To turn off read receipts on Android, open the Google Messages app, tap your profile picture, go to Messages settings, then RCS chats, and toggle off "Send read receipts." This stops your phone from telling senders when you've opened their messages, giving you the privacy to read without being tracked.
How to turn off read receipts on Android in Google Messages
Google Messages is the default texting app on most modern Android phones. Read receipts are a feature of Rich Communication Services (RCS) chats, which have largely replaced SMS on many devices. The setting is typically enabled by default.
- Open the Google Messages app.
- Tap your profile picture or avatar, usually located in the top right corner.
- Select "Messages settings" from the menu.
- Tap "RCS chats" (sometimes referred to as "Chat features").
- Toggle off the "Send read receipts" option.
You can also turn off "Show typing indicators" in the same RCS chats menu to prevent others from seeing when you are typing. Disabling read receipts means you will also not be able to see when others have read your messages, the setting is mutual. Read receipts in Google Messages cannot be disabled for individual contacts; the setting applies globally.
Turn off read receipts in Samsung Messages
Samsung Messages is pre-installed on many Galaxy phones, though many newer Samsung phones now use Google Messages as the default texting app. Read receipts are also enabled by default in Samsung Messages.
- Open the Samsung Messages app.
- Tap the three-dot menu icon, usually in the top right corner.
- Tap "Settings".
- Tap "More settings" or "Chat settings" or "Advanced Messaging" (the exact name may vary by model and software version).
- Turn off "Read receipts" or "Share read status" or "Send read receipt".
If your Samsung phone uses Google Messages as the default, follow the Google Messages steps instead.
Disable read receipts in WhatsApp
WhatsApp's read receipts setting is separate from your phone's system settings.
- Open WhatsApp.
- Tap the three-dot menu (Android) or "Settings" (iOS).
- Go to "Settings", then tap "Privacy".
- Find and toggle off "Read Receipts".
Turning off read receipts in WhatsApp does not affect group chats, where blue ticks will still show up when all members have read the message. WhatsApp does not allow users to disable read receipts for specific individual contacts.
Disable read receipts in Facebook Messenger: Launch the app, tap your profile picture, select 'Privacy', find the 'Read Receipts' option and toggle it off.
Turn off read receipts in Signal
Signal is a privacy-focused messaging app that offers a straightforward toggle.
- Open Signal.
- Tap your profile picture (or avatar/initials).
- Select "Privacy".
- Toggle off the "Read Receipts" setting.
As with other apps, disabling read receipts here also prevents you from seeing when others have read your messages.
What about Telegram?
Telegram Messenger does not provide an option to turn off read receipts. In Telegram, a single checkmark means the message was sent, and double checkmarks mean the recipient has seen the message. To read Telegram messages without sending a read receipt, you can preview messages via notifications or by enabling Airplane Mode before opening the chat. Using Do Not Disturb and Silent Mode will not prevent read receipts from being sent, only Airplane Mode or notification previews can work around Telegram's lack of a toggle.
Disable read receipts in Gmail: Open Gmail, tap the hamburger menu, select 'Settings', tap your email account, scroll to 'General' and toggle off 'Email read receipts'.
Disable read receipts in Yahoo Mail: Open Yahoo Mail, tap the hamburger menu, select 'Settings', select your email account, tap 'Writing email', and toggle off 'Show a read receipt for this email'.
Third-party app Textra SMS can be used to disable read receipts.
Third-party app ProtonMail can be used to send encrypted emails and disable read receipts.
Read a message without sending a read receipt using Airplane Mode
This temporary workaround works for any messaging app, including those that lack a read receipt toggle.
- Enable Airplane Mode on your Android device. You can usually find this option by swiping down from the top of the screen to access the quick settings panel.
- Open the messaging app and read the message.
- Close the messaging app completely.
- Disable Airplane Mode.
Because Airplane Mode cuts off the internet connection, your device cannot send the read receipt. Keep in mind that you will not receive new messages or notifications while Airplane Mode is active.
What to know before you turn off read receipts
Before you make changes, understand these key caveats:
- It only applies to RCS, not SMS: Read receipts only work for messages sent via Rich Communication Services (RCS), not standard SMS messages. When read receipts are turned off, the sender will still know their message was delivered, but not that it has been opened or read.
- It's global, not per-contact: In Google Messages and most other apps, the read receipt setting applies to all conversations. You cannot disable it for only specific contacts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off read receipts hide my online status?
No. Read receipts and online status are separate settings in most apps. You may need to adjust your "Last Seen" or "Online" status separately in apps like WhatsApp and Signal.
Can I turn off read receipts for one person only?
Not in Google Messages, WhatsApp, or Signal. These apps apply the read receipt setting globally to all contacts. The Airplane Mode workaround is the only way to selectively prevent a read receipt for a specific message.
Do read receipts work over SMS?
No. Read receipts are a feature of RCS chats within Google Messages. Standard SMS messages do not support read receipts, so disabling this setting only affects RCS conversations.
If I turn off read receipts, will the sender know I turned them off?
No. The sender will simply not see a "Read" indicator. They will still see that the message was delivered, but not whether you opened it.
Why do I still see blue ticks in WhatsApp groups after turning off read receipts?
WhatsApp's read receipt setting does not apply to group chats. In groups, blue ticks appear when all members have read the message, regardless of individual settings.
