The blue double tick feature in WhatsApp allows users to see when their messages have been delivered and read by the recipient. While this can be useful, there are times when you may want to read a message without the sender knowing. So can you hide the double tick or read receipt in WhatsApp?
The short answer is no, there is no built-in way to disable the double tick or read receipt in WhatsApp. The double tick and read receipts are fundamental features of WhatsApp and cannot be turned off. However, there are some workaround methods that may allow you to read messages secretly.
Why Does WhatsApp Have Read Receipts?
WhatsApp introduced read receipts in 2014. This feature shows a double grey tick when your message is delivered to the recipient’s device and two blue ticks when they open and read it.
Here are some of the main reasons why WhatsApp uses read receipts:
- Provides delivery and read confirmation – With the double tick, you can see if your important messages have reached the recipient and been read.
- Creates expectation of quick replies – The read receipt puts social pressure on users to promptly respond once they’ve seen your message.
- Helps continue conversations – The double tick lets you know the recipient has got your message and you can follow up.
- Shows users are engaged – Apps want to keep users engaged. Read receipts give the impression people are active and using the app.
- Mimics real-life conversations – In face-to-face talks you generally know if someone has heard you. Read receipts replicate this.
The double tick read receipt has become an expected part of messaging apps. However, sometimes you don’t want others to know if you’ve read their messages.
Why Would You Want to Hide Read Receipts?
There are several reasons why users may want to read WhatsApp messages secretly without triggering the double tick:
- Privacy – You may want to read a message without the sender knowing when or if you’ve seen it.
- Avoiding conversations – You might want to ignore or delay responding to someone without them knowing.
- Appearing offline – You could make it seem like you’re not active on WhatsApp right now.
- Managing interruptions – The double tick can make some feel obligated to constantly respond quickly.
- Social anxiety – Some users feelpressure and anxiety from the real-time nature of read receipts.
- Stalkers and abuse – Those with abusive contacts may want to read messages without the other party knowing.
Particularly for privacy, mental health and dealing with harassment, many users want options to control read receipts in WhatsApp.
Can You Disable Double Tick or Read Receipts in WhatsApp?
Unfortunately, there is no official way to turn off double ticks or read receipts in WhatsApp. Reading the message will always send the double tick to the sender.
WhatsApp has confirmed that disabling read receipts is not possible. The blue ticks are fundamental to how the app works and are enabled by default for all users. There is no setting or option in WhatsApp to stop sending read receipts.
The developers of WhatsApp believe read receipts lead to better conversations and are unlikely to remove this popular feature. So the double tick will remain mandatory with no way to opt-out.
Workaround Methods to Hide WhatsApp Double Ticks
While you can’t disable read receipts, there are some workaround methods people use to read WhatsApp messages secretly:
Airplane Mode
You can enable Airplane mode before opening messages in WhatsApp. Airplane mode disconnects you from the internet, allowing you to read messages offline. The double tick will not show until you disable Airplane mode and go online.
However, this doesn’t prevent the single grey tick for delivery, so the sender will know the message reached you. It only delays the blue double tick for a short time.
Blocking The Sender
If you block a contact in WhatsApp, they will no longer see your read receipts. So you can sneakily read their messages without the blue ticks confirming you saw them.
But this will also stop you receiving further messages from the blocked contact. You have to unblock them later to continue chatting normally, which could look suspicious.
Read Receipts Disabler Apps
Various third party apps like Flychat, WAMR and Unseen claim to disable read receipts in WhatsApp. But these don’t actually work – it’s impossible for them to override the technical behavior of WhatsApp.
The apps simply notify you of new messages so you can read them outside of WhatsApp. But opening WhatsApp will still send the double tick.
Read Message Notifications
You can swipe down on the message notification to preview the content without opening WhatsApp. However, this only shows a limited snippet of the message.
To properly read the full message you still have to open WhatsApp which will send the read receipt. But it could give you some indication of whether you want to open it.
Should WhatsApp Allow Disabling Read Receipts?
Due to privacy concerns, many users feel WhatsApp should let them disable read receipts. It can be argued that recipients should be able to opt-out of letting senders know when their message is seen.
However, read receipts are ingrained in WhatsApp’s design and unlikely to change. Removing them could undermine the efficiency and speed of conversations that users expect. The double tick has become integral to the WhatsApp experience.
But an option to switch off read receipts or have them on a timer could give users more control. WhatsApp may need to consider more granular settings to give users a choice, while still keeping read receipts as the default.
What About WhatsApp’s View Once Media?
WhatsApp introduced View Once photos and videos in 2021. If the sender enables View Once:
- Media disappears after being opened once
- There are no double ticks to indicate it was seen
- The recipient can’t forward, save or star the media
This provides a way to share disappearing photos or videos more privately on WhatsApp without read receipts.
But it’s limited to media sent this way – normal text messages will still have double ticks. Also both people need to have the latest WhatsApp update.
Other Private Messaging Platforms
On other messaging platforms, users have more options to control read receipts:
Signal
Signal is an encrypted messaging app focused on privacy. In Signal you can disable read receipts per chat or for all chats. The sender will never know if you’ve read their messages.
Telegram
Telegram also offers end-to-end encrypted messaging. It lets you disable read receipts in your account privacy settings. You can turn them off globally or on a per chat basis.
Facebook Messenger
Messenger has a send read receipts option you can disable. This prevents it showing the sender when you’ve read their message.
iMessage
On iMessage, you can disable read receipts in iOS settings. The sender will see delivered but not read.
So users looking to hide read status do have options on other private messaging platforms. But WhatsApp currently remains mandatory.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, there is no way to disable the double tick read receipts in WhatsApp, even if you wish to read messages more privately. The double ticks are unremovable and always enabled.
While some workarounds like Airplane mode or third party apps may help slightly delay the read receipt, they don’t prevent it. The only official solutions WhatsApp offers are blocking a sender or using View Once disappearing media.
Many users feel WhatsApp should add settings to properly disable read receipts. But given their importance for quick conversations, it’s unlikely WhatsApp will ever allow turning off the double ticks. Those who want to hide read status may need to try alternative private messaging platforms.