WhatsApp read receipts are the two blue check marks that indicate when a message has been read by the recipient. Here's how they work and how you can manage them:
How Read Receipts Work on WhatsApp
- For individual chats, two blue ticks appear when the recipient has read your message. If you see only one grey tick, the message is sent but not delivered, or the recipient hasn't read it yet
- In group chats, two blue ticks appear only when all members have read your message. You can also check who has read a message by long-pressing it and tapping the "Info" icon
- Read receipts apply to text messages and voice notes; a blue microphone icon appears when a voice note is fully listened to
- If read receipts are disabled by either party, blue ticks will not appear for that chat
How to Turn Read Receipts On or Off
You can toggle read receipts in WhatsApp's privacy settings on all platforms:
- Android: Open WhatsApp > tap the three dots (menu) > Settings > Account > Privacy > toggle "Read Receipts" on or off
- iOS: Open WhatsApp > Settings (bottom right) > Account > Privacy > toggle "Read Receipts"
- Desktop/Web: Open WhatsApp Web or Desktop > click three dots > Settings > Privacy > uncheck "Read Receipts"
When you turn off read receipts:
- You won't see blue ticks when others read your messages.
- Others won't see blue ticks when you read their messages.
- This does not affect group chats or voice messages; blue ticks still appear there
Additional Notes
- If you see messages only with grey ticks but the person replies, or you see "typing…" but no blue ticks, it likely means they have disabled read receipts
- Read receipts reset when you edit a message, allowing you to see who viewed the updated message.
- You cannot directly know if someone has turned off their read receipts, but the absence of blue ticks despite activity is a clue
In summary, WhatsApp read receipts provide transparency about message reading status but can be disabled for privacy. Group chats maintain read receipt functionality regardless of individual settings
