Read receipts can make a simple message feel like a timer. On iPhone, the right switch depends on the app you use: Apple Messages has its own setting, while WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, Signal, LinkedIn, and Teams each keep separate controls. Start with Messages, then change the apps where people still see your read status.
Turn Off Read Receipts For Everyone In Messages
The most common reason people still see Read under your iMessages is that Send Read Receipts is still enabled in Messages settings.
Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap Apps, then tap Messages. Turn off Send Read Receipts.
This stops Messages read receipts for iMessage conversations when both people are using iMessage. SMS texts and group texts do not support Apple Messages read receipts, so this setting is for iMessage, not regular green-bubble SMS conversations.
Stop Read Receipts For One iMessage Chat
Open the Messages app. Tap the conversation you want to change, then tap the contact icon at the top of the conversation. Turn off Send Read Receipts for that person. This per-chat setting overrides your general Messages setting for that conversation.
Turn Off iMessage Only When You Want To Stop Using It
This applies when you want to stop using iMessage features entirely, not just hide read status. It is a bigger change than turning off read receipts, and on its own it does not force SMS or MMS: if RCS Messaging is on and your carrier supports it, eligible conversations can still send as RCS, and RCS carries read receipts too.
Open Settings, then tap Apps. Tap Messages, then turn off iMessage.
After that, iMessage features are disabled, but your messages do not necessarily drop to SMS or MMS. Apple’s order is iMessage first, then RCS, then SMS or MMS, and RCS supports delivery and read receipts and typing indicators while SMS and MMS do not. So if you want SMS or MMS with no read receipts at all, also turn off RCS Messaging using the steps in the next section. SMS and MMS messages may appear in carrier records.
Switch Off RCS Messaging On iOS 18
The most common reason read status still matters with some non-iPhone contacts is that RCS Messaging is on and supported by your carrier.
Open Settings, then tap Apps and Messages. Tap RCS Messaging, then turn off RCS Messaging. Your iPhone falls back to SMS or MMS where available, which does not provide the same Messages read-receipt feature.
Disable Read Receipts In WhatsApp
WhatsApp has its own read receipt control, separate from Apple Messages.
- 1.Open WhatsApp.
- 2.Tap Settings.
- 3.Tap Privacy.
- 4.Turn off Read receipts.
When WhatsApp read receipts are off, you cannot see other users' read receipts either. WhatsApp still sends read receipts in group chats.
Set Signal And Instagram Controls
This fixes read receipts in two common messaging apps that do not follow your iPhone Messages setting.
In Signal, tap your profile avatar to open Signal Settings. Next, tap Privacy and turn off Read Receipts. In Signal, both people must have read receipts enabled to see read status.
For one Instagram chat, open Instagram, then open Messages. Tap the conversation, then tap the chat name at the top. Tap Privacy & safety, then turn off Read receipts.
For all Instagram chats, go to your profile and open Menu. Tap Messages and story replies, then tap Show read receipts. Turn off Show read receipts.
Change Messenger LinkedIn And Teams Settings
Use these settings when the read receipt is coming from another iPhone app instead of Messages. Each app manages its own status, so changing Apple Messages will not change these accounts.
In Messenger, open Menu, then tap Settings. Tap Privacy & safety, then tap Read receipts. Turn off Read receipts.
In LinkedIn, tap your profile photo and go to Settings. Tap Data privacy, then tap Messaging experience. Tap Delivery and typing indicators, then turn off Delivery and typing indicators.
After it is disabled, no one in the conversation, including you, can see read or typing status. This setting does not apply to InMail senders, and message-request receipts appear only after the request is accepted.
In Microsoft Teams Free, tap your profile picture, then tap Settings. Tap Chats and turn off Read receipts. Everyone must have read receipts on for Teams Free messages to be counted as seen or read.
Update Messages On Your Mac Too
If your Mac is signed in to iMessage, change the Mac setting too. Otherwise, you may still send or receive iMessages from the Mac with its own read receipt behavior.
To turn them off for everyone on Mac, open Messages, choose Messages, open Settings, select iMessage, open Settings, and deselect Send read receipts.
For one Mac conversation, open Messages, select the conversation, click the contact or icon at the top, and deselect Send Read Receipts.
Skip Old Read Receipt Tricks
Open the current iPhone path through Settings. Tap Apps, then tap Messages. Use Send Read Receipts.
Do not rely on older paths that skip Apps, or on Airplane Mode tricks, notification previews, marking a chat unread, restricting an Instagram account, uninstalling an app, or browser extensions. Those are not current app controls for turning off read receipts.
For work or school accounts, especially Microsoft Teams, your organization may control read receipts with a policy. If the toggle is missing or locked, ask your workplace or school IT contact to change the setting for your account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does turning off read receipts on iPhone affect WhatsApp or Instagram?
No. The iPhone Messages setting only affects Apple Messages read receipts for iMessage. WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, Signal, LinkedIn, and Teams each have their own controls.
Can I turn off read receipts for just one person on iPhone?
Yes. In Messages, open that conversation, tap the contact icon at the top, and turn off Send Read Receipts for that chat.
Why can I still see read receipts after turning mine off?
Some apps use separate account settings, and Apple’s Messages setting does not control third-party apps. LinkedIn and WhatsApp also limit what you can see from others after you disable your own receipts.
Do read receipts work for SMS texts and group texts on iPhone?
Apple Messages read receipts do not apply to SMS messaging or group texts. The Messages read receipt toggle applies to iMessage conversations.