How to hide read messages on facebook


How to Turn Off FB Messenger Read Receipts

By default, Facebook Messenger users receive a read receipt whenever their message has been read. That’s a rather helpful feature that lets you know the recipient has been informed. However, sometimes, those read receipts can work against you.

If you’re wondering how to turn off the read receipts in Facebook Messenger, the sad truth is that you can’t. However, you can delay the read receipt to the recipient, which may come in handy under certain circumstances such as when you don’t want to be bothered by a fast responder.

If you’re still wondering how to read that received message without letting the sender know about it, we’ve got a partial solution. Follow the steps below:

  1. Head to your phone’s Settings app.


  2. Shift the toggle button next to the Airplane Mode to the On position. It should become green.


  3. Launch the Messenger app and open the necessary conversation.


  4. After reading the message, close the app and make sure to swipe it out from your app drawer.


  5. Turn off the Airplane Mode.

Since the Airplane Mode disables network connection, the sender won’t get notified about you reading their message. Alternatively, you can use dedicated third-party apps for “unseeing” Facebook messages.

How to Turn Off Messenger Read Receipts on the Android App

If you’re wondering how to turn off the read receipts in Facebook Messenger Android app, we’ve got bad news – there’s no easy way to do that. Facebook doesn’t let users choose whether they want to send read receipts to message senders. Thankfully, we found a way around it. Follow the instructions below:

  1. Swipe from the top of your phone’s screen to the middle to access the Quick Settings menu.


  2. Tap the airplane icon to turn on the Airplane mode.


  3. Head to Messenger and open the conversation containing the unread message.


  4. After reading the message, close the Messenger app.


  5. Tap the square icon at the bottom right corner of your screen to view all apps running in the background. If you see Messenger in the list, swipe it out.


  6. Swipe from the top to the middle of your screen and tap the airplane icon again to turn off the Airplane mode.

The Airplane Mode disables network connection so that the message sender won’t receive the read message receipt.

How to Turn Off Messenger Read Receipts on a PC

Facebook users can’t turn off the read message receipts. However, if you have a Windows laptop, we have a way to overcome this limitation. Follow the instructions below:

  1. Download the Messenger Desktop app. A regular browser version of Messenger won’t do the trick.


  2. Log in to your Facebook account via the app.


  3. Click the Start button at the bottom right and type in airplane mode.


  4. Open the Airplane mode menu and click the toggle button to On.


  5. Launch the Messenger Desktop app and open the conversation containing the unread message.


  6. After reading the message, close the app.


  7. Head to the Airplane mode menu again and turn the toggle button Off.

Enabling Airplane mode works because it turns off the network connection, just like Airplane mode does for smartphones. If you don’t want to lose the Internet connection or don’t have an Airplane mode, you can use third-party apps such as Facebook Unseen. Here’s how to use it:

  1. Install the app on your PC. Once you do it, the app’s logo icon will appear next to your browser’s address bar.


  2. Click the app’s logo icon.


  3. Check the box next to Block the “Seen” feature.

That’s it; any read message receipts in the chosen Facebook chat will be disabled.

Additional FAQs

This section includes more answers to your frequently asked questions about Facebook Messenger.

If I Turn Off Read Receipts, Will I Still See When Other People Read My Messages?

When you turn off the send receipts, in apps like WhatsApp, you stop receiving receipts about other users reading your messages too. In other words, it’s a double-ended feature. However, the Messenger app doesn’t let users disable the read receipts.

Enabling the Flight Mode or using third-party “unsee message” apps doesn’t affect Facebook’s functionality. You will still see when someone reads your messages unless they use the same tricks to hide the read receipts.

If I Turn Off My Active Status, Will I Still See When Others Are Online?

Although Facebook doesn’t let you disable your read receipts, you can disable your online status indicator. After doing this, other Facebook users will have no way of knowing when you’re logged in to the app. You still will be able to see when others are online unless they’ve also disabled the feature.

Can someone see that I read the message request?

Fortunately, no. Message requests are messages from other users who are not your friend. Typically, these messages go to a separate folder. If you open and read the message the sender will not receive a read receipt.

However, if you respond, all future messages will include the standard read receipts.

Keep It Secret

Now that you know how to work around Facebook Messenger’s read receipt feature, you can avoid awkward situations and guilt for not answering messages right away. If you use third-party apps to unread messages, make sure to read the reviews before installation, and don’t download anything from sketchy websites. Hopefully, Facebook will let users disable read receipts sometime in the future.

Which feature do you really miss in Facebook Messenger app? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Fixed! How to Turn off Read Receipts on Facebook Messenger?

  • MiniTool
  • MiniTool News Center
  • Fixed! How to Turn off Read Receipts on Facebook Messenger?

By Anna | Follow | Last Updated

Facebook Messenger has a feature that whenever you have read the received messages, the receivers will get a notification. This feature is helpful to check if messages have been read but some users may want to turn off read receipts on Facebook Messenger. This article on MiniTool Website will help you resolve it.

First of all, Facebook Messenger does not allow people to close Messenger read receipts, if you want to read received messages without letting the sender know about it, you can find a new path for it.

Turn off FB Messenger Read Receipts on iPhone

If you are an iPhone user, you can disable read receipts on Facebook Messenger by following the next steps.

Method 1: Turn off Active Status

Step 1: Go to your Messenger app and tap on your Profile icon at the top left.

Step 2: Choose Active Status.

Step 3: Turn off the toggle next to the Show when you’re active option.

Step 4: Choose Turn Off again when a box pops up to ask you “turn off Active Status?”

With this method, other Facebook users will have no way of knowing when you’re logged in to the app. You still will be able to see when others are online unless they’ve also disabled the feature.

Method 2: Turn on Your Airplane Mode

Step 1: Scroll down from the top of your phone and tap on the Airplane Mode from the icon menu. Or you can go to Settings and turn on the Airplane Mode.

Step 2: Go to your Messenger app and open the conversation that you want to read without letting the sender know about it.

Step 3: After that, close the app and make sure to swipe it out from your app drawer.

Step 4: Then you can turn off the Airplane Mode.

During this process, the sender won’t get notified about you reading their message.

Turn off FB Messenger Read Receipts on Android

If you are an Android user, you can turn off read receipts on Facebook Messenger by doing the same way as method 2 above. Just go to turn on the Airplane Mode and check the message on Messenger. Then you can turn off the Airplane Mode.

Turn off FB Messenger Read Receipts on PC

For PC users, you can turn off read receipts on Facebook Messenger by doing the following.

Method 1: Turn on Airplane Mode

Step 1: If you are using a browser for Messenger, you need to download and install a Messenger app first so that the next moves can be available.

Step 2: Log in to your account via the app and then minimize the Messenger interface.

Step 3: Click Start and input Airplane mode in the Search box.

Step 4: Open the option in the Best match section.

Step 5: Then click the toggle button to turn on your Airplane Mode.

Step 6: Go back to the Messenger app and open the conversation.

Step 7: Close the app and turn off the Airplane Mode.

Method 2: Use Third-Party App

Step 1: Download and install Facebook Unseen on PC.

Step 2: Once the installation finishes, an icon appears next to your browser’s address bar.

Step 3: Click on the logo icon and check the box next to Block the “Seen” feature.

Then you have successfully disabled read receipts on Facebook Messenger.

Although in Facebook Messenger, you just can’t directly turn off read receipts on Facebook Messenger there are more ways than difficulties. Follow the above methods and you will find a way out.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Reddit

About The Author

User Comments :

How to disable read receipts for Facebook messages

Using Facebook Messenger is an easy way to reach anyone with a Facebook page. Whether you use it as your only source of messaging or to connect directly with friends and family, the ability to set privacy in the app is limited.

Facebook Messenger has many advantages over other messaging applications, unfortunately users cannot disable read receipts. This can be a concern for many users as they don't have time or don't want to reply to a message. nine0003

Read receipts on Facebook

Every time you open a new message using Facebook Messenger, the sender is notified that the recipient's icon has changed. Unread messages are marked with a gray circle with a check mark, read messages will display the recipient's profile picture.

Programs for Windows, mobile applications, games - EVERYTHING is FREE, in our closed telegram channel - Subscribe :)

Facebook developers have not added software to the application that allows users to disable their reading receipts. This is because they want users to feel obligated to respond. nine0003

Although you cannot turn off read checks, there are workarounds. Checking the content without notifying the sender that you've read the message means you can reply later when you have more time or not at all.

Techniques to bypass hidden checks

Tech savvy people always find ways to get around the barriers set by application developers Although workarounds take more time and energy, a user who really wants an application to work a certain way will benefit from the following options. nine0003

Airplane Mode

The easiest and most user-friendly way to read a message without alerting the sender is to use the Airplane method. Every phone, laptop or tablet should have this option in the quick settings menu.

Airplane mode disables the network on your device. If someone sent you a message and you want to check its content without replying, you can do the following:

  1. Do not open the message; Put your device in flight mode

    Visit the App Store or Google Play Store to start downloading. After downloading and launching the application, complete the installation process.

    Invisible app keeps all your messaging apps in one place. When a message is received, it will be redirected to the app, allowing you to read your messages undetected.

    The following messaging applications are enabled:

    • Facebook Messenger
    • WhatsApp
    • Instagram
    • Viber
    • telegram
    • Line
    • KakaoTalk
    • Imo

    You will need to allow this app to have access to all your information and messages in the apps listed above in order to use Invisible. Once set up, all your messages can be read within this app, which means you won't be sending read receipts via Facebook Messenger.

    Last option is to disable Facebook Messenger

    While not ideal, some users have chosen to stop using Facebook Messenger because they have no control over read receipts.

    You can no longer deactivate your Facebook messenger without deactivating your Facebook page. If you want to delete your Facebook page, we have an article for you. For most of you, there are options to maintain your Facebook Page without Messenger.

    Option 1:

    The first option is to simply remove the application from the phone. While friends and family will still be able to send you messages, they won't disturb you. nine0003

    Option 2:

    Go to settings in Messenger and turn off the "Show Active" option. This will keep people from posting on Facebook.

    If you want to get around developers' inability to hide read receipts in Facebook Messenger, there are several ways to do it. Unfortunately, like most workarounds, it will take you a bit more work to achieve this.

    Programs for Windows, mobile applications, games - EVERYTHING is FREE, in our closed telegram channel - Subscribe :)

Related posts

Facebook hidden messages

One for regular messages from your friends. The second inbox looks like a spam folder and contains hidden Facebook messages from non-friends that the company thinks you don't know.

Facebook won't delete these messages, but it won't send you notifications that there are new messages in this hidden inbox. This means that you should check your hidden mailbox periodically. nine0003

If Facebook thinks you know a non-friend based on connections to your current friends, Facebook will send a new message from that person to your regular inbox as a friend request. If there is no evidence that you know the sender, Facebook sends these messages, such as friend requests, to your secret spam inbox.

Access hidden Facebook messages from the desktop

The fastest way to check your hidden Facebook messages on the desktop is to open the special links for message requests and filtered messages in the browser. nine0003

You can also check for these hidden messages on the desktop version of Facebook by following these steps.

1. Open Facebook and click the Messenger icon at the top right of Facebook.

2. Click Message Request in the upper left corner of the menu.

3. Click View Filtered Messages.

4. In the message list, select a message and select Reply to open the dialog or Delete to delete the request.

If you delete the connection request, the message will be permanently deleted. If you send a message to someone who sent you a deleted message, your message will go to their connection requests. nine0003

View Facebook Secret Messages on Your Phone

Since most people access Facebook through their mobile devices, it's also nice to know how to access hidden messages on Android and iOS devices.

Find hidden Facebook messages with Messenger on Android

1. Open the Messenger app on your Android phone and tap the people icon at the bottom of the screen.

2. Click your person's plus icon in the upper right corner. nine0003

3. At the top of the screen, click Requests.

4. Click on each message and click Accept to open the dialog or Ignore to delete the request.

Find hidden Facebook messages with Messenger on iOS

1. Open Messenger on your phone and tap the People icon at the bottom of the screen.

2. Tap the Conversation icon in the top right corner to open a new page with your requests.

3. Tap each message and tap Accept to open the conversation, or Decline to delete the request. nine0003

Facebook Post Requests and Community Standards

Facebook implements Community Standards that cover bullying, harassment, threats, and sexual abuse or exploitation. If you feel you have received a message that violates these standards, you can report it to Facebook.


Learn more