Why do some text messages say delivered and some say read?

Ever wondered why do some text messages say delivered and some say read on your mobile phone, this is the case of using the imessage or iphone to send a message.

On android, this is very much different cause you will only see delivered unless you use any of the instant messaging apps to send a message.

As long as you used the default message app to send a message on android phone, you will only see delivered though the crs chat feature on google messages app or samsung message app will show read.

Now let’s proceed with the question we have, why do some text messages say delivered and some say read.

Why do some text messages say delivered and some say read?

Text messages that says delivered are texts sent using the sms or cellular network service, while messages that says read are messages sent using the instant services like imessage on iphone or crs chat feature on android.

To explain more on the question of why do some text messages say delivered and some say read, I will categorize it into android and iPhone.

On iphone

On iphone, there are two message features which includes the sms and the imessage. The sms uses the cellular network service in sending a text message, while the imessage uses data or Wi-Fi in sending a message.

On iphone, sent text messages will only show delivered if the recipient has received the message while this is very different on imessage as it uses data or the Wi-Fi.

On imessage, messages will show delivered if the recipient has received the message and read if the recipient opened or read the message.

So asking why do some text messages say delivered and some say read, it is because the recipient has received the text message on it’s phone, and read means the recipient has opened or read the text message.

On imessage, if the sent message is received by the recipient but not opened it won’t show read until the recipient opens the received message.

Remember, sent sms on iphone will never show read because it is not an instant service but rather a cellular network service. It can only show delivered but will never read unless you use imessage in sending the message. 

Lastly, if the recipient disabled the read receipts on it’s iPhone, it will never show read on your iPhone even if the recipient opened and read your sent message.


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On Android

Since 2020 Google introduced the crs chat feature and samsung followed suite but the truth is not all Android users are using the crs chat as it is not available on all networks.

If you use your default message app or the google messages app in sending a message on your android phone, you will only see delivered if the message was successfully sent and received on the recipient phone.

There’s no way you can see read but only will assume the recipient has read the message immediately you saw the message shows delivered below the sent message.

why do some text messages say delivered and some say read

However, the case is different when using the chat feature to send a message on your android phone. Definitely you will be notified when the recipient has opened or read your sent message but only if the recipient enabled the read receipts on it’s Message app.

All these answers the question of why do some text messages say delivered and some say read.

If some of your messages says delivered it simply means the recipient has received the sent message, while if it shows read it means the recipient has opened or read the message.

Why do some messages say delivered and some don’t?

Messages that says are successfully sent messages which the recipient has received on it’s mobile phone, while messages that doest say delivered haven’t been received by the recipient.

Once you send a text message or sms on your mobile phone and it shows delivered below or beside the sent message, it means the recipient has received the message.

So if you send a text message on your mobile phone and it doesn’t show delivered, be rest assured that the recipient haven’t received the message on it’s mobile phone. Mind you, you have to enable delivery report on your mobile phone for it to show delivered after sending a text message.


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How can you tell if someone blocked your texts?

To know that someone blocked your texts on it’s mobile phone, all your text messages won’t be sent to the recipient and you will never see delivered after sending a text message.

If someone blocked your number on it’s mobile phone, be rest assured that the message will never go through to the recipient.

So what you have to do to confirm truly that you have been blocked by the recipient, you have to use another unknown to the recipient in sending a text message.

If the text message shows sent and delivered then you should know the recipient your number.

How to tell if text message was delivered

First, you must enable delivery report on your mobile phone and afterwards send a text message on your phone. If the message shows delivered below or beside the sent text message, it means the recipient has received the message.

If a sent text message doesn’t show delivered after sending the message, it means the recipient haven’t received the message on it’s mobile phone or I will say the message is still pending.

Delivery report helps a lot to notify a sender that sent text messages has been delivered to the recipient. Remember that you have to make sure to enable delivery report on your mobile phone for you to know if your sent message was delivered or not.

I do hope to have given you the best answer you are looking for on why do some text messages say delivered and some say read. Remember, you must enable delivery report on your mobile phone in order to see delivery report after sending a text message on your mobile phone.

About Kennedy

I'm Amaechi Uchenna by name, a mobile tech enthusiast who love writing articles about tips and tutorials especially relating to gadgets.

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