Ryan Mitchell 
To turn off read receipts on iPhone, open Settings › Apps › Messages and switch off Send Read Receipts. On older iOS versions, the path is Settings › Messages. You can also turn read receipts on or off for one person by opening that conversation, tapping their name at the top and using the Send Read Receipts toggle.
- Read receipts only work in iMessage (blue bubbles), not SMS (green bubbles).
- The main switch is in Settings › Apps › Messages.
- You can override the setting for individual conversations.
- Your Mac and iPad have their own read receipt settings.
What are read receipts?
When read receipts are on, the person who messaged you sees “Read” and the time under their message once you open it. When they are off, they only see “Delivered”. Read receipts are an iMessage feature, so they do not appear in regular SMS or MMS texts.
How to turn off read receipts for everyone
- Open Settings.
- Tap Apps, then Messages. On older iOS versions, tap Messages directly.
- Switch off Send Read Receipts.
From now on, people will see “Delivered” instead of “Read” in your iMessage chats, unless you have turned it on for them individually.
How to turn off read receipts for one person
- Open the Messages app.
- Open the conversation with that person.
- Tap their name or photo at the top of the screen.
- Switch Send Read Receipts off, or on.
This per-chat setting overrides the main setting. For example, you can keep read receipts off for everyone but leave them on for your partner or your boss.
Note: group chats do not have a separate read receipt switch.
How to turn off read receipts on Mac and iPad
- iPad: use the same steps as on iPhone.
- Mac: open Messages › Settings › iMessage and uncheck Send read receipts.
If you use Messages on several devices, check each one so your settings match.
Why does someone still see “Read” after I turned it off?
- Per-chat setting is on. Check that conversation’s details screen.
- Another device sent it. Your Mac or iPad may still have read receipts on.
- The setting did not sync. Restart your iPhone and update to the latest iOS.
Can I see if someone read my message if my receipts are off?
Yes. Your setting only controls whether you send read receipts. You will still see “Read” from people who have their own receipts turned on.
Other iPhone privacy settings to check
- How to turn off Do Not Disturb on iPhone, if you’re missing messages
- How to turn off Stolen Device Protection
- How to turn off active status on Instagram
Frequently asked questions
Do read receipts work with Android phones?
Not through iMessage. Newer iPhones support RCS messaging with Android, which has its own read receipt setting in Settings › Apps › Messages.
Does turning off read receipts hide when I’m typing?
No. The typing bubble can still appear while you type in iMessage.
Will the other person know I turned off read receipts?
They will not get a notification. They will just see “Delivered” instead of “Read”.
Can I turn read receipts off for group chats?
There is no separate group setting. Group chats follow your main setting.
