How to turn off read receipts on TikTok

TikTok’s messaging system allows users to send direct messages (DMs) and see when their messages have been read. The read receipt feature is convenient, but some users prefer more privacy and want to avoid letting others know when they’ve seen a message.

The good news: TikTok allows you to turn off read receipts, giving you more control over your messaging experience. This guide explains exactly how to do it.

Table of Contents

What Are Read Receipts on TikTok?

Read receipts are the small indicators that let someone know you have seen their direct message. On TikTok:

Seen = The sender knows you opened their message
Not seen = The sender doesn’t know if you read the message yet

When you turn off read receipts, you can read messages without notifying the sender.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Turn Off Read Receipts on TikTok

Open the TikTok App

Make sure you are logged into your account.

Go to Your Profile

Tap the Profile icon at the bottom-right corner.

Tap the Three Lines (☰)

This opens the Settings and Privacy menu.

Tap “Privacy”

Here you’ll find all privacy-related settings, including messages and activity.

Tap “Direct Messages”

You may also see “Message Settings” depending on your version.

Toggle Off “Read Receipts”

Look for Read Receipts or Show when you’ve seen messages
Toggle the switch OFF

Once done, TikTok will stop sending read receipts to other users. You can still see when others have read your messages if they haven’t turned theirs off.

Important Notes About TikTok Read Receipts

It Applies to All Direct Messages

When you turn off read receipts, it affects all DMs in your account, not individual chats.

You Won’t Be Able to See Read Status of Others

Turning off your read receipts also means you cannot see if others have read your messages.

Works Only for Standard TikTok Messages

Group messages and certain promotional messages may behave differently.
TikTok may still send delivery notifications (“Delivered”) but not read confirmations.

You Can Turn It Back On Anytime

Simply follow the same steps and toggle Read Receipts ON.

How to Manage Other Messaging Privacy on TikTok

Besides turning off read receipts, TikTok lets you:

Control Who Can Send You Messages

Everyone
Friends (mutual followers)
No one

Path: Settings & Privacy → Privacy → Direct Messages

Filter Spam or Unknown Messages

TikTok automatically filters suspicious messages
You can manually restrict unknown users

Restrict or Block Specific Accounts

If someone is sending unwanted messages, you can:

Block the user
Restrict them (they won’t see when you’re active)

Why Turn Off Read Receipts on TikTok?

Many users prefer privacy when:

They want to read messages without replying immediately
They want to avoid social pressure to respond
They are managing high volumes of DMs
They want to avoid unwanted interactions
They are using TikTok professionally and want to stay private

Turning off read receipts allows you to control your engagement without notifying others.

Troubleshooting: Why Can’t I Turn Off Read Receipts?

Common Issues

App Version Outdated – Update TikTok to the latest version.
Region Restrictions – Some countries may limit messaging privacy options.
Account Type Restrictions – Business or Creator accounts sometimes have limited messaging settings.
Temporary Glitch – Restart the app or clear cache.