Managing read receipts in Microsoft Teams

Overview

Read receipts in Microsoft Teams inform people that you’ve read or seen their chat messages. As of November 20, 2025, read receipts will be on by default for everyone at the UO. Learn how read receipts work and how to manage your own settings.

Turning read receipts off or on

Desktop or web

  1. Select Settings and more (the ellipsis icon, ⋯) near your profile picture.
  2. Choose Settings, then Privacy.
  3. Locate the Read receipts setting. Toggle off or on, as desired.

Mobile (iOS/Android)

  1. Tap your profile picture.
  2. Choose Settings.
  3. Go to the General section (some devices show Messaging).
  4. Locate the Read receipts setting. Toggle off or on, as desired.

FAQs about read receipts

How do read receipts work?

  • In Teams chats, you’ll see a small Seen indicator (eye icon) when others have opened your messages.
  • First, a sent checkmark appears. Then, if someone reads the message, you’ll see a Seen icon (eye).
  • In some group chats, a Read by list will show how many people have read the message.

What counts as read?

  • For a read receipt to appear, someone must be active in the chat window.
  • You won't get a read receipt if someone sees your message in a notification, in their Activity feed, or through another quick-entry point.

Do read receipts work in Teams channels?

  • No. Read receipts appear only in one-on-one chats and group chats.
  • Channels don’t support read receipts.

Will people be notified if I turn off read receipts?

  • No. They’ll just stop seeing the Seen indicator on messages you read.

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