Android does not have one switch that turns off read receipts in every messaging app. The setting belongs to the app you use.
For Google Messages, open the app and go to Profile picture > Messages settings > RCS chats > Send read receipts, then turn the switch off.
That is the main method for Android text messages using RCS. WhatsApp, Samsung Messages, Signal, and other messaging apps have their own controls.
Turn Off Read Receipts in Google Messages
Google Messages uses RCS to provide features that ordinary SMS does not have, including typing indicators, high-quality media, delivery status, and read receipts.
To disable the read status you send to other people:
- Open Google Messages.
- Tap your profile picture or account icon.
- Tap Messages settings.
- Select RCS chats.
- Turn off Send read receipts.
On some versions of Google Messages, RCS chats may still appear as Chat features. Google documents both names and the separate read-receipt and typing controls in its RCS settings guide.
Turning off this option does not disable RCS itself. You can continue using RCS messaging while preventing supported conversations from showing when you have read a message.
Google also provides Show typing indicators in the same RCS settings. That is a separate feature, so switch it off as well only when you do not want contacts to see when you are typing.
Read, Delivered, and SMS Reports Are Different
Seeing a status below a message after disabling read receipts does not necessarily mean the setting failed.
Delivered means the message reached the recipient’s device or messaging service.
Read means the messaging service reported that the recipient opened the message while read receipts were available.
Traditional SMS does not provide the same RCS read-status system. Some phones and carriers support SMS or MMS delivery reports, but those reports confirm delivery rather than proving that someone opened the message.
Google Messages makes this distinction visible. An RCS conversation can show RCS message in the compose box, while an ordinary carrier text may show Text message or an SMS/MMS indicator.
Can You Turn Off Read Receipts for One Person?
Google Messages currently provides Send read receipts as an RCS-wide setting rather than a normal per-contact control.
Turning it off therefore affects supported RCS conversations generally.
Do not block someone or disable RCS simply to hide the read status from one contact. Blocking changes whether that person can communicate with you, while disabling RCS removes other RCS features as well.
Turn Off Read Receipts on Samsung Galaxy
First check which messaging app your Galaxy phone actually uses.
Many Galaxy phones use Google Messages as the default texting app. If your app opens a profile-picture menu with Messages settings, use the Google Messages steps above.
For Samsung Messages, available settings vary by model, carrier, and app version.
Samsung’s current support documentation gives this path for its read-report control:
Samsung Messages > More options > Settings > More settings > Multimedia messages > Show when read
Turn Show when read off when that option is available.
A Samsung phone with RCS options may also expose read-status controls in its chat settings.
Do not confuse Show when delivered with Show when read. A delivery report only indicates that a message reached its destination.
Turn Off WhatsApp Read Receipts on Android
WhatsApp’s blue check marks are controlled inside WhatsApp, not by Android or Google Messages.
Open:
WhatsApp > three dots > Settings > Privacy > Read receipts
Turn Read receipts off.
For one-to-one chats, this normally means contacts cannot see when you have read their messages, and you cannot see their read receipts either.
WhatsApp has exceptions. Read receipts still apply in group chats, and the setting also affects information about who viewed Status updates.
Changing Google Messages settings has no effect on WhatsApp. Turning off read receipts should not silence incoming alerts either. If alerts have stopped appearing, use WhatsApp notifications not working on Android to check notification permissions and background restrictions.
Turn Off Read Receipts in Signal
Signal also has its own privacy setting:
Signal > profile picture > Privacy > Read Receipts
Turn it off.
Signal requires read receipts to be enabled on both sides for the read status to be visible.
Its Typing Indicators control is separate, so disabling read receipts does not automatically hide when you are composing a reply.
What About Telegram?
Telegram does not provide a normal global switch that disables read receipts for standard private chats.
Opening a private conversation generally updates its read state.
Notification previews can sometimes let you see part of a message without opening the conversation, but this is not a dependable substitute for a privacy control. Longer messages and media may not be fully visible.
I would avoid modified Telegram apps that promise invisible reading. Giving an unofficial messaging client access to your account and conversations creates a much larger privacy risk than the read receipt itself.
Why Is Send Read Receipts Missing?
When Google Messages does not show the option, check Messages settings > RCS chats first.
The control depends on RCS being available. Google says RCS availability can depend on the device, carrier, and messaging setup.
Also confirm that Google Messages is actually your default SMS app:
Settings > Apps > Default apps > SMS app
The exact path can vary slightly by Android manufacturer.
If you are using Google Messages but still cannot find the setting, update the app through Google Play and check again. Older versions may call the section Chat features.
A work- or school-managed phone can also have messaging features restricted by its administrator.
Read Receipts Still Appear After You Turn Them Off
Test the setting with a new incoming RCS message.
A read receipt that was already sent before you changed the setting cannot normally be withdrawn. Turning the switch off affects subsequent activity.
Also verify the exact status the other person sees. Delivered can remain visible even when Read no longer appears.
Finally, make sure you changed the setting in the app where the conversation is happening. Google Messages, WhatsApp, Signal, and Samsung Messages do not share one Android-wide read-receipt preference.
There is usually no reason to disable notifications, turn on Do Not Disturb, block contacts, switch off mobile data, or disable RCS entirely. Those controls affect different parts of messaging. If messages themselves are missing, follow not receiving text messages on Android rather than changing read receipts.
For Google Messages, the targeted setting is simply Messages settings > RCS chats > Send read receipts. Use the equivalent privacy control inside another messaging app when that is where you want to hide your read status.
