How to Turn Off Read Receipts on Apple Messages

Method 1 of 4:

Turning Off All Read Receipts (iOS)

Open the Settings app.
Tap Messages.
Tap the green switch next to "Send Read Receipts". If this switch is grey, your read receipts are already disabled.
Exit Settings. You will no longer send read receipts!

Method 2 of 4:

Turning Off All Read Receipts (Mac)

Open the Messages program. This is the blue speech bubble icon in your dock.
Click Messages. You can find this in the top left corner of your Mac's screen in the toolbar.^[1]
Click Preferences.
Click the "Accounts" tab.
Uncheck the box next to "Send read receipts".
Exit the Preferences menu. Now you won't send read receipts!

Method 3 of 4:

Disabling Read Receipts for a Specific Contact (iOS)

Open the Messages app. If you have read receipts enabled but wish to disable them for a specific contact, you can do so from within a conversation with that contact.
Tap a conversation. If you're already in a conversation, tap < in the top left corner of your screen to return to your "Messages" menu.
Tap your conversation's "Details" icon. This is the encircled "i" in the top right corner of your screen.
Tap the green switch next to "Send Read Receipts". It should turn grey.
1. If this switch is already grey, your read receipts are already turned off.
Tap Done. Your contact will no longer receive read receipts!

Method 4 of 4:

Disabling Read Receipts for a Specific Contact (Mac)

Open the Messages program. This is the blue speech bubble icon in your dock.
Click a conversation. You can browse your currently-saved conversations from the left side of your screen.
Click Details. This will be in the top right corner of your conversation page.^[2]
Uncheck the box next to "Send Read Receipts".
Click Details again. Your contact will no longer receive read receipts!

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Marvin Fry

Update 04 March 2020

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