How to Request a Read Receipt in Outlook (and Whether You Should)
Did they read it? A read receipt asks the recipient's email program to tell you when the message is opened. A delivery receipt confirms it reached their mail server. Both are easy to switch on — but they're not as reliable as people hope, and asking for one on every email can annoy the people you're writing to.
Quick reference
| What you want | Where |
|---|---|
| One email (new Outlook) | Compose → Options → Request read receipt |
| One email (classic) | Compose → Options → Request a Read Receipt |
| Every email (classic) | File → Options → Mail → Tracking |
| Control receipts you send | Same Tracking page / Settings → Mail → Message handling |
1. Request a receipt on one email
New Outlook and Outlook on the web:
1. Click New mail and write your message.
2. Click the Options tab on the ribbon (or ⋯ → Show message options).
3. Tick Request a read receipt and/or Request a delivery receipt.
4. Send as normal.
2. Click the Options tab on the ribbon (or ⋯ → Show message options).
3. Tick Request a read receipt and/or Request a delivery receipt.
4. Send as normal.
Classic Outlook:
1. In the message window, click the Options tab.
2. In the Tracking group, tick Request a Delivery Receipt and/or Request a Read Receipt.
3. Send.
2. In the Tracking group, tick Request a Delivery Receipt and/or Request a Read Receipt.
3. Send.
When the recipient opens the email (and agrees to send a receipt), you get an email headed Read: with the time. Delivery receipts arrive as Delivered: within a few minutes.
2. Request a receipt on every email (classic Outlook)
1. Click File → Options → Mail.
2. Scroll to Tracking.
3. Tick Delivery receipt confirming the message was delivered and/or Read receipt confirming the recipient viewed the message.
4. Click OK.
2. Scroll to Tracking.
3. Tick Delivery receipt confirming the message was delivered and/or Read receipt confirming the recipient viewed the message.
4. Click OK.
Think carefully before doing this — see section 4.
3. Why read receipts often don't come back
A read receipt is a request, not a guarantee:
• Most email programs ask the recipient "Send a receipt?" and many people click No.
• Gmail, Yahoo and most webmail services ignore read receipt requests entirely.
• Many organisations turn them off at the server.
• Reading an email in the preview pane may not trigger a receipt at all.
• Gmail, Yahoo and most webmail services ignore read receipt requests entirely.
• Many organisations turn them off at the server.
• Reading an email in the preview pane may not trigger a receipt at all.
Delivery receipts are more reliable, but they only prove the email reached a server — not that anyone saw it.
A read receipt that doesn't arrive tells you nothing. If it matters, ask for a reply.
4. Should you use them?
Occasionally, yes — a contract, a formal notice, a deadline. On everyday email, receipts come across as mistrustful, and colleagues soon learn to click No. If you need to know an email arrived, a one-line "Could you confirm you've received this?" works better and builds less resentment.
5. Receipts other people request from you
New Outlook and Outlook on the web: Settings → Mail → Message handling → Read receipts — choose Always send, Never send or Ask me before sending.
Classic Outlook: File → Options → Mail → Tracking → under For any message received that includes a read receipt request, choose Always send, Never send or Ask each time.
Ask me is the sensible default. Never is fine if you find the prompts annoying.
6. Track replies instead
For something important, Outlook's Follow Up flag with a reminder is more useful than a receipt: flag the sent email, set a reminder for two days' time, and chase if you haven't heard back.
Troubleshooting
I never get read receipts from one person. Their email program or company blocks them. Nothing you can do; ask for a reply.
I got a delivery receipt but no read receipt. Normal — the email arrived; either they haven't opened it or their system doesn't send read receipts.
The Options tab isn't there in new Outlook. Click ⋯ on the compose toolbar and choose Show message options, or add Options to your toolbar via Customize.
Wrapping up
Use a receipt for the occasional email that really needs one, set your own receipts to Ask me, and for everything else, just ask the person to confirm.
