WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. One of WhatsApp’s key features is read receipts, which show when a message has been read by the recipient. This can be useful for one-on-one chats, but in group chats it can get annoying, with constant notifications that so-and-so has read the message. So can you turn off read receipts in WhatsApp groups?
Can You Turn Off Read Receipts for Individual Contacts?
Yes, WhatsApp allows you to turn off read receipts for specific individual contacts. Here’s how to do it:
- Open the WhatsApp app and go to the Chats tab.
- Tap on the contact you want to disable read receipts for.
- In the top right, tap on the contact’s name to open their contact info.
- Tap on Custom Notifications.
- Toggle off Show Read Receipts.
This will disable read receipts only for that specific contact. You can repeat these steps for any other contacts you want to disable read receipts for.
Can You Disable Read Receipts for Entire Groups?
Unfortunately, there is no setting in WhatsApp to turn off read receipts for entire groups. The read receipt setting is on a per-contact basis.
Some WhatsApp mods and third party apps claim to be able to disable read receipts for groups, but that is not possible without hacking WhatsApp itself. The read receipt feature is built into WhatsApp at the core code level and cannot be disabled on a group level without changes to the app code.
Workarounds to Avoid Read Receipts in Groups
While you can’t completely disable read receipts for WhatsApp groups, there are some workarounds you can use:
Turn Off Read Receipts Individually
Go into the group participant list and turn off read receipts for each member individually using the steps outlined earlier. This can be tedious for large groups, but will prevent read receipts from Group members.
Use Broadcast Lists
Create a broadcast list by choosing New Broadcast on Android or New List on iPhone. Add the group members to the broadcast list. When you message the list, read receipts will be disabled since it is not technically a group chat. The limitation is group members cannot reply to the broadcast.
Set Chats to Disappear
You can set all new chats to disappear in WhatsApp under Privacy settings. Enable disappearing messages and set them to delete after 24 hours or 7 days. This will cause read receipts to delete after the messages vanish. However, anyone can screenshot or copy the message before it disappears.
Third Party Apps and WhatsApp Mods
Some third party apps like FlyChat and WAMR claim to disable read receipts in WhatsApp groups. However, these do not actually turn off receipts, they simply hide them from you. Other group members will still see if you’ve read messages.
There are also some WhatsApp mods like GBWhatsApp that claim to disable group read receipts. However, since these are not official WhatsApp, they violate the terms of service and can lead to bans. They may also have security and privacy risks.
The Problem with Disabling Group Read Receipts
While many WhatsApp users want to turn off read receipts for groups, there are good reasons why WhatsApp does not allow this:
User Engagement
Read receipts help drive user engagement and conversations by showing participants if their messages are being ignored or lost in the chatter. Removing them may harm engagement.
Expectations of Privacy
Part of joining a WhatsApp group implies agreeing to the functionality of the platform, including read receipts. Removing them changes the expected privacy model.
Security Risks
Read receipts can help identify accounts compromised by bad actors. A sudden lack of read receipts can signal an account is hacked.
Development Resources
Adding a per-group read receipt toggle would be complex to develop and maintain when the current per-contact option meets most user needs.
Conclusion
While WhatsApp does not allow disabling read receipts for entire groups, there are workarounds like using broadcast lists or third party apps. However, these have limitations and WhatsApp has valid reasons not to implement a group read receipt toggle. The per-contact control provides a good balance for now. If group read receipts are a major nuisance, switching to alternative secure messaging apps may be an option. But for most users, the convenience of WhatsApp will outweigh the annoyance of group read receipts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I disable read receipts for specific WhatsApp groups?
No, there is no setting in WhatsApp to disable read receipts for specific groups. The read receipt setting is only available on a per-contact basis.
Will turning off read receipts for individual contacts stop receipts in groups?
Yes, if you turn off read receipts for each member of a group individually, then you will not see read receipts from that group. But it can be tedious for large groups.
Can I get banned or blocked from WhatsApp if I use a third party app to disable group read receipts?
Potentially yes – using unofficial third party apps or modded versions of WhatsApp is against the terms of service and can result in your account being banned.
Will disabling my last seen status also turn off read receipts?
No, disabling last seen status only stops people from seeing when you were last online in WhatsApp. It does not affect read receipts, which are controlled separately.
Can I get read receipts on WhatsApp without sending the blue ticks?
No, it’s not possible to have read receipts enabled without also sending the blue ticks. The two features are linked so you cannot selectively enable only read receipts.
Table Comparing Workarounds
| Workaround | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Turn off per contact | – Selectively choose who you disable | – Time consuming for big groups |
| Use broadcast list | – No read receipts | – No group messaging |
| Disappearing messages | – Receipts vanish | – Can be screenshotted |
| Third party apps | – Claims to disable receipts | – Against ToS, risks bans |
How to Minimize Annoyance of Read Receipts
While there is no perfect solution, you can reduce the nuisance of read receipts in WhatsApp groups using these tips:
- Mute busy and active groups to avoid constant notifications.
- Don’t feel compelled to read every message – skim and respond to what’s relevant.
- Disable read receipts for the most annoying contacts.
- Leave groups where read receipts cause more stress than value.
- Let group admins know if the amount of notifications is disruptive.
At the end of the day, accepting that read receipts are part of WhatsApp groups may create less frustration than trying workarounds. Acknowledge when your time is being wasted and focus energy on meaningful connections.