WhatsApp’s blue ticks allow users to know when you have read their messages. While useful, they can generate pressure to respond immediately.
If you prefer greater privacy, WhatsApp enables users to disable Read receipts via its privacy settings.
What do WhatsApp blue ticks mean?
WhatsApp uses check marks to show message status:
- One grey tick means the message was sent.
- Two grey ticks mean it was delivered.
- Two blue ticks mean the message was read.
Turning off Read receipts prevents blue ticks from appearing in most individual conversations.
How to turn off read receipts on WhatsApp
Follow these steps to easily turn off read receipts on the Meta-owned WhatsApp.
Android
1: Initially, launch WhatsApp.
2: Click on the three-dotted menu and choose Settings.
3: Go to Privacy.
4: Find Read receipts and switch it off.
iPhone
1: To turn off read receipts on iPhone, users are initially required to launch WhatsApp and tap Settings.
2: Select Privacy and turn Read receipts off.
3: Once disabled, people in individual chats will not be able to see if you have already read their messages and vice versa.
What happens after turning off Read Receipts?
Disabling Read receipts does not hide your online status or last seen information. Those are controlled separately via WhatsApp’s privacy settings.
There are also exceptions. Group chats work differently, and read information may still be visible.
Moreover, voice messages can behave differently relying on the WhatsApp version and feature implementation.
Can you disable read receipts for one person?
No. WhatsApp does not allow users to disable Read receipts for certain users, but the setting applies broadly to individual chats.
For occasional privacy, users can instead preview messages through notifications without opening the conversation.
