Read receipts let you know when someone opens your email
A read receipt is a notification that comes back to you when the person you emailed opens your message. In Outlook, you can request read receipts on individual emails or set your account to request them automatically on everything you send. The person receiving the email will see a prompt asking whether to send you a notification — they can choose to decline, so read receipts are not a may provide that someone actually read what you wrote.
Read receipts work in Outlook on Windows, Mac, Outlook on the web, and Outlook mobile apps, though the steps differ slightly depending on which version you use. Some email systems (like Gmail) do not support read receipts the same way, so if you send to someone outside your organization, the feature may not work.
Key Takeaways
- You can request a read receipt on a single email before you send it, or turn on automatic read receipts for all outgoing mail in your account settings.
- The recipient sees a prompt asking permission to send you a read receipt, and they can choose to say no.
- Read receipts work best within organizations using the same email system; they may not work when you email outside your company or to Gmail accounts.
- In Outlook on Windows and Mac, you find the read receipt option in the Message tab or Options menu before you hit Send.
How to request a read receipt on a single email in Outlook on Windows
Open the email you are composing and look at the top of the window. Click the Options tab (or Message tab, depending on your Outlook version). In the ribbon that appears, find the button labeled Request a Read Receipt or Request Read Receipt — it usually shows an envelope with a checkmark. Click it once to turn it on; the button will appear highlighted or pressed.
Send your email as usual. When the recipient opens it, they will see a dialog box asking "The sender of this message has requested a read receipt. Do you want to send a read receipt?" They can click Yes or No. If they click Yes, you will receive an email notification that says the message was read, including the date and time.
How to request a read receipt on a single email in Outlook on Mac
Create your email and look at the top of the compose window. Click the Options button (it looks like three dots or a gear icon, depending on your version). A menu will drop down. Look for Request Read Receipt and click it to turn it on.
The option will show a checkmark once it is active. Send your email normally. The recipient will see the same prompt asking whether to send a read receipt back to you.
How to request a read receipt in Outlook on the web
While composing an email in Outlook.com or your organization's web version of Outlook, look for the three dots (more options menu) near the bottom of the compose box. Click it and select Request a read receipt. A checkmark will appear next to the option.
Send the email. The recipient will receive the same notification prompt. Note that read receipts in Outlook on the web work best if the recipient is also using Outlook; other email clients may not support the feature.
How to set up automatic read receipts for all emails
If you want Outlook to request a read receipt on every email you send without having to turn it on each time, you can change your account settings. In Outlook on Windows, go to File > Options > Mail. Scroll down to the Tracking section. Check the box next to Request a read receipt for all messages I send. Click OK.
On Mac, open Outlook > Preferences > General, then look for Tracking and check Request read receipts for all messages. In Outlook on the web, go to Settings (gear icon) > View all Outlook settings > Mail > Compose and reply, then toggle on Request a read receipt.
Once you turn this on, every email you send will include a read receipt request. Recipients can still choose not to send one back, so you may not get a receipt for every message.
Why read receipts do not always work
Read receipts depend on both the sender's email system and the recipient's email system supporting the feature. If you send to someone using Gmail, Yahoo Mail, or another email provider that does not fully support Outlook read receipts, they may not see the prompt at all, or you may not receive the notification even if they open the email.
Some organizations also disable read receipts for privacy reasons or to reduce email traffic. If you send a read receipt request to someone in a company with this policy, their email system may automatically decline the request without asking them. You will receive a notification that the read receipt was declined, but you will not know whether they actually read the message.
What to do if you are not receiving read receipts
If you requested a read receipt and did not get one back, the most common reasons are: the recipient declined the prompt, their email system does not support read receipts, or their organization has disabled the feature. There is no way to force someone to send you a read receipt.
If you are trying to confirm that someone received an important email, a read receipt request is one option, but it is not reliable. A safer approach is to ask the person directly to reply confirming they got the message, or to use a delivery confirmation feature if your email system offers one (different from a read receipt — delivery confirmation only tells you the email reached their mailbox, not that they opened it).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see if someone declined to send me a read receipt?
Yes. When a recipient chooses not to send a read receipt, you will receive a notification saying the read receipt was declined. This tells you they saw the prompt but chose not to confirm they read the email — it does not tell you whether they actually opened the message.
Will the recipient know I requested a read receipt?
Yes. When they open your email, they will see a dialog asking if they want to send a read receipt. The prompt makes it clear that you requested one. Some people decline read receipts as a privacy preference.
Do read receipts work if I send to a Gmail account?
Not reliably. Gmail does not have built-in support for Outlook read receipts. The recipient may not see a prompt at all, or if they do, you may not receive the notification. For Gmail users, asking them to reply is a more dependable way to confirm they got your message.
Can I turn off read receipts for emails I receive?
You can choose not to send a read receipt each time you see the prompt. If you want to disable read receipt prompts entirely, the steps vary by email system. In Outlook on Windows, go to File > Options > Mail > Tracking and uncheck Process requests and responses for read receipts.
What is the difference between a read receipt and delivery confirmation?
A delivery confirmation tells you the email reached the recipient's mailbox. A read receipt tells you they opened it. Read receipts require the recipient to respond, while delivery confirmation is automatic. Not all email systems offer both features.