Option 1: turn off read receipts in WhatsApp
Settings, Privacy, Read receipts, off.
- Nobody sees blue ticks from you in private chats.
- You can't see blue ticks from anyone either. It works both ways.
- Groups still show blue ticks. Voice notes you play still show as played.
- It also hides your views on statuses, and you won't see who viewed yours.
Option 2: read the notification
Reading the message in the notification, without opening the chat, doesn't send blue ticks. It works for short texts. Long messages are cut off and you can't see photos or voice notes this way.
Option 3: airplane mode (works less than people think)
Turn on airplane mode, open the chat, read, close WhatsApp, turn airplane mode off. The problem is that WhatsApp sends the read receipt when you're back online, often the moment you open the app again. It delays the blue ticks. It doesn't hide them.
Option 4: Privacy mode in MsgSaver (PC)
MsgSaver runs WhatsApp Web in its own window on Windows. With Privacy mode on, reading a chat in that window doesn't send blue ticks. Your phone still marks the chat as read for you, so you don't get a pile of unread badges.
- No blue ticks when you read a chat, in private chats and groups.
- No "typing..." while you write a reply.
- Play voice notes without the blue "played" microphone, and no "recording audio...".
- Watch statuses without showing up in the viewer list.
- Your WhatsApp read receipts setting stays as it is.
To use it: turn on Privacy mode for WhatsApp in MsgSaver, then open the chat from the tray menu with Show WhatsApp window.