WhatsApp is one of the most widely used messaging apps in the world, especially in India. People rely on it daily for personal conversations, family updates, and professional communication. However, there are times when users want a little extra privacy—especially when it comes to blue ticks, the read receipts that indicate a message has been read.
A common question many users ask is: Is it possible to remove blue ticks for only one specific chat while keeping them enabled for others? Let’s break down how this feature actually works and what options are currently available.
The straightforward answer is no. At present, WhatsApp does not allow users to turn off blue ticks for individual or selected chats. The read receipt setting works on an all-or-nothing basis.
WhatsApp offers a feature called Read Receipts. When this option is turned off, blue ticks are disabled across all personal chats. This means:
You won’t see blue ticks when others read your messages
Others won’t see blue ticks when you read their messages
However, this setting cannot be customized for specific contacts such as your boss, a colleague, or a particular friend.
Many users wish for selective control to avoid social pressure. For example:
You may want to read your boss’s message later without appearing rude
You might want privacy from a specific contact
At the same time, you may prefer transparency with family and close friends
Despite strong demand, WhatsApp has not yet introduced a feature that allows chat-specific read receipt control.
If you still want to disable blue ticks for all chats, follow these steps:
Open WhatsApp
Go to Settings
Tap on Privacy
Turn off Read Receipts
Once disabled, blue ticks will disappear from all personal chats. Keep in mind that this setting does not apply to group chats, where read receipts still function normally.
Even though selective blue tick removal is not possible, there are a few smart workarounds you can use.
You can archive a specific chat so it doesn’t appear on your main chat screen. This helps you avoid opening the message accidentally. Archived chats stay hidden until you manually open them.
If message previews are enabled, you can read the entire message directly from the notification panel without opening the chat. This way, the sender won’t see blue ticks.
Another commonly used trick is turning on airplane mode before opening the chat. After reading the message, close the app completely and then turn off airplane mode. This prevents WhatsApp from sending read confirmation instantly.
WhatsApp regularly rolls out updates and new privacy tools. Features like chat lock, disappearing messages, and custom chat themes were also introduced after long user demand. While there is no official confirmation, selective read receipt control is something many users hope to see in future updates.
To stay informed, users should keep their app updated and regularly check WhatsApp’s privacy settings.
❌ You cannot turn off blue ticks for just one chat
✅ You can disable read receipts for all chats
✅ Privacy-friendly workarounds are available
🔄 Feature may arrive in future updates
WhatsApp continues to focus on improving user privacy, but for now, selective blue tick control remains unavailable.
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