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Understanding Text Message Receipt: How Can You Confirm Reading?

What to Know

• iPhone: The recipient must go toSettings >Messages and turn onSend Read Receipts .
• Android: The recipient must turn onSend read receipts here:menu >Messages settings >RCS chats .
• WhatsApp: Go toSettings >Privacy and toggleRead receipts on. Group chats use read receipts by default.

Here’s how to tell if someone read your text on Android and iOS smartphones. This article also covers WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram.

Read Receipts on iPhone

On an iPhone, read receipts are the only way to tell if someone read a text you sent from Messages,the default texting app for iOS . If you and your recipient activate read receipts, the wordRead will be seen under the most recent message, along with the time the message was read.

Here’s how to enable or disable read receipts in Messages for iOS:

Read receipts work only when both you and your recipient enable iMessage from the Messages settings. Read receipts don’t work if you use SMS messaging or if your recipient doesn’t use an iOS device.

1. OpenSettings .
2. TapMessages .
3. Turn onSend Read Receipts .
4. Others are notified when you read their messages. If your recipient also enabled read receipts, you’ll seeRead beneath your message along with the time it was read.
   

If you don’t want people to know that when you read their messages,turn off read receipts on your iPhone or Android .

Read Receipts on Android Smartphones

The process is similar on Android. TheGoogle Messages app supports read receipts, but the carrier must also support this feature. Your recipient must have read receipts activated for you to see if they read your message.

Here’s how to turn on read receipts for an Android phone:

The directions below should apply no matter who made your Android phone: Samsung, Google, Huawei, Xiaomi, etc. There may, however, be slight variations depending on the Android version.

1. Open the app and tap the settings option, calledMessages settings on some devices. If you don’t see this, tap the profile image or the three vertical dots or lines at the top of the screen.
2. Depending on your phone, tapRCS chats ,Chat features , Text Messages , or Conversations . If this option isn’t on the first page that displays, tap More settings .
3. Tap the toggle next to the read receipts options, which might be calledSend read receipts ,Read receipts , orRequest receipt , depending on the device you have.
   

WhatsApp Read Receipts

WhatsApp uses built-in read receipts. The status of sent messagesis tracked through check marks next to messages . One grey check mark means the message was sent; two grey check marks mean the message was delivered, and two blue check marks mean the message was read.

Read receipts are turned on by default, but it’s a toggle you can switch on and off. If you’ve turned offWhatsApp read receipts , follow that guide to learn how to start using this feature again.

WhatsApp read receipts are a two-way street. If you disable read receipts to prevent others from knowing you read their messages, you won’t know when they read yours.

WhatsApp Message Details

If you’re looking for specific information about the messages you’ve sent in WhatsApp, here’s how to see those details:

1. Open a conversation.
2. Tap and hold the message, then selectInfo . Depending on your device, you might need to select thethree-dot menu first.
3. If read receipts aren’t disabled, you’ll see the exact time your message was delivered and read.
   

Messenger Read Receipts

Like most texting apps,Facebook Messenger includes a handy toggle calledShow read receipts . When it’s turned on, you’ll be able to see when people read your messages and they’ll see when you’ve read theirs.

Here’s how to know when people read your Facebook messages; this works on Android and iOS:

1. Tap thethree-line menu at the top of the app.
2. Select thesettings/gear button at the top of the menu.
3. Scroll down and tapPrivacy & safety .
   
4. ChooseRead receipts .
5. Tap the toggle next toShow read receipts so it turns on.
   

The Facebook Messenger app provides detailed indicators about the delivery and read status each time you send a message. When your message is actively sending, you’ll briefly see a blue circle. When it’s sent, you’ll see a blue circle with a checkmark. When it’s delivered, you’ll see a filled-in blue circle. Finally, when it’s read, you’ll see a small version of your recipient’s profile image below the message.

Instagram Read Receipts

Instagram lets you manage read receipts , so to see when someone has read your Instagram message, you need to make sure the toggle is switched_on_ . The Instagram app lets you control read receipts for individual chats and all chats.

You can follow that guide for all the details, but here’s the gist: Open the conversation you want read indicators enabled for and then tap the person’s name at the top. Go toPrivacy & safety and then switchRead receipts to the on postion.

Another way to read a text without the sender knowing is to read the message preview from the notification pop-up instead of opening the message. This works for texts received in any app that displays a preview in the notification banner.

FAQ

• Can I turn on read receipts for one person on iPhone?
  Yes. In the Messages app, tap the individual contact, then tapSend Read Receipts .
• Can I tell if an email has been read in Apple Mail?
  Yes, but you need a Mac to set up read receipts. Toget notifications when your messages are read in Mail , open Terminal and enter the following command:defaults read com.apple.mail UserHeaders .
• Can I enable read receipts in Gmail on iPhone?
  It depends. You can only see read receipts if you have a work or school Gmail account. In the message composition window, select thethree dots >Request read receipt .

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