2 Ways to See If Someone Read Your Text Messages on Android

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A simple guide to enabling read receipts on Android

Written by Travis Boylls

Last Updated: July 16, 2024 Fact Checked

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Using Google Messages

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Using Samsung Messages

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Q&A

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Tips

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Warnings

Most Android users can now turn on read receipts, a feature that allows you to see if a text you sent has been read. To see if your text was received, you and the person you're texting must both be using modern Androids with a messaging app that supports RCS (rich communication services) format, have RCS texting apps, and have read receipts turned on. This wikiHow teaches you how to see when the person you're texting on your Android has read your message.

See if Your Text Message Has Been Read on Android

To receive read receipts for text messages on Android, you must enable RCS chats and read receipts. You can do so in the Settings menu on both Google Messages and Samsung Messages. Both parties must be connected to the internet and have read receipts turned on.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using Google Messages

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1
Open the Google Messages app. It has a white icon with a blue speech bubble. Google Messages is the official Android texting app and comes preinstalled on most Androids. If you have a different texting app.
- Some Android phone manufacturers, such as Samsung and Xiaomi come with their own messaging app preinstalled. If your phone does not have Google Messages, you can download it from the Google Play Store.
- To see read receipts in Google Messages, both you and the person you're texting must be using a texting app that supports RCS, and have read receipts enabled.
- Read receipts require an internet connection, so you'll need to have Wi-Fi or cellular data enabled.
It's in the upper-right corner. If you have not uploaded a profile picture to your Google account, this icon will be a colored circle with your initial in the middle.

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It's towards the bottom of the menu. This opens the Settings menu.
It's at the top of the Settings menu. This displays the RCS Chats settings.
It's the first option at the top of the menu. If the toggle switch is blue and to the right, it is on. If it is not on, tap the toggle switch to turn it on.
It's the next option below "Turn on RCS chats" If the toggle switch is not on, tap it to turn it on.
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Send a text message while connected to the internet. RCS is available when sending text messages over the internet. When a text message is delivered to the server, you will see a single checkmark below the text message. When it is delivered to the person's phone, you will see two checkmarks. When the message has been read, both checkmarks will turn into colored circles. This indicates the message has been read.^{[1]
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- It is not possible to see if someone with an iPhone has read your text messages. iPhones use proprietary technology for read receipts that only works with iMessage app on iPhones and iPads.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using Samsung Messages

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1
Open the Messages app on your Samsung Galaxy phone. It's the light blue-green icon with a white outline of a chat bubble. If you're using a Samsung Galaxy Note10, S10, or later, and your mobile provider supports RCS, you can see when another Android user has read your texts.^{[2]
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- Samsung Messages comes preinstalled on all Samsung Galaxy phones. After enabling read receipts with this method, you'll be able to see when another person using Samsung Messages or Android Messages (who has also enabled read receipts) has read your texts.
It's the three vertical dots at the upper-right corner of your texting app.
This displays your messaging settings.
This is where you'll find your advanced texting features, including the option to enable read receipts.^{[3]
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Toggle the "Share read status" switch to the On position
. This is the option that lets you know when the message is opened by the recipient (and vice-versa).
- If you want to be able to see when the other person is typing (and vice-versa), you can also toggle on "Show typing indicators."
6
Send a text message while connected to the internet. When your friend (who also turned on read receipts) reads your message, you'll see the word "Read" and a time stamp beneath it. Your friend will see a similar thing when you've read their message.
- If you're not connected to the internet, your texts will be sent through SMS. SMS texts won't display read receipts.
- If you find that you are not seeing read receipts from people using Google Messages, try downloading Google Messages and using that instead. Samsung Messages and Google Messages are designed to work seamlessly together, but there could be hiccups here and there.
- It is not possible to see if someone with an iPhone has read your text messages. iPhones use proprietary technology for read receipts that only works with iMessage on iPhones and iPads.

Community Q&A

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Why does the top status bar on LG K210 turn grey on Facebook?

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That's just a feature of the software of the phone, no need to worry about it. There are applications that change the status bar color depending on what application you are on; search the Play Store for "status bar color change".

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When using RCS read receipts with an iPhone user, will I know if they've read my message?

Ryan ORear

Community Answer

No, Samsung and iPhone do not use the same software for the read receipts. Therefore, they will be unable to see when you read them.

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Tips

Apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Viber all come with read receipts turned on by default. However, read receipts only work on these apps' networks—not when sending text messages to your phone contacts.

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Warnings

Although RCS and read receipts are widely available now, you still may not be able to turn on read receipts in some regions and on some Android models.

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