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How do I block read receipts from being sent?

  • 3 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by Matt

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I recently received an email with the "Disposition-Notification-To" header set. When I read the email, my Thunderbird client sent a "read receipt" to the sender to inform them I had read the email.

I do not want Thunderbird to do this. How do I prevent it?

Looking through the configuration options, the only vaguely relevant setting I can find is "Determine how Thunderbird handles return receipts". I don't know if this is the correct thing to set but, even if it is, it doesn't seem to work. Under "When I receive a request for a return receipt", it's already set to "Never send a return receipt". I also have Thunderbird set up to block remote content in the message to prevent html-based read receipts, so how is my client still sending them?

I only know that this one was sent because the email address it sent to was faulty so I received a failed mail delivery message. Who knows how many others Thunderbird is sending that I'm simply not aware of!

I recently received an email with the "Disposition-Notification-To" header set. When I read the email, my Thunderbird client sent a "read receipt" to the sender to inform them I had read the email. I do not want Thunderbird to do this. How do I prevent it? Looking through the configuration options, the only vaguely relevant setting I can find is "Determine how Thunderbird handles return receipts". I don't know if this is the correct thing to set but, even if it is, it doesn't seem to work. Under "When I receive a request for a return receipt", it's already set to "Never send a return receipt". I also have Thunderbird set up to block remote content in the message to prevent html-based read receipts, so how is my client still sending them? I only know that this one was sent because the email address it sent to was faulty so I received a failed mail delivery message. Who knows how many others Thunderbird is sending that I'm simply not aware of!

All Replies (3)

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Is you client sending them, or your server. many corporate servers have overrides to send read receipts. Microsoft's exchange does and it is defaulted to on.

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I can't tell from the bounce message. There are very few headers reported, so I can't figure out who sent the message.

I believe my IT provider is using MS Exchange as the mail server. Is it possible to switch off sending read receipts on a per-user basis through the mail client, or do I have to request that from IT services?

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if the source is the server then your only approach is to the IT department