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2 Ways to Tell If Your Email Has Been Read

Not all emails are read, and even fewer are opened right away. To know when your recipient opens that sent email, check out these two email tracking methods.

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2 Ways to Tell If Your Email Has Been Read

It can be frustrating and even nerve-wracking to wait for someone to reply to your recently sent email. However, it can be made easier if you at least know when they opened the message. 

Luckily, even for the average person, it’s possible to get notified of click-through. Here are two methods for seeing when a recipient has read your email:

  1. Use the read-receipts feature provided by your email provider
  2. Use an email tracking tool

What Are Read Receipts?

Some email services like Outlook and Gmail allow you to enable read receipt features. If you enable this option, you will receive a notification when the recipient opens your message.

The recipient will receive a notification informing them that you want to know when they open the email. This request can be approved or denied, so if the recipient denies the request, you won’t see when they open the email. You also won’t be notified that they rejected this feature.

How to Enable Read-Receipt Features on Gmail

Neither the mobile nor desktop versions of commercial Gmail have the option to turn on the read-receipts feature. This feature is only available on Google Workspace, aimed at businesses and professional circles.

To turn on read receipts on Google Workspace, you need to be an administrator, not an average user. Follow these steps to enable the feature:

  1. Go to Gmail and sign in.
  2. Click ‘Compose’ at the top left and write your email.
  3. At the bottom right, click ‘More options.’
  4. Click ‘Request read receipt.’
  5. Send your email.

How to Enable Read-Receipt Features on Outlook

The read-receipt feature is not available on the web version of Outlook, Outlook Live, or the Outlook app for mobile. It is only available in the paid version, Outlook 365.

Follow these steps to enable read receipts in Outlook 365:

  1. Go to your Outlook inbox.
  2. Click ‘New Email’ at the top left corner.
  3. Write your email.
  4. Click ‘Options’ at the top toolbar.
  5. Check the box that says ‘Request a Read Receipt’ at the top.
  6. Send your email.

What are Email Tracking Tools?

There are various email tracking tools available online that can help you track whether your email has been opened or not. These tools work by embedding an invisible tracking pixel in your email, which sends you a notification when the email is opened. This will be the more accessible option for everyday people who do not have professional or paid accounts. 

Here’s a list of popular email tracking tools and services:

  1. Yesware
  2. Vocus.io
  3. Mailtrack
  4. Bananatag
  5. EmailAnalytics

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