How To Turn Off Read Receipts On Galaxy S21

To turn off read receipts on Galaxy S21, open your messaging app and navigate to its settings, the exact steps depend on whether you use Samsung Messages or Google Messages. This lets you read texts privately without the sender knowing you have seen them, giving you the freedom to respond when you are ready.

How to turn off read receipts on Galaxy S21

Your Galaxy S21 likely came with either Samsung Messages or Google Messages as the default texting app, and each has its own setting for read receipts. The feature only applies when both you and the sender use a chat system that supports read status, such as RCS or carrier Advanced Messaging.

Turn off read receipts in Samsung Messages

Open the Messages app.
Tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings, then tap Chat settings.
Toggle off Send read receipts.

If your carrier uses an Advanced Messaging system, the option may appear as a Share read status switch under Advanced Messaging instead. The exact label depends on your carrier and app setup, but the result is the same: your phone stops sending read receipts for SMS and RCS chats in Samsung Messages. You can also use Do Not Disturb and silent mode to avoid notification pressure while still reading messages at your own pace.

Turn off read receipts in Google Messages

Open the Messages app.
Tap your profile icon or picture in the top-right corner.
Go to Messages settings, then tap RCS chats (or Chat features on some versions).
Toggle off Send read receipts.

This setting only affects RCS chats, which are internet-based messages between devices that support the feature. If the other person does not have read receipts turned on in their own RCS settings, you will not see their read status either. For standard SMS texts, Google Messages does not send read receipts at all, so no change is needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the sender know if I turned off read receipts?

No. The sender does not receive any notification that you have disabled read receipts. They simply will not see a read status on messages you have opened.

Can I turn off read receipts for only one contact?

Not on the Galaxy S21. Both Samsung Messages and Google Messages apply the read receipt setting to all conversations. You cannot disable it for a single contact while leaving it on for others. The Galaxy S21's default messaging app does not offer the option to disable read receipts for specific contacts.

Does turning off read receipts affect group chats?

Yes. The same setting applies to group chats in the app you are using. If you turn off read receipts, no one in the group will see when you have read their messages.

Why do I see read receipts from some people but not others?

Read receipts only work when both you and the other person have the feature turned on and are using a compatible chat system like RCS. If the other person has read receipts off, or if you are texting over standard SMS, you will not see their read status.