How to Manage Read Receipts in Messages on macOS 13

Apple's macOS 13 Ventura includes built-in read receipt controls within the Messages app, allowing you to choose whether other people see when you have viewed their iMessages. This guide explains how to enable or disable read receipts globally for all contacts, as well as how to toggle the feature for individual conversations directly from your Mac.

How to Change Global Read Receipts in macOS 13

Adjusting your global settings determines the default behavior for all incoming iMessages across your Mac.

  1. Open the Messages app on your Mac.
  2. Click Messages in the top menu bar and select Settings (or press Command + ,).
  3. Click on the iMessage tab at the top of the settings window.
  4. Locate the Send read receipts checkbox.
  5. Check the box to let all contacts see when you have read their messages, or uncheck it to turn the feature off universally.

How to Manage Read Receipts for Individual Conversations

macOS 13 allows you to override your global setting for specific people, giving you the flexibility to send read receipts to selected contacts while keeping them off for everyone else (or vice versa).

  1. Open the Messages app and select the conversation you want to customize.
  2. Click the Info button (represented by an "i" icon) in the top-right corner of the chat window.
  3. Scroll down the details panel to find the Send Read Receipts toggle.
  4. Toggle the switch on or off to apply your preferred setting exclusively to that conversation.

Important Details to Know

  • iMessage Only: Read receipts only function for iMessages (displayed in blue bubbles). They do not apply to standard SMS or MMS text messages sent via text forwarding (displayed in green bubbles).
  • Cross-Device Syncing: Changing your read receipt settings on macOS 13 applies only to that specific Mac. If you use Messages on an iPhone or iPad, you will need to adjust the settings independently on those devices.