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How to Disable Read Receipts on WhatsApp (2023)

Here's a guide on how to turn off read receipts on WhatsApp.

It is very easy to know if your WhatsApp message has been read or not. It is a convenient way when you are the sender of the message, but less welcomed when it’s the other way around. Actually, the platform automatically indicates to each participant of a conversation that their message has been sent, received, and read, thanks to a system of checkmarks appearing next to your message. But if, for whatever reason, you want to stealthily read your WhatsApp messages, then follow this guide that explains how to disable read receipts on WhatsApp.

WhatsApp: How to Disable Read Receipts (2023)

disable read receipt on whatsapp

By default, WhatsApp adjusts your privacy settings so users can keep tabs on their contacts’ activities. However, if you do not want to notify your contacts that you have read their message, you can bypass WhatsApp’s tick system in two ways. Check out all the methods given below:

On Android:

Open WhatsApp, and tap on the three dots at the top right.
Follow the path:  Settings > Account > Privacy.
At the bottom, tap Read Receipts.

On iOS:

  • Open WhatsApp, and tap on the three dots at the top right.
  • Go to Settings, then Account.
  • Head over to Privacy and tap Read Receipts.

The other side of the problem is that you won’t be notified if your message has been read either. Also, disabling read receipts only applies to two-person chats, not group chats.

Note that disabling delivery reports is not always enough because the sender of the message can see that you were on WhatsApp and that you did not bother to read their message. It, therefore, seems necessary to deactivate the Seen at option.

  • To do this, on Android, go to your  Account (3 vertical dots > Settings), then to Privacy > Seen to > Nobody.
  • On iOS, go to Settings, then Account, then Privacy > Seen to > Nobody.

That is all you need to know about how to turn off read receipts on WhatsApp. If you are looking for more WhatsApp Tips and Tricks, check out our other guides only on our website TechNClub.com: How to Cleanup WhatsApp Data Storage on iPhone 14, and How to Send Whatsapp Message to Multiple Contacts without Creating a Group or Broadcast List.