What read receipts do and when to use them
A read receipt is a notification that tells you when someone has opened an email you sent them. When you turn on read receipts for a message, Outlook sends you an automatic reply the moment the recipient opens it — not when they receive it, but when they actually read it. This is different from a delivery receipt, which only confirms the message reached their inbox.
Read receipts work best for important messages where you need to know someone has seen your email. They are useful for time-sensitive requests, meeting confirmations, or documents that need acknowledgment. However, not every recipient will honor your read receipt request — some email systems block them, and some people disable them in their settings.
Keep in mind that read receipts show only that someone opened the email, not that they understood it or will act on it. A read receipt means the message was opened, nothing more.
Key Takeaways
- You can request a read receipt on individual emails or set Outlook to request them on all outgoing messages.
- Read receipts only confirm that someone opened your email, not that they read or understood it.
- Recipients can decline to send a read receipt, and some email systems automatically block them.
- The steps differ slightly between Outlook on the web, Outlook desktop, and Outlook mobile apps.
How to request a read receipt on a single email in Outlook desktop
Open Outlook and start composing a new message. Click in the To field and add your recipient's email address, then type your subject and message as usual.
Once your message is ready, look for the Options tab in the ribbon at the top of the compose window. Click it. In the ribbon that appears, find the button labeled Request a Read Receipt — it usually shows an envelope with a checkmark. Click that button. The button will highlight or change appearance to show it is now active.
Send your email normally. When the recipient opens it, Outlook will send you a notification. You will see the read receipt arrive in your inbox as a separate message from the recipient's email system.
How to request a read receipt on a single email in Outlook on the web
Log into your Outlook account at outlook.com or outlook.office.com. Click New Message to start composing.
Type your recipient's address, subject, and message. At the bottom of the compose window, look for three dots (the More options menu) or a button labeled ⋯. Click it. A dropdown menu will appear. Look for an option that says Request a read receipt or Request delivery and read receipts. Click that option — it will show a checkmark once selected.
Send your message. The read receipt request is now active on that email.
How to request a read receipt on a single email in Outlook mobile
Open the Outlook app on your phone or tablet. Tap the pencil icon or New Message button to start a new email.
Add your recipient, subject, and message. Before you send, look for a menu icon — usually three dots in the top right corner of the compose screen. Tap it. Scroll through the options until you find Request a read receipt or Request delivery receipt. Tap to turn it on.
Send your message. The read receipt request is now attached to that email.
How to set read receipts as your default for all outgoing emails
If you want Outlook to request read receipts on every email you send, you can set this as your default. The steps depend on which version of Outlook you use.
In Outlook desktop: Click File in the top left corner. Select Options. In the left sidebar, click Mail. Scroll down until you see a section labeled Tracking. Check the box next to Request a read receipt for all messages I send. Click OK to save. From now on, every email you send will have a read receipt request attached.
In Outlook on the web: Click the gear icon in the top right corner. Select View all Outlook settings. Click Mail in the left sidebar, then click Compose and reply. Look for an option about read receipts or tracking. Toggle it on if available. Click Save.
In Outlook mobile: Most mobile versions do not offer a default read receipt setting. You will need to request read receipts on individual emails using the method described above.
What to do if you receive a read receipt request
When someone sends you an email with a read receipt request, Outlook will prompt you when you open it. A dialog box will appear asking whether you want to send a read receipt to the sender. You have two choices: click Yes to send the receipt, or click No to decline.
If you click No, the sender will not be notified that you opened the email. Some people disable read receipts in their settings so they are never asked — in that case, the sender will not receive a receipt even if they requested one.
You can also set Outlook to always send read receipts automatically without asking you each time. In Outlook desktop, go to File > Options > Mail and look for Tracking. Check the box that says Always send a read receipt. In Outlook on the web, this option may be under Settings > Mail > Compose and reply.
Why read receipts sometimes do not work
Even if you request a read receipt, you may not always get one. Some email systems — particularly older corporate email servers or certain third-party email providers — do not support read receipts and will silently ignore your request. Gmail, for example, does not send read receipts even if you request them.
Some recipients also disable read receipts in their own settings because they prefer privacy. If someone has turned off read receipts on their account, you will not receive a notification when they open your email, even though they did open it.
Additionally, if a recipient uses a mobile email app that does not support read receipts, the request may not go through. There is no way to force a read receipt — you can only request one and hope the recipient's system honors it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see if someone declined to send me a read receipt?
No. Outlook does not tell you whether someone actively declined your read receipt request or whether their email system straightforward does not support read receipts. You will only know you received a read receipt if one arrives in your inbox.
If I turn on read receipts for all emails, can recipients turn them off?
Yes. Your default setting requests read receipts on every email, but each recipient can still choose to decline or have them blocked by their email system. The default setting only applies to emails you send — it does not override what recipients have set up on their end.
Does a read receipt mean the person actually read the email or just opened it?
A read receipt only confirms that someone opened the email. It does not mean they read the entire message, understood it, or will act on it. They may have opened it by accident or just glanced at the subject line.
Can I turn off read receipts after I send an email?
No. Once you send an email with a read receipt request, you cannot remove that request. The recipient will still see the request when they open it. If you need to unsend an email entirely, use Outlook's unsend feature (available in Outlook on the web and some desktop versions within a few seconds of sending).
What is the difference between a read receipt and a delivery receipt?
A delivery receipt confirms that your email reached the recipient's mail server and was delivered to their inbox. A read receipt confirms that the recipient actually opened the email. Delivery receipts are more reliable because they are supported by most email systems, while read receipts are often blocked or ignored.