How to Identify and Disable WhatsApp Read Receipts

WhatsApp is a popular instant messaging app with a slew of features. One of these features is read receipts. Read receipts let users know if and when a message is received and read. Some users aren't fans of read receipts. They feel pressured to respond to a message immediately if the sender knows they opened and read a message. If you prefer not to have read receipts, it's easy to disable this feature.

WhatsApp Read Receipts look like checkmarks. When you send a message, a grey checkmark appears next to the time stamp. Two checkmarks appear when the message is delivered to the recipient.

When the recipient reads a message, two blue checkmarks appear. In a group chat, both checkmarks turn blue after every participant of the group chat opens the message.

If you don't see two blue checkmarks next to a message you sent, the recipient hasn't opened the message, one of you disabled read receipts, the recipient blocked you, or one of you has connection issues.

Read receipts are a two-way street. If you disable read receipts to prevent others from knowing you read their messages, you won't be able to tell when they read yours.

For more detailed information about a message, the WhatsApp Message Info screen displays when your message was delivered, read, or played by the recipient.

To see the Message Info screen on WhatsApp for iPhone, open a chat with a contact or group and swipe your message from right to left.

To see the Message Info screen on WhatsApp for Android, open a chat with a contact or group, tap and hold your sent message, then tap the information icon.