Read receipts let you know when someone has opened your email
A read receipt is a notification that tells you when the person you emailed has opened your message. Outlook can send these notifications automatically, but you have to turn the feature on first. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use Outlook on the web, Outlook for Windows, or Outlook for Mac.
Read receipts are not may provide — the recipient can refuse to send one, and some email systems strip them out entirely. But when they work, they give you confirmation that your message reached someone's inbox and was actually read, rather than sitting unopened or caught in spam.
Key Takeaways
- Read receipts must be turned on in your Outlook settings; they do not happen by default.
- In Outlook on the web, you enable read receipts under Settings > Mail > Compose and reply.
- In Outlook for Windows, the setting is under File > Options > Mail > Tracking.
- Recipients can choose not to send a read receipt, so you may not receive one even if the feature is on.
- You can also request a read receipt for a single email without turning on the global setting.
How to turn on read receipts in Outlook on the web
Open Outlook in your web browser and select the gear icon in the top right corner. Click View all Outlook settings, then navigate to Mail in the left sidebar. Select Compose and reply.
Under the "Tracking options" section, check the box next to Request a read receipt for all messages I send. Scroll down and click Save at the bottom of the page. From that point forward, every email you send will include a read receipt request.
How to turn on read receipts in Outlook for Windows
Open Outlook and click File in the top left. Select Options from the menu. In the Outlook Options window, click Mail in the left sidebar.
Scroll down to the "Tracking" section. Check the box next to Request a read receipt for all messages I send. Click OK to save your changes. Read receipt requests will now be included with every outgoing email.
How to turn on read receipts in Outlook for Mac
Click Outlook in the menu bar at the top of the screen, then select Preferences. In the Preferences window, click Mail. Look for the section labeled Sending options or Tracking, depending on your version of Outlook.
Check the box next to Request read receipt for all messages or Request a read receipt. Close the Preferences window. Your setting is saved automatically.
How to request a read receipt for a single email
You do not have to turn on read receipts globally if you only want them for certain messages. In Outlook on the web, compose your email normally. Before you send, look for a three-dot menu or More options button. Click it and select Request a read receipt.
In Outlook for Windows, compose your email and click the File tab at the top of the compose window. Select Properties, then check Request a Read Receipt. In Outlook for Mac, click Options in the compose window and check Request Read Receipt. Send the email normally.
What happens when someone receives your read receipt request
When a recipient opens an email with a read receipt request, Outlook will prompt them to send a notification back to you. The prompt usually says something like "The sender of this message has requested notification when you read this message." The recipient can choose to send the receipt, decline, or ignore the prompt entirely.
If they send the receipt, you will see a notification in your inbox or a message in your Sent folder indicating when they opened the email. If they decline or ignore the prompt, you will not receive any notification. Some email systems and corporate firewalls also block read receipts automatically, so you may never receive one even if the recipient is willing to send it.
Why you might not receive a read receipt
Read receipts are not reliable for several reasons. Many corporate email systems disable them for privacy or security reasons. Some email clients do not support read receipts at all. If your recipient uses Gmail, Apple Mail, or certain other services, they may not be able to send a read receipt even if they want to.
Additionally, opening an email in a preview pane does not always trigger a read receipt — some systems only send one when the full message is opened in its own window. If you are not receiving read receipts from people you know have the feature enabled, their email system or personal settings may be blocking them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn off read receipts for emails I receive?
Yes. In Outlook on the web, go to Settings > Mail > Compose and reply and uncheck "Request a read receipt for all messages I send." In Outlook for Windows, go to File > Options > Mail > Tracking and uncheck the same box. In Outlook for Mac, go to Outlook > Preferences > Mail and uncheck the read receipt option. You can also decline individual read receipt requests as they arrive.
What if someone asks me not to send them read receipts?
You can turn off the global setting so you stop requesting them from everyone, or you can simply not request a read receipt when you email that specific person. There is no way to block read receipt requests from others — you will continue to see the prompt when they email you, but you can decline each time.
Does a read receipt mean the person actually read the email?
Not necessarily. A read receipt only confirms that the email was opened. The recipient could have opened it, seen the subject line, and deleted it without reading the content. Some people also open emails by accident or in a preview pane without fully reading them.
Can I see read receipts for emails I sent weeks ago?
Read receipts appear as they arrive, usually within minutes or hours of the recipient opening the email. Outlook does not generate a read receipt retroactively for old emails. If you did not receive a receipt when the email was first opened, you will not receive one later.
Do read receipts work if I send an email to a group or distribution list?
Read receipts work inconsistently with group emails. Some recipients may send receipts and others may not. Corporate distribution lists often have settings that prevent read receipts from being sent back to the original sender. Test with a small group first if this is important for your workflow.