Getting notifications when someone has read your message can be useful, but sometimes annoying or distracting. Luckily, on most messaging platforms, you can easily turn off read receipts or read notifications.
In this article, we’ll go over how to disable read notifications for some of the most popular messaging apps and social media platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Snapchat, Telegram, Signal, Slack, and more. Whether you’re using an iPhone or Android device, we’ve got you covered.
What are read receipts and read notifications?
First, let’s clarify the difference between read receipts and read notifications:
Read receipts – These show when your message has been opened and viewed by the recipient. It records the exact time they read your message.
Read notifications – These send a notification to the sender when the recipient has read their message. The recipient isn’t shown when the sender reads their messages.
So read receipts record read info for both parties, while read notifications only notify the sender. Disabling both or just read notifications prevent others from knowing when you’ve read their messages.
Some apps use different names like read confirms, read status, message read notifications, but they work the same way.
Now let’s go through specific apps.
WhatsApp has read receipts enabled by default. Here’s how to disable read receipts in WhatsApp:
1. Open WhatsApp and tap the 3-dot menu in the top right.
2. Go to Settings > Account > Privacy.
3. Tap ‘Read receipts’ and toggle it off.
This will stop read receipts from being sent for your WhatsApp messages. Other users won’t be able to see when you’ve read their messages.
To disable read receipts for specific WhatsApp chats:
1. Open the individual chat.
2. Tap the contact’s name at the top.
3. Toggle off ‘Read receipts’ for that chat.
Disable read notifications
WhatsApp automatically has read notifications disabled, so you don’t need to do anything else. Your contacts won’t get notified when you read their messages.
Facebook Messenger
Like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger has read receipts enabled by default. Here’s how to turn them off:
1. Open the Facebook Messenger app.
2. Tap your profile picture in the top left.
3. Go to Privacy settings.
4. Toggle off ‘Read receipts’.
This will prevent read receipts from being sent to your Messenger contacts.
To disable read receipts for specific Messenger threads:
1. Tap the thread with the contact.
2. Tap their name at the top.
3. Toggle off ‘Read receipts’ for that thread.
Disable read notifications
Messenger also has read notifications enabled by default. To turn them off:
1. Follow steps 1-3 above to get to Privacy settings.
2. Toggle off ‘Message read notifications’.
Now you won’t get notified when your contacts read your messages in Messenger.
Instagram Direct messages have read receipts enabled automatically. To disable:
1. Open Instagram and go to your profile.
2. Tap the 3-line menu in the top right.
3. Go to Settings > Privacy.
4. Toggle off ‘Read receipts’.
This will stop read receipts being sent in your Instagram DMs.
Disable read notifications
Read notifications aren’t available on Instagram Direct. So you don’t need to disable them.
Snapchat
Snapchat has read receipts enabled by default for chat conversations. Here’s how to turn them off:
1. Open Snapchat and tap your profile icon in the top left.
2. Tap the gear icon to access Settings.
3. Go to Additional Services > Manage Preferences.
4. Toggle off ‘Read receipts’.
Now your Snapchat contacts won’t see when you’ve read their chats.
Disable read notifications
Snapchat doesn’t have read notifications, so you don’t need to change any settings.
Telegram
Telegram’s read receipts are disabled by default in Secret Chats. But for regular chats, here’s how to turn them off:
1. Open Telegram and tap Settings at the bottom.
2. Go to Privacy and Security.
3. Toggle off ‘Read receipts’.
This will disable read receipts in all your regular Telegram chats.
There’s no way to disable read receipts in specific Telegram chats. It’s all or nothing.
Disable read notifications
Telegram doesn’t have read notifications, so there are no settings you need to change.
Signal
Signal has read receipts and read notifications disabled by default, so there are no settings you need to change. Your message status will remain completely private.
Slack
Slack lets you control read receipts at the workspace level or per channel. Here’s how to turn them off:
**Across the workspace**
1. Click your workspace name in the top left.
2. Select Preferences > Advanced > Read receipts.
3. Toggle off ‘Send read receipts’.
**Per channel**
1. Open the channel.
2. Click the channel name at the top.
3. Toggle off ‘Send read receipts’ for that channel.
This will prevent read receipts in your desired Slack channels or your entire workspace.
Disable read notifications
Slack doesn’t have read notifications, so there are no related settings to change.
Discord
Discord doesn’t have read receipts or read notifications. Your message status remains private by default.
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams has read receipts enabled by default. To disable them:
1. Click your profile picture at the top right.
2. Select Settings > Privacy.
3. Toggle off ‘Read receipts’.
This turns off read receipts workspace-wide. There’s no per chat option.
Disable read notifications
Teams doesn’t have message read notifications, so there are no settings to change.
Skype
Skype has read receipts enabled by default. Here’s how to turn them off:
**On desktop**
1. Open Skype and click your profile picture.
2. Click Settings > Privacy.
3. Uncheck ‘Send read receipts’.
**On mobile**
1. Tap your profile picture.
2. Tap Settings > Privacy.
3. Toggle off ‘Send read receipts’.
This will stop read receipts being sent in your Skype chats.
Disable read notifications
Skype doesn’t have read notifications, so there are no related settings. Your message read status will stay private.
Viber
Viber has read receipts and read notifications turned on by default. Here’s how to disable them:
**Read receipts**
1. Open Viber and tap More options > Settings.
2. Tap Privacy > Read receipts.
3. Toggle off ‘Send read receipts’.
**Read notifications**
1. Follow the steps above to get to Privacy settings.
2. Toggle off ‘Send seen status’.
With these turned off, your Viber contacts won’t get read receipts or notifications when you read their messages.
Zoom
The Zoom chat feature has read receipts enabled by default. To disable:
1. Log into the Zoom web portal and click Settings.
2. Select In Meeting (Advanced) > Read Receipts.
3. Uncheck ‘Show read receipts’.
This will remove read receipts in your Zoom chats during meetings.
Disable read notifications
Zoom doesn’t have read notification settings, so nothing needs to be changed.
Google Hangouts
Hangouts shows message status by default. To hide your read status:
On mobile:
1. Open the Hangouts app and tap your profile picture.
2. Tap Settings > Your info.
3. Uncheck ‘Share your status’.
This will stop read receipts from being shared in Hangouts on mobile.
On desktop, there’s no way to disable read receipts in Hangouts currently.
Disable read notifications
Hangouts doesn’t have read notifications, so there are no related settings.
Conclusion
While most messaging apps have read receipts enabled by default, turning them off only takes a few quick taps. Disabling read notifications prevents you from getting bothered when contacts read your messages.
To recap, on iOS and Android devices you can turn off read receipts in:
- Facebook Messenger
- Snapchat
- Telegram
- Slack
- Microsoft Teams
- Skype
- Viber
- Zoom (meetings only)
And if you want to disable read notifications, turn them off in:
- Facebook Messenger
- Viber
With these private messaging settings, you take control over your read receipts and notifications. Enjoy messaging freely without worrying about read status!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do apps have read receipts enabled by default?
Many messaging apps enable read receipts automatically because it helps in user engagement. It lets you see when your message has caught the recipient’s attention. Some find it useful to know if their message has been read or seen.
Should I keep read receipts and notifications on?
It’s a personal choice. Some users like having the read info, while others find it intrusive or unnecessary. If you message sensitive topics or want private conversations, it’s better turning them off. But you don’t have to disable them if you find them helpful.
Can I turn off read receipts on iOS/Android only?
Yes, the settings shown above are for the iOS and Android apps. You can disable read receipts on just mobile devices if you prefer. The desktop/web settings don’t affect your phone and vice versa.
Will turning off read receipts stop them completely?
In most apps, disabling read receipts prevents them from being sent in all your chats. However, in Telegram, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger, contacts can still view your read receipts if they have them enabled. The settings aren’t reciprocal in those apps.
Can I stop read information for specific chats only?
Some apps allow turning off read receipts in individual chats. This includes WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, Snapchat, and Slack. In other apps like Telegram and Teams, the settings change read receipts globally.
Summary
Here are the key points about disabling read receipts and notifications:
- Read receipts show when a message is read, read notifications notify the sender.
- Most messaging apps have them on by default for user engagement.
- You can turn off read receipts in WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram and more.
- Disable read notifications in Messenger and Viber.
- The settings are app-specific and adjust notification privacy.
- It’s a personal choice based on your messaging preferences.
Knowing how to turn off read receipts and notifications gives you control. Now you can chat privately without worrying about message status.