What read receipts do and why you might want 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 in Outlook, the person who receives your message gets a prompt asking whether they want to let you know they've read it. If they say yes, you get a message back confirming the open.
Read receipts are useful when you need to know whether someone has actually seen your message — for instance, if you're sending time-sensitive information to a coworker or following up on something important. They're not a may provide that the person read the whole email or understood it, only that they opened it.
One thing to know upfront: read receipts only work if the person on the other end agrees to send one. Many people decline the prompt, either out of habit or because they prefer not to share that information. So a missing read receipt doesn't necessarily mean someone ignored your email — it might just mean they chose not to confirm.
Key Takeaways
- You can request read receipts on individual emails or turn on a default setting so Outlook asks for them on every message you send.
- The person receiving your email will see a prompt asking whether to send a read receipt back, and many people decline.
- Read receipts work differently in Outlook on the web, Outlook desktop, and Outlook on mobile devices.
- Turning on read receipts for every email can annoy recipients, so consider using them only for messages that truly need confirmation.
How to request a read receipt on a single email in Outlook desktop
If you use Outlook on your computer (Windows or Mac), you can ask for a read receipt on just one message without changing your default settings. Open a new email and write your message as usual. Before you send it, look for the Options tab at the top of the compose window.
Click Options, then look for a button or checkbox labeled Request a Read Receipt or Request Read Receipt. The exact wording and location depend on your version of Outlook, but it's always in the Options ribbon. Once you've checked that box, send the email normally. The recipient will see a notification asking whether they want to confirm they've read it.
How to request a read receipt on a single email in Outlook on the web
If you use Outlook in a web browser (outlook.office.com or outlook.com), the process is slightly different. Compose your email, then look for the three dots (⋯) menu button, usually near the bottom of the compose area or in the top right corner of the message window.
Click those dots and select Request a read receipt from the dropdown menu. Send the email, and the recipient will get the same prompt they would in the desktop version.
How to set read receipts as your default in Outlook
If you want Outlook to request a read receipt on every email you send, you can change your default settings. In Outlook desktop, go to File > Options > Mail. Scroll down to the Tracking section.
You'll see two checkboxes: For all messages, request a read receipt and For all messages, request a delivery receipt. A delivery receipt just confirms that your email reached the recipient's mailbox; a read receipt confirms they opened it. Check whichever one you want, then click OK.
In Outlook on the web, go to Settings (the gear icon) > View all Outlook settings > Mail > Tracking. You'll find the same options there. Check Request a read receipt for all messages I send if you want it turned on by default.
What happens when someone receives your read receipt request
When you send an email with a read receipt request, the recipient sees a notification (usually a dialog box or banner) asking something like: "The sender of this message has asked to be notified when you read it. Do you want to notify the sender?" They can choose Yes, No, or sometimes Never for this sender.
If they click Yes, you'll get a message in your inbox confirming that they opened your email and when they opened it. If they click No or ignore the prompt, you won't hear anything — and you won't know whether they declined or straightforward haven't opened the email yet.
Some email systems and corporate policies automatically decline all read receipt requests, so you may never get a response even if the person read your message. This is especially common in large organizations where IT departments disable read receipts for privacy reasons.
Read receipts on Outlook mobile apps
The Outlook mobile app (for iPhone or Android) doesn't currently have a built-in option to request read receipts when you compose a message. If you need to send an email with a read receipt request, you'll need to use Outlook on the web or Outlook desktop.
However, if someone sends you an email requesting a read receipt, you'll still see the notification on your phone asking whether you want to confirm. You can respond to it the same way you would on a computer.
Why read receipts aren't foolproof
Read receipts tell you when someone opened your email, but they don't tell you much else. Someone might open your message, see the first line, and delete it without reading the rest. Or they might open it by accident and never actually look at it. A read receipt just means the email client was opened — nothing more.
Also, read receipts don't work across all email systems. If you send a message to someone using Gmail, Yahoo Mail, or another service that doesn't support read receipts the same way Outlook does, your request might not go through or might not work as expected. And as mentioned, many people straightforward decline to send them, so absence of a read receipt doesn't mean the email went unread.
For truly important messages, it's often better to ask the person directly to confirm they received and read your email, or to use a different method of communication altogether.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see read receipts for emails I sent in the past?
No. Read receipts only work going forward, on emails you send after you've turned on the feature or requested it. You can't retroactively request a read receipt on a message you already sent.
What's the difference between a read receipt and a delivery receipt?
A delivery receipt confirms that your email reached the recipient's mail server. A read receipt confirms that the recipient actually opened the message. Delivery receipts are more reliable because they're generated automatically by the email system, while read receipts depend on the recipient choosing to send one.
If I turn on read receipts by default, can I turn them off for specific emails?
Yes. Even if you've set read receipts as your default, you can open the Options menu on any individual email and uncheck the read receipt box before sending. This lets you use read receipts selectively without having to change your settings each time.
Will people know I requested a read receipt?
Yes. When they open your email, they'll see a notification asking whether they want to send you a read receipt. They'll know you asked for one, though they don't have to agree to it.
Do read receipts work if someone forwards my email to someone else?
No. The read receipt only applies to the original recipient. If they forward your message to a third party, that person won't see the read receipt request, and you won't get a notification if they open it.