How to Turn Off Read Receipts in WhatsApp (The Blue Check Marks)

In WhatsApp, messages show a gray check mark when sent, two gray check marks when delivered to the other person's phone, and two blue check marks when that person has read the message. Those blue check marks — sometimes called "blue ticks" — let the sender know you have seen their message. Some people find this creates pressure to reply immediately. Fortunately, WhatsApp lets you turn off read receipts so that your blue ticks are never shown.

To turn off read receipts on an iPhone or Android: Open WhatsApp, tap the three dots in the top right corner (Android) or tap "Settings" at the bottom right (iPhone). Tap "Privacy." Find "Read Receipts" and tap the toggle to turn it off. Once this is off, your check marks will stay gray even after you have read a message, and others will not know when you have read theirs.

There is one important thing to know: if you are in a group chat, read receipts cannot be turned off for groups — everyone in the group can always see who has read messages, regardless of your settings. The turn-off option only applies to one-on-one private messages. Also, when you turn off read receipts, you will also stop being able to see when other people have read your messages — it works both ways.