How to Enable Read Receipts in Microsoft Teams
Read receipts in Microsoft Teams are small checkmark icons that appear next to your chat messages to show the exact time someone reads them. This feature works both ways across all Windows versions of the app, which means other people can also see when you read their messages.
Turning on read receipts stops you from wondering if coworkers missed your notes, especially when you handle 10 or more active chats at once. You can switch this setting on in a few quick clicks through your Teams app settings.
Open Microsoft Teams, go to Settings , then Privacy, and toggle Read receipts to On. On mobile, tap your profile, then Settings, Messaging, and toggle Read receipts. This feature only works for private chats, not channels.
What Counts as ‘Read’?
In Microsoft Teams, a message is marked as ‘read’ when you open the chat window where the message was sent. If you are using the desktop app, the message must be visible on your screen. Simply having the app open in the background does not trigger a read receipt.
How to Enable or Disable Read Receipts on Desktop
You can enable read receipts Teams settings on your desktop by opening your profile menu, clicking Settings, and changing your privacy options. This controls whether other people see a small checkmark when you read their chat messages. Turning this on helps you show that you saw a message, while turning it off lets you read chats in private without anyone knowing.
- Open the Start menu and launch Microsoft Teams.
Turn on or off automatically starting Microsoft Teams - If the app is minimized, click the expansion button on the menu bar.
Turn on or off automatically starting Microsoft Teams - Click the Settings and more (…) button near your profile picture and select Settings.
Turn on or off automatically starting Microsoft Teams - Click the Privacy tab on the left side of the screen.
Turn on or off automatically starting Microsoft Teams - Find the Read receipts section and toggle the switch to On or Off.
Turn read receipts on or off for Microsoft Teams
How to Enable Read Receipts on Mobile (iOS/Android)
You can also manage your Teams chat settings on the go using the mobile app.
- Open the Microsoft Teams app on your phone.
- Tap your profile picture or the More menu in the top-left corner.
- Tap Settings.
- Select Messaging.
- Toggle the Read receipts switch to your preferred setting.
Functional Limitations and Privacy
Admin-Level Policy Settings
Sometimes, an IT administrator may restrict these settings. If you cannot find the read receipts option, your organization may have enforced a global policy. Admins can manage these settings via the Microsoft Teams admin center by adjusting the Messaging policy. This ensures consistent privacy standards across the company.
Summary
You can manage your read receipts in Teams easily through the Privacy settings, choosing whether to keep your message status private or visible.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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