There is no way you can disable read receipts when you are using Facebook Messenger. This creates an issue for people who do not want others to know whether or not they read their messages. However, we have come up with a comprehensive list of solutions on how to read a Facebook message without opening it.
Suggested read: Does Facebook Messenger Notification Works in Airplane Mode?
How to read a Facebook message without opening it?
1. Use the Aeroplane mode
This is the most common method that people use to read messages without being seen. Just enable the Aeroplane mode. Most devices have the option on their quick settings (the swipe-down menu from the top). However, you can also look for it inside the Settings app of your phone.
Once you have enabled the Aeroplane mode, open Facebook Messenger and read the message. The seen status will not appear as long as you do not reply to the sender. Both Android and iOS users can benefit from this trick.
2. By switching to desktop mode
You need to activate the Desktop mode on your smartphone. This can be done on both iOS and Android devices.
If you are using an iPhone, open the Safari browser and visit www.facebook.com. Click on the AA icon as the website opens and choose the Request Desktop Website option. As soon as the desktop version opens on your device, log in and read the messages.
If you are using an Android device, open Google Chrome and go to www.facebook.com from the browser. Click on the three dots on the Facebook home page and select the Request Desktop Website option.
Log into Facebook desktop from your smartphone and read the messages.
Ensure that you are not using the mobile version of Facebook by removing ‘m’ from m.facebook.com. It should be just facebook.com or www.facebook.com.
3. Read message notifications
When somebody messages you on Facebook Messenger, you will get a notification for the same provided you enabled notifications from Messenger. If you have not done so already or are not sure about the same you can check on the Settings app.
Go to Apps and Notifications from your Settings app. Ensure that the Show notification toggle is turned ON, especially for Messenger. Thereafter, when anybody sends you a message, you should be able to see the same from the notification without opening the app.
4. Visit www.facebook.com
Go to www.facebook.com from your computer, laptop or MacBook. Log in to your account with your email address and password. A pop-up chat will appear with the message in it as soon as you get a message.
You can read the messages from here completely when you log in using the browser. You can read messages without the sender’s knowledge since the seen status does not appear.
This could change if you choose to visit Facebook Messenger and read the message.
It is to be noted that a grey messenger window means the person is inactive. A blue stripe indicates that the person is active, which means the seen status would show. Avoid clicking on the chat with the blue stripe as the sender would know that you read the message.
5. Ignoring conversation
This method would send the chats to message requests but you would be notified about any new message.
Guide for iOS users
- Open the Facebook Messenger and swipe left for the chat you mean to ignore
- Choose the option that says More
- Select the Ignore option from the drop-down menu
- Hit Ignore again to confirm the selection
- Click on your Messenger profile picture and choose Message Requests
- Toggle to Spam
The ignore chat will appear here, which you can open and read. The Seen status will not turn on. It would only appear if you reply to the message. In that situation, the chat would appear in the inbox again.
Guide for Android users
- Open the Messenger app on your phone
- Long press the chat you wish to ignore
- A menu would appear at the base of the screen
- Click on Ignore message
- Press Ignore again to confirm
- The chat would go into the Spam folder
- Click on your profile picture and choose Message Requests
- Go to the SPAM folder
- Read the messages you got
- The Seen status will not appear until you reply to the message
6. Using third-party extensions on a desktop browser
There are plenty of third-party extensions to choose from to bypass the read receipt feature if you are using Facebook Messenger on a computer. ‘Unseen for Facebook Messenger’ is one of the best extensions you can use for this purpose. To enable the extension:
- Go to the Chrome Web Store
- Search for Unseen for Facebook Messenger
- Click on Add to Chrome
- Choose the Add extension option
Once you have enabled the extension, you no longer need to worry about others knowing about you reading their messages.
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These were some tried and tested ways to hide read receipts on Facebook since you were keen on how to read a Facebook message without opening it. Hope you no longer need to worry about responding to people immediately or if you do not want to after reading their messages. Stay tuned for more useful information from the Tech Thirsty team.
