How to Turn Off Read Receipts on iPhone for Everyone or One Person

September 28, 2026

You can turn off read receipts on your iPhone for everyone or an individual contact through the Apple Support Guide in your device settings.

Turn Off Read Receipts for Everyone

Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Tap Apps, then select Messages (on some iOS versions, tap Messages directly from the main Settings list).
Locate Send Read Receipts.
Toggle the switch to the off position (it will turn gray).

Turn Off Read Receipts for One Person

Open the Messages app.
Tap the conversation with the specific person.
Tap the contact’s name or profile icon at the top of the chat.
Locate the Send Read Receipts toggle for that specific conversation and switch it off.

(Note: You can use this individual setting to override your global setting, meaning you can keep receipts off for everyone while turning them on for one person, or vice versa.)

Pro Tip

Turn Send Read Receipts off globally, then switch it on for the two or three people who need to know you saw their messages, such as your partner or manager. You keep your peace and they still get the confirmation.

After you turn them off, people you message will see Delivered under your text, but never Read. Below you will find both methods, exactly what other people can still see, ways to read a message privately and the fixes for when the Read label keeps appearing.

Turn Off Read Receipts for Everyone or Just One Person

Everyone: Settings, Apps, Messages, Send Read Receipts off
One person or one group: open the chat, tap the name at the top, Send Read Receipts off
WhatsApp: it has its own setting under Settings, Privacy, Read Receipts
Only iMessage is affected: green text messages never show read receipts

How to Turn Off Read Receipts for All Conversations

Open Settings.
Tap Apps, then tap Messages. On older versions of iOS, tap Messages directly in Settings.
Scroll down and switch off Send Read Receipts.

From now on your iPhone stops telling people when you have read their iMessages. The setting is on your phone, so repeat it on your iPad and Mac if you use Messages there. On a Mac, open Messages, choose Settings, click iMessage and untick Send read receipts.

What Other People Can Still See After You Turn Them Off

Delivered: they still see that the message arrived on your phone
Typing bubbles: the three dots appear while you type
Their own receipts: if they keep receipts on, you still see when they read your messages
Shared Focus status: if you share your Focus, they may see that your notifications are silenced

Read receipts are the only thing that goes away. They cannot see when you opened the chat or how long you looked at it.

How to Read a Message Without Opening It

Turning receipts off is cleaner, but these tricks also let you peek:

Touch and hold the notification. Expand a message from the Lock Screen and read it without opening the chat. This usually does not mark it as read.
Use the message preview. Turn on Show Previews in Settings, Notifications, Messages so the first lines appear on the Lock Screen.
Check from the Control Center. Enable Focus modes to silence pings and read later.
Turn on Airplane Mode first. Open the message while offline. Note that receipts may still be sent when you reconnect, so this is not reliable.

Read Receipts in Other Apps

Read receipts are separate in every app, so switching them off in Messages does not affect anything else.

WhatsApp: open Settings, tap Privacy and switch off Read Receipts. Group chats and voice notes still show who heard them.
Instagram and Facebook Messenger: open the app’s message settings and look for the read status option.
Green bubble texts: SMS never sends read receipts. RCS messages can show receipts depending on your network and the other person’s phone.

Why the Read Label Still Shows After You Turned It Off

Your Messages on another device still sends receipts. Turn it off on your iPad and Mac too.
A single conversation has receipts turned on. Open the chat, tap the name and check the switch.
The person is using a different app. WhatsApp and other apps have their own controls.
The setting did not save. Turn it off and on again and restart your iPhone.
You need an update. Install the latest iOS in Settings, General, Software Update. If you are not sure your phone supports it, find your iPhone model first.

Should You Turn Read Receipts Off?

Reading receipts help people know you saw an urgent message, but they can also create pressure to reply straight away. Turning them off gives you time to think and protects your privacy. If you want the benefits of both, keep them off globally and switch them on for close family or your manager.

Privacy works best in layers. You can also withhold number on iPhone when you call, and block No Caller ID calls that you do not want. To make new messages less intrusive, learn how to turn off iPhone vibration as well.

More iPhone Setup and Storage Guides

Managing your iPhone becomes easier when you know where important files and settings are located. Learn where downloads are on iPhone to find saved files from Safari, apps and messages, or check what iPhone you have before buying accessories or following device-specific steps. You can also personalise your device by learning how to change iPhone wallpaper and create a setup that matches how you use your phone.

Set Messaging Rules Before You Rent Business iPhones

Teams that rent iPhones for events, campaigns or seasonal work often message customers from company handsets. Decide whether staff should show read receipts before you hand phones out, because a customer who sees Read and gets no reply may lose trust. Settings can be prepared on every handset in advance. See iPhone rental for businesses and read about MDM for rented devices if you manage many devices. Contact our team for a quote.

Rent Tech Devices for Business Events and Professional Use

Rent tech devices for business events, conferences, exhibitions, and corporate projects. Hire Tablets UK provides professionally prepared devices with quick delivery and dependable support, making it simple for businesses to run events and activities without technical concerns.

Get a Quote Contact Us

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn off read receipts for one person only on the iPhone?

Yes. Open the conversation in Messages, tap the person’s name at the top and switch off Send Read Receipts. That chat stops sending receipts while every other chat follows your main setting.

Will they know I turned off read receipts?

No notification is sent. They will only see Delivered instead of Read under your messages, so they may guess, but nothing tells them you changed a setting.

Do read receipts work on green text messages?

No. Standard SMS never sends read receipts. RCS messages can show them in some cases, depending on your network and the other phone.

Can I still see when someone reads my messages if I turn mine off?

Yes, if they keep their own read receipts on. Your setting only controls what you send, not what you receive.

Why does my iPhone still say Read after turning it off?

Another device such as an iPad or Mac may still send receipts, or that single chat has the switch on. Check every device and open the chat to confirm.