Smartphones are fantastic for keeping u.s. connected and contactable at all times, but this isn't always a approving. Turning off our phones is rarely a viable solution, just in case something important comes upwardly, but can nosotros really exist expected to be at anybody's constant brook and call?

WhatsApp letters are just ane of many modern intrusions in this digital age that do not have into account what we're doing or how we're feeling when they arrive on our phones. Sometimes we desire a run a risk to think about what nosotros want to say before we reply, still non appear rude by non immediately replying. But nosotros know they know we've read it.

And that's the trouble hither: WhatsApp makes it far as well piece of cake to tell when someone has read your message. It's handy when y'all are the sender of the bulletin, but less welcome when it'south the other mode effectually. You can't hibernate under the duvet and pretend it didn't happen.

And so, how does someone know when you've read their message on WhatsApp? The most obvious way is through the tick symbols that are displayed at the cease of every WhatsApp message: ane grey tick is sent; two grey ticks is delivered; two bluish ticks is read.

To brand matters worse, you tin can select any bulletin and tap the three dots icon, followed by Info, to see the verbal fourth dimension the message was delivered and when it was read.

And then there's Last seen: even if you lot get around the tick arrangement and the timing bug, can you lot really explain existence online 10 minutes ago and non having seen the message sent to you an hr ago?

Hither'south how to get around some of those bug.

How to turn off WhatsApp read receipts

You lot can get effectually WhatsApp's tick system the official manner or the sneaky manner.

The official way is best if you don't want anyone ever knowing when y'all've read their messages, but you lot'll need to have that you likewise won't exist able to tell when they've read your letters.

The sneaky way is best if you're wanting to achieve this on an ad hoc footing - perchance information technology's just the one person y'all're avoiding, rather than the whole world.

The official way to disable WhatsApp read receipts

Launch WhatsApp, tap the three dots icon at the elevation right, then cull Settings.

Select Account > Privacy. Curl downwardly to and toggle off the option for Read receipts.

WhatsApp read receipts

Notation that this does not apply to group messages, though it is less obvious when you accept read a message in these conversations because the two ticks won't plough blue until anybody has seen the message. You lot can still cheque who has read messages you have sent inside grouping conversations past selecting the message, tapping the three dots icon and choosing Info.

The sneaky way to become effectually WhatsApp read receipts

In that location are various ways to read WhatsApp messages without the app realising you have read them. Most of these are made possible by you never opening the app in the first place.

Here are some places you tin read WhatsApp messages without opening them:

  • In notification previews - at the tiptop of your screen, in your notification card, and even on your lock screen
  • In the WhatsApp home screen widget
  • On a continued smartwatch or fitness tracker that supports WhatsApp notifications
  • While using your phone in Plane mode - but but for as long as it stays offline

You can turn on loftier-priority notifications in Settings > Notifications. This will make the appear at the top of your screen when they arrive, and y'all can read them and then swipe them away without e'er opening them.

Lock screen notifications are also possible when you go to Settings > Notifications and expect for this option under Letters.

Blocking someone is a last resort, especially if you want to remain friends. You can achieve this past opening the conversation thread, tapping the iii dots at the pinnacle and choosing More > Block. Don't forget to unblock them later if y'all do get down this path.

For as long as they remain blocked they won't know whether you've read their bulletin, but in that location will exist other clues to the fact they are blocked: your profile picture and condition will disappear, none of their messages will appear to exist delivered, and they won't be able to call you.

The following 'tips' volition not allow you lot to read WhatsApp messages without beingness seen:

  • Marking messages as unread
  • Deleting WhatsApp messages after you have read them (this isn't Inspector Gadget)

How to turn off Terminal Seen

Information technology'south no good turning off read receipts if your message sender can run into that you've been on WhatsApp and haven't bothered to read their message. In fact, it's worse.

Every bit with read receipts, this works both means: you lot can't come across when they were final online if you lot don't let them see when you were.

WhatsApp Last Seen

Launch WhatsApp, tap the three dots at the summit right of the screen and choose Settings.

Select Account > Privacy, then select Last seen.

You tin and then choose who should meet when y'all were last online: anybody, no-one or just your contacts.

Read side by side: How to use WhatsApp on a calculator & Most common WhatsApp scams