Easy Steps to Turn Off Read Receipts on Android

PDF download Download Article
Simple steps to turn off the read status for Android text messages
PDF download Download Article

Android users rejoice! Did you know that turning off read receipts isn't just an iPhone feature? Disabling read receipts on your Android is easy, whether you're using Messages by Google or the Messages app on a Samsung Galaxy phone.

Things You Should Know

  • To turn off read receipts in Messages by Google on your Android, tap your profile in the Messages app, go to "Message Settings" > "RCS chats," and tap the switch.
  • Turn off read receipts in Samsung Messages by tapping the three-dot menu icon, going to "Settings" > "Advanced Messaging," and tapping the switch.
  • When you turn off read receipts on your Android, you can read a text without the sender knowing.
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Using Messages by Google

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/58\/Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/58\/Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-1.jpg\/v4-728px-Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Tap the app icon that looks like blue overlapping speech bubbles on a white background.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/79\/Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/79\/Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It's in the top right corner of your screen and will prompt a menu to open.
    Advertisement
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/43\/Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/43\/Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You'll see this near the bottom of the menu next to a gear icon.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d4\/Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d4\/Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-4.jpg\/v4-728px-Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It's the first item on the menu.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e8\/Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e8\/Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-5.jpg\/v4-728px-Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    As long as the toggle is grey and pointing to the left, it's off. [1]
    6. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Using Samsung Messages

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/24\/Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/24\/Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Tap the blue speech bubble icon with three dots in the middle.
    • Samsung Messages is the default text messaging app on all Samsung Galaxy phones. Use this method if you haven't installed Messages by Google.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/77\/Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/77\/Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-7.jpg\/v4-728px-Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You'll see this three-dot menu icon centered on the right side of your screen.
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/4a\/Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/4a\/Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-8.jpg\/v4-728px-Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":545,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It's at the bottom of the menu.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/eb\/Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/eb\/Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-9.jpg\/v4-728px-Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It's the first item on the menu.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/66\/Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-10.jpg\/v4-460px-Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-10.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/66\/Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-10.jpg\/v4-728px-Turn-Off-Read-Receipts-on-Android-Step-10.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If the switch is grey and pointing to the left, the feature is off. [2]
    6. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Add Widgets on Android
      How to
      Find Your Phone Number on Android
      4 Simple Ways to Turn Off Safe Mode on Any Android
      How to
      Add an App Back to Home Screen: Tips for Finding Apps
      How to
      Increase Your Android Device’s Maximum Volume Steps
      How to
      Add & Use Discord Soundboard Sounds: Step-by-Step Tutorial
      3 Ways to Unlock an Android Tablet
      The Ultimate Guide to Hiding Caller ID on Android
      How to
      Combine Photos on Android: 3 Ways to Create Collages and Grids
      How to
      Turn Off Your Android Phone Without the Power Button
      Unzip Files on Android for Free with Files by Google
      How to
      Connect Android Phone to Computer
      How to
      Hide Apps on Android
      How to
      Switch to Portrait or Landscape Mode on Android
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://support.google.com/messages/answer/7189714?hl=en#zippy=%2Clet-others-know-youve-read-their-messages
      2. ↑ https://us.community.samsung.com/t5/Galaxy-S20/Disabling-quot-read-receipt-quot-galaxy-s20/td-p/2490093

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 25,816 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement