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With over 1 million new users joining every day and 70% of users using the app daily, WhatsApp is one of the biggest instant messaging platforms globally. While the app has been progressively updated with new features such as video calls, they also launched read receipts that let the sender know when their message was seen by the recipient. Although some users responded positively to this feature, others were disappointed with the introduction, primarily those that like to read but don’t reply to messages.
But what if you want to read an unread WhatsApp message without letting the sender know that you saw it? There’s always a way if you’re willing to find it.
How to View WhatsApp Messages Without Opening Them
So, how can you see WhatsApp messages without opening them and without triggering the read receipt notification? Although it’s a seamless process, it can only be accessed by iPhone 6s, 6s Plus, 7, and 7 Plus users due to the 3D Touch feature that’s required.
Follow the steps below if you own any of the above devices:
- Make sure your WhatsApp app is up to date. WhatsApp released 3D Touch capabilities in 2015, so if your app is current than version 2.12.11, then you are fine.
- Instead of tapping on the message conversation you want to view, press the conversation with some pressure to activate the 3D Touch Peek window. This feature permits you to have a quick look at the previously sent and received messages along with the newly received message.
- From this window, if you want to read your message, then press harder to ‘pop’ the window, and you can make it full screen. Alternatively, you can let go of the display and simply return to the previous state. If you select this option, your message will not be marked “read” on the recipient’s phone, giving you ample time to respond to the message without the sender knowing that you’ve read it.
It’s important to note that WhatsApp also enables you to mark a message as unread after you’ve opened it, but it will not affect the read receipt status; the sender can still see that you’ve viewed it.
FAQs
1. Can I read WhatsApp messages from someone else’s account without them knowing?
No, it’s not possible to read someone else’s WhatsApp messages without them knowing. While using 3D Touch Peek, the message sender will not get a read receipt; they will know you read the message as soon as you open it.
2. How do I turn off the read receipt feature in WhatsApp?
If you don’t want your contacts to know when you’ve read their messages on WhatsApp, follow these steps: Go to Settings > Account > Privacy and toggle off the “Read Receipts” feature.