How to Tell When Someone Reads Your Text Message

Here's how to tell if someone read your text on Android and iOS smartphones. This article also covers WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram.

Read Receipts on iPhone

On an iPhone, read receipts are the only way to tell if someone read a text you sent from Messages, the default texting app for iOS. If you and your recipient activate read receipts, the word Read will be seen under the most recent message, along with the time the message was read.

Here's how to enable or disable read receipts in Messages for iOS:

1. Open Settings.

2. Tap Messages.

3. Turn on Send Read Receipts.

4. Others are notified when you read their messages. If your recipient also enabled read receipts, you'll see Read beneath your message along with the time it was read.

   

Read Receipts on Android Smartphones

The process is similar on Android. The Google Messages app supports read receipts, but the carrier must also support this feature. Your recipient must have read receipts activated for you to see if they read your message.

Here's how to turn on read receipts for an Android phone:

1. Open the app and tap the settings option, called Messages settings on some devices. If you don't see this, tap the profile image or the three vertical dots or lines at the top of the screen. 

2. Depending on your phone, tap RCS chats, Chat features, Text Messages, or Conversations. If this option isn't on the first page that displays, tap More settings.

3. Tap the toggle next to the read receipts options, which might be called Send read receipts, Read receipts, or Request receipt, depending on the device you have.

   

WhatsApp Read Receipts

WhatsApp uses built-in read receipts. The status of sent messages is tracked through check marks next to messages. One grey check mark means the message was sent; two grey check marks mean the message was delivered, and two blue check marks mean the message was read.

Read receipts are turned on by default, but it's a toggle you can switch on and off. If you've turned off WhatsApp read receipts, follow that guide to learn how to start using this feature again.

WhatsApp Message Details

If you're looking for specific information about the messages you've sent in WhatsApp, here's how to see those details:

1. Open a conversation.

2. Tap and hold the message, then select Info. Depending on your device, you might need to select the three-dot menu first.

3. If read receipts aren't disabled, you'll see the exact time your message was delivered and read.

   

Messenger Read Receipts

Like most texting apps, Facebook Messenger includes a handy toggle called Show read receipts. When it's turned on, you'll be able to see when people read your messages and they'll see when you've read theirs.

Here's how to know when people read your Facebook messages; this works on Android and iOS:

1. Tap the three-line menu at the top of the app.

2. Select the settings/gear button at the top of the menu.

3. Scroll down and tap Privacy & safety.

   

4. Choose Read receipts.

5. Tap the toggle next to Show read receipts so it turns on.

   

The Facebook Messenger app provides detailed indicators about the delivery and read status each time you send a message. When your message is actively sending, you'll briefly see a blue circle. When it's sent, you'll see a blue circle with a checkmark. When it's delivered, you'll see a filled-in blue circle. Finally, when it's read, you'll see a small version of your recipient's profile image below the message.

Instagram Read Receipts

Instagram lets you manage read receipts, so to see when someone has read your Instagram message, you need to make sure the toggle is switched on. The Instagram app lets you control read receipts for individual chats and all chats.

You can follow that guide for all the details, but here's the gist: Open the conversation you want read indicators enabled for and then tap the person's name at the top. Go to Privacy & safety and then switch Read receipts to the on postion.