If you want more privacy on your iPhone 13, one of the best things you can do is disable read receipts. When read receipts are on, people can see when you’ve opened their iMessage — but when you turn them off, your contacts will only see “Delivered,” even if you read their message instantly.
This guide explains exactly how to stop people from knowing you read their texts on iPhone 13, including step‑by‑step methods, per‑contact settings, and extra privacy tips.
What Are Read Receipts on iPhone?
Read receipts are a built‑in feature in Apple’s iMessage service. When they are enabled:
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The sender sees “Read” along with the time you opened the message.
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When disabled, they only see “Delivered”, even if you read the text.
If you want to keep your responses private or avoid feeling pressured to reply immediately, turning off read receipts is the perfect solution.
How to Stop People From Knowing You Read Their Texts on iPhone 13
You can turn off read receipts in two ways:
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Disable read receipts for everyone
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Disable read receipts for a specific person
Both methods are explained below.
✅ Method 1: Turn Off Read Receipts for Everyone
This stops all contacts from seeing when you’ve read their messages.
Steps:
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Open the Settings app on your iPhone 13.
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Scroll down and tap Messages.
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Find Send Read Receipts.
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Toggle the switch OFF.
When the switch is off, no one will know when you read their texts — simple and effective.
✅ Method 2: Turn Off Read Receipts for One Person Only
If you want privacy from specific people (but still want others to see when you read their messages), use this method.
Steps:
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Open the Messages app.
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Tap the conversation with the person you want to manage.
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Tap their name at the top of the screen.
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Select Info (i).
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Toggle Send Read Receipts OFF for that contact.
Now that person cannot see when you’ve opened their messages, while others still can.
Additional Privacy Tips for Messaging on iPhone 13
⭐ 1. Disable Message Previews on the Lock Screen
Prevents others from seeing your texts when your phone is locked.
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Go to Settings → Notifications → Messages
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Tap Show Previews
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Select Never or When Unlocked
⭐ 2. Use Focus Modes for Extra Privacy
Silence notifications without telling the sender.
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Go to Settings → Focus
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Set up Do Not Disturb, Sleep, Work, etc.
⭐ 3. Turn Off Message Read Status in Some Apps
Apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger also have read receipt settings — you can disable them individually.
Why Turn Off Read Receipts? (Benefits)
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You can read messages without feeling forced to reply immediately.
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Helps maintain boundaries and reduce anxiety.
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Prevents misunderstandings with friends or co‑workers.
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Gives you more privacy and control over your communication habits.
Troubleshooting: Read Receipts Still Showing?
If someone can still see your read status:
✔ Make sure iMessage is enabled
Settings → Messages → iMessage
✔ Restart your iPhone
Sometimes settings need a refresh.
✔ Update iOS
Settings → General → Software Update
✔ Check the contact’s settings
They may have your read receipts saved from earlier, or they may be seeing sync delays.
Final Thoughts
Stopping people from knowing you read their texts on an iPhone 13 is fast and easy. Whether you turn off read receipts for everyone or only specific contacts, you gain more control over your privacy and messaging habits.
