RAYMOND OGLESBY @RaymondOglesby2
May 12, 2026 – 4 minutes read time
Overview
How do you know if someone read your text? Texting can be a quick way to communicate, as long as the other person reads the message. Here’s how to tell a text has been read, so you can stop worrying your text did not go through.
Unfortunately, you do not have direct control over this. The people you text will have to be using iMessage and have Read Receipts enabled.
Key Takeaways
- Let your friends know you have seen their texts without having to respond.
- See if your friends have received your messages, and stop wondering if people are getting your texts.
- Learn how to turn off Read Receipts on iPhone if you do not want people to know you have read their text message.
System Requirements
This tip was checked on an iPhone 17 Pro running iOS 26.2.
Click here to learn how to update your iPhone to the latest iOS version.
Turn on Read Receipts
First, open the Settings app. Refer to the image below:
Next, scroll down to the bottom and tap Apps. See the image below:
Now, tap Messages. See the following image:
Next, toggle Send Read Receipts. The slider will be to the right and green if it is on.
If Read Receipts on your device is toggled off, the person who sent you the text will not be able to see if you read it or not. Likewise, if the person you sent a text to has disabled Read Receipts, you can not see if they have read your text.
Turn Read Receipts on For an Individual Contact
You can also customize the Read Receipts option for individual contacts. For example, you can disable Read Receipts on iPhone for a coworker but still have them available for other contacts.
First, ooen the Messages app. Refer to the image below:
Next, tap the text conversation with the contact for whom you want to turn Read Receipts on or off. See the image below:
Now, tap the Contact icon at the top of the page. See the following image:
Next, toggle Send Read Receipts either on or off. Refer to the image below:
Now, tap the Back arrow to return to Messages. See the image below:
Now you know how to turn on/off Read Receipts on iPhone, for all or individual contacts. As long as the people you text have this feature enabled, you will be able to see if and when they have read your message.
Disclaimer
Technology is constantly evolving, and smartphone and desktop tech rarely remains static. Therefore, the information in this post is only accurate as of the date it was written. Blog posts that are older than six months may contain instructions that are no longer compatible with your device or operating system. We hope that the content from previous posts continues to function as intended. Thank you for reading TechSavvy.Life, where technology works for you.
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