Use Read Receipts in New Outlook After Switching From Classic Outlook

When you switch from Classic Outlook to the new Outlook for Windows, you may notice the read receipt settings are not in the same location. The new Outlook uses a different settings interface and menu structure. This change can cause confusion if you rely on read receipts to confirm email delivery and reading. This article explains where to find and configure read receipts in the new Outlook and how to request them for individual messages.

How Read Receipts Work in New Outlook

Read receipts are email notifications that tell you when the recipient opens your message. In Classic Outlook, the read receipt settings were located under File > Options > Mail. The new Outlook for Windows uses a modern settings panel accessed through the main Settings gear icon. The option to request read receipts is still available, but the menu path has changed. Before you can use read receipts, your email account must support them. Most Exchange, Microsoft 365, and Outlook.com accounts support read receipts. POP and IMAP accounts typically do not support read receipts because the server cannot track when a message is opened.

What Changed From Classic Outlook

Classic Outlook stored read receipt settings in a separate dialog with multiple checkboxes. The new Outlook consolidates these options into a single toggle under Mail settings. The individual message option to request a read receipt is now in the Options tab of the compose window instead of the Message tab. The new Outlook also removes the ability to set separate rules for each account in the same profile. You set one global preference that applies to all accounts in the new Outlook.

Steps to Enable Read Receipts in New Outlook

1. Open the Settings panel
   Click the Settings gear icon in the upper-right corner of the Outlook window. A sidebar opens with a list of categories.
2. Go to Mail settings
   In the Settings sidebar, click Mail. This opens the Mail settings page with several subcategories.
3. Select Compose and Reply
   Under the Mail category, click Compose and Reply. Scroll down until you see the Read Receipts section.
4. Configure your read receipt preference
   In the Read Receipts section, choose one of the following options:
   – Always request a read receipt – Outlook automatically requests a read receipt for every email you send.
   – Never send a read receipt – Outlook never sends a read receipt when you receive a message that requests one.
   – Ask me before sending a read receipt – Outlook prompts you each time a read receipt is requested.
5. Save your changes
   Click Save at the bottom of the Compose and Reply page. The setting applies immediately to all new messages.

How to Request a Read Receipt for a Single Message

1. Create a new email message
   Click New Mail in the top-left corner of the Outlook window.
2. Open the Options tab
   In the new message window, click the Options tab on the ribbon. This tab contains tracking and delivery settings.
3. Check the Request a Read Receipt box
   In the Tracking group, check the box labeled Request a Read Receipt. A checkmark appears in the box.
4. Send the message
   Complete your email and click Send. Outlook adds a read receipt request header to the message.

How to Track Read Receipts After Sending

1. Open the Sent Items folder
   In the folder pane on the left, click Sent Items. Locate the message you sent with a read receipt request.
2. Open the sent message
   Double-click the message to open it in a separate window.
3. Click the Tracking button
   In the message window, click the Tracking button in the ribbon. A pane opens showing the delivery and read status for each recipient.

Common Issues When Using Read Receipts in New Outlook

Read receipts are not being returned even though I requested them

The recipient’s email client must support and honor read receipt requests. Many email clients, including Gmail and Apple Mail, allow users to decline or ignore read receipt requests. The recipient can also set their email client to never send read receipts. If the recipient uses an email client that does not support read receipts, you will not receive a receipt. There is no way to force a recipient to send a read receipt.

I cannot find the read receipt setting for a single message

The option to request a read receipt for a single message is only available in the Options tab of the compose window. If you are using the simplified ribbon, the Options tab may be hidden. Click the three dots (More commands) in the ribbon to expand the full ribbon. Then click Options to see the Request a Read Receipt checkbox.

The Tracking button is grayed out in the sent message

The Tracking button is only active for messages that were sent with a read receipt or delivery receipt request. If you did not check the Request a Read Receipt box before sending, the Tracking button remains grayed out. You cannot add a read receipt request after sending the message. Resend the message with the read receipt option enabled.

Read receipts are not working for my IMAP or POP account

IMAP and POP accounts do not support read receipts because the email server cannot track when a message is opened. Read receipts rely on the server to send a notification back to the sender. Only Exchange, Microsoft 365, and Outlook.com accounts support read receipts. If you switch from Classic Outlook to the new Outlook with an IMAP account, read receipts will not work regardless of the setting.

Item	Classic Outlook	New Outlook
Settings location	File > Options > Mail > Tracking	Settings > Mail > Compose and Reply > Read Receipts
Single message option	Message tab > Tracking group > Request a Read Receipt	Options tab > Tracking group > Request a Read Receipt
Global default setting	Separate checkboxes for all accounts	Single toggle applies to all accounts
Tracking after sending	Message tab > Tracking	Tracking button in the opened message ribbon
Account support	Exchange, Microsoft 365, Outlook.com	Exchange, Microsoft 365, Outlook.com

You can now configure and use read receipts in the new Outlook for Windows. The settings are under Settings > Mail > Compose and Reply. For individual messages, use the Options tab in the compose window and check Request a Read Receipt. After sending, open the message in Sent Items and click Tracking to see the read status. If you use multiple accounts, remember that the global setting applies to all accounts in the new Outlook. For accounts that do not support read receipts, consider using delivery receipts instead by checking the Request a Delivery Receipt box in the same Options tab.