iMessage is one of the most-used iPhone apps, allowing you to send and receive messages using the internet. This eliminates the need for a third-party messaging app to be installed on your device.
iMessage comes pre-loaded with any iPhone and serves as the default messaging app. This has led to one of the most asked questions – can iPhone users know if someone reads the message from an Android device?
iOS is still a closed operating system despite Apple’s efforts to open it up to third-party developers. We are expecting the Cupertino firm to bring iMessage to Android one day.
In the section below, we will answer a worldwide question: can iPhone users see when Android users read their text messages?
Can iPhone Users See When You read A Text Message from Android?
The short answer is No. But you can send a text message from iMessage to an Android user. However, there is no way for you to know if the message has been read or not. The Read Receipt feature only works between iPhones using the iMessage app. Both iPhone users need to have read receipts enabled before it works.
This is because the Apple iMessage app uses the internet to send and receive messages. It differs from regular Messages apps that are pre-installed on Android devices.
Most regular Messages apps out there use the Short Message Service (SMS), which relies on a cellular network to work. The iMessage app supports SMS, which is why iPhone users can send and receive text messages from Android. Meanwhile, the SMS protocol does not support iMessage. This is why you cannot see if someone reads text messages from Android.
Can iPhone Users See When You Are Typing from Android?
You may be wondering if an iPhone user can see you typing a text message to them from Android. Well, the answer is No for the same reasons. iMessage relies on the internet to activate its features, while regular messages are sent using the SMS protocol.
How to Turn On Read Receipts on iPhone
As mentioned above, read receipts in iMessage work between iPhone users only. However, you need to turn on read receipts in iMessage for iOS. if the iPhone iMessage app does not show read receipts even when you type from another iPhone, you may not have enabled it. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Launch the Settings app on your iPhone and tap Messages.
Step 2: Now, turn on Send Read Receipts.
Step 3: You should see Read beneath your message along with the time it was read if your recipient also turned on read receipts on their iPhone.
How to Turn On Read Receipts on Android
The Google Messages app supports read receipts, but your carrier needs to support this feature before it can work. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Open the Messages app on your Android and then select Settings by hitting the three vertical dots or lines at the top of the screen.
Step 2: Go to your Chat Features or tap More Settings.
Step 3: From here, turn on Read Recepts (Delivery Receipts).
Note that the steps may differ depending on the Android phone.
Is There a Way for iPhone Users to Know When You Read Text Messages from Android?
There is no active method to see when an Android user reads a text message sent via iPhone iMessage. But, you can use a third-party messaging app like WhatsApp, Messenger, or Snapchat. These apps also support read receipts.
Photo by kuu akura on Unsplash
