How to know if mail is read in gmail

In Gmail, there are a few ways to determine if an email has been read by the recipient:

  1. Read Receipt: You can request a read receipt from the recipient by adding the following code to the email body: ?readreceipt=1. This will send a notification to your email when the recipient opens the email. However, this feature is not enabled by default, and the recipient needs to agree to receive read receipts.
  2. Open Tracking: Gmail has a built-in feature called Open Tracking, which allows you to see when an email is opened. To enable this feature, follow these steps:
    • Log in to your Gmail account.
    • Click on the gear icon in the upper right corner and select "See all settings."
    • Go to the "General" tab.
    • Scroll down to the "Open tracking" section and toggle the switch to "On."
    • Click "Save Changes."
    • Compose a new email or reply to an existing one.
    • The email will now have an "Open tracking" indicator next to the recipient's name.
  3. Email Headers: You can check the email headers to see if the email has been read. To do this:
    • Log in to your Gmail account.
    • Find the email you're interested in and click on it.
    • Click on the three vertical dots next to the reply button.
    • Select "Show original."
    • Look for the "Delivered-To" and "Received" headers. If the email has been read, you'll see a "Received" header with a timestamp indicating when it was opened.
  4. Third-party Add-ons: There are several third-party add-ons available that can help you track email opens, such as Boomerang, Sanebox, or Yesware. These add-ons can provide more detailed information about when and how often an email is opened.

Keep in mind that some email providers, including Gmail, may not always provide accurate information about when an email is read. Additionally, some recipients may use email clients that don't support read receipts or open tracking.