?

No. Delivered only means the message reached the device or account.

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