How to Turn Off Read Receipts on WhatsApp and What Happens Next

Turning off read receipts gives you that privacy, letting you go through messages without triggering the blue ticks. It's a simple setting, but it does come with a few things to keep in mind, like not being able to see when others have read your messages.

If you're wondering how to turn off read receipts and what changes once you do, let's break it all down step by step.

What Happens When You Turn Off Read Receipts on WhatsApp

1What Happens to Message Status?

Only Affect Personal Chats:

When you turn off read receipts, the sender won't see the blue ticks that indicate you've read their message.

• This applies to texts, voice messages, emojis, and more.
• For voice messages, neither the blue ticks nor the blue microphone icon will appear.

Only Affect New Messages:

Read receipts settings only affect messages after you've made the change. For example:

• If you turn off read receipts after receiving a message but later enable them, the message won't suddenly show blue ticks.
• If you turn on read receipts but later disable them, any blue ticks that have already appeared won't turn grey.

Sender & Receiver Impact:

Both the person sending the message and the person receiving it are affected. If read receipts are off, neither party sees confirmation that the message has been read.

2What Happens to Status Updates ("Stories")?

Your Own Stories Viewing List:

You won't be able to see who's viewed your WhatsApp status updates while read receipts are off.

When You Viewed Other's Stories:

If you turn off read receipts, people won't see your name in their "Viewed by" list, even if you check their stories.

Timing Matters:

• If you turn off read receipts, check someone's status, and later turn them back on, your name may still appear in their list. However, the "viewed at" time will reflect the moment you re-enabled read receipts—not the time you saw the status.
  
• If you turn the receipts on and off quickly, your name might not appear, but usually, updates are immediate.

3Can You Turn Off Read Receipts for Certain People?

Unfortunately, no. If you turn off read receipts, the change applies to everyone in your contacts.

4What about Online and Last Seen Status?

Turning off read receipts doesn't affect your online or last-seen visibility. These settings are managed separately in WhatsApp's privacy options.

How to Turn Off Read Receipts on WhatsApp

By following the below steps, you can manage your privacy on WhatsApp regarding message reading notifications effectively.

1. Open WhatsApp
   • Open the WhatsApp app on your phone (available on both Android and iOS).
2. Go to Settings and Open the Privacy Section
   • On iPhone: Tap the gear icon in the bottom-right corner and then select Privacy.
     
   • On Android: Tap the three dots in the top-right corner, then select Settings from the drop-down menu. Now you will see the Privacy option.
     
3. Find the "Read Receipts" Optionand Turn Off
   • Scroll down in the Privacy settings until you see Read Receipts.
   • Tap the toggle switch next to Read Receipts to disable it.
     iPhone

     

     Android

     

Additional Notes:

• Once read receipts are turned off, the blue ticks in individual chats will no longer appear when you read someone's messages.
• This change won't affect group chats, where blue ticks will still show up as usual.
• Remember, you also won't be able to see when someone reads your messages while this feature is disabled.

Can You Know If Someone Turned Off Read Receipts on WhatsApp?

If you're wondering whether someone has turned off read receipts on WhatsApp, there's no direct way to tell, but there are some clues you can look for.

They've Replied to You, but You Only See Gray Ticks

If you haven't turned off your read receipts, but their reply comes through while your earlier message still shows only grey ticks, there's a high chance (95%+) they've disabled theirs.

You See the "Typing…" Indicator, but Still Only Gray Ticks

This is another strong sign (95%+). If you notice the typing indicator while chatting, but your messages to them remain grey instead of turning blue, it's likely they've turned off read receipts.

Group Messages Show Blue Ticks, but Personal Messages Stay Gray

In group chats, read receipts work differently—blue ticks show up once any member has read the message. If your group messages to them get blue ticks, but one-on-one messages stay grey, there's a good chance (80%+) they've turned off read receipts for personal chats.

So, while you can't know for sure, these signs are usually reliable indicators that someone has turned off read receipts. Keep in mind, though, that this isn't foolproof—there could be other reasons, like them simply not opening your message yet.

Best Practices to Manage WhatsApp Read Receipts

Explore best practices to optimize your use of read receipts for better messaging control. Along with other communication tips, you can maintain privacy better and improve interactions.

When to Turn ON Read Receipts:

• To maintain transparency in personal or professional relationships.
• When you need confirmation that your messages have been read.
• During group conversations or collaborations where feedback timing matters.

When to Turn OFF Read Receipts:

• To prioritize privacy and avoid pressure to reply immediately.
• While checking someone's WhatsApp status discreetly.
• For casual conversations where message tracking isn't necessary.

Other Communication Tips:

• Be Open about Your Preferences: Let close contacts know if you've disabled read receipts to avoid misunderstandings.
• Temporary Adjustments: Toggle read receipts briefly to check a message's status, then turn them off again if needed.
• Use Last Seen & Online Status Settings: Customise visibility to complement your read receipt settings.
• Combine with Other Privacy Features: Use disappearing messages or archived chats for added privacy alongside disabled read receipts.
• Update Your App Regularly: Ensure you have the latest WhatsApp version to stay aligned with feature updates and changes.

Final Thoughts

To wrap it up, turning off read receipts on WhatsApp is a great way to keep things more private. It lets you read messages and check statuses without the pressure of someone seeing when you've read them.

But, keep in mind, you won't be able to see when others read your messages either. It's all about finding that sweet spot between privacy and staying in the loop.

So, depending on what you prefer, this setting makes your WhatsApp experience feel a lot more relaxed.