How to find out if a message on your Xiaomi phone is read: 7 proven ways

Introduction: Why Reading Status Is Important for Xiaomi Users

Every Xiaomi smartphone owner has at least once encountered a situation when you need to know whether the person read the message sent, which is relevant for both personal correspondence and work chats – especially when the answer depends on making an important decision. The manufacturer has integrated several tools into the MIUI brand shell to track the status of delivery, but their functionality depends on the firmware version, phone model and messenger used.

In this article, we will look at all the available ways to check your reading, from standard SMS to popular apps like WhatsApp, Telegram and Viber. We will focus on the nuances of how the function works on different versions of MIUI (12 to 15), and explain why sometimes status is not displayed even when you are online. If you use a Redmi device, POCO or Xiaomi’s flagship series, here you will find the current instructions for your model.

It's important to understand that not all messengers support default read notifications. For example, Telegram does not work as well as WhatsApp, and standard SMS on Xiaomi does not show the status of "read" at all without additional settings. We will tell you how to get around these restrictions and what to do if the ticks do not appear.

1. How to check the reading of standard SMS on Xiaomi

Unlike the standard messengers, the SMS-Xiaomi messages do not support the default read status display, but there is a workaround through delivery reports that works on all models, from the Redmi Note 10 to the Xiaomi 14.

To include the reports:

1. Open the Messages app (the envelope icon).
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → Settings.
3. Select Additional → Delivery reports.
4. Activate the switch.

Now, after sending an SMS, you will see one tick (message sent) and the other tick (delivered to the recipient's device), but even two ticks do not mean that the message has been read - this is a technical limitation of the SMS protocol.

💡

If the delivery reports are not working, check the balance. SIM-Cards – some operators block this function when the balance is negative.

To get read status, SMS will require third-party applications like Pulse SMS or Textra, which support advanced notifications, but require installation on both devices (your and the other person).

2. Reading status in WhatsApp on Xiaomi: nuances of MIUI

WhatsApp is the most popular messenger, where read status works by default. Xiaomi has several features related to battery optimization in MIUI that can interfere with the correct display of ticks.

How to check the reading:

• 📘 One gray tick – the message is sent to the server.
• 📘 Two gray ticks – delivered to the recipient’s device.
• 📘 Two blue check boxes – the message is read (if the interlocutor has the function enabled).

If blue check marks do not appear, the problem may be:

• 🔋 Optimizing the battery: MIUI Restricts WhatsApp background activity. Corrected to Settings → Annexes → Application management → WhatsApp → Auto Start and Background Activity.
• 📵 Disabled notifications: check permissions for messenger in Settings → Notifications.
• 🔄 Older version: update the app to Google Play.

On the POCO F5 and Xiaomi 13T models with MIUI 14+, the "Private Mode" feature is added, which hides blue checkmarks even when reading status is turned on.

WhatsApp settings → Account → Privacy → Reading Status (include)

3. Telegram: why there are no ticks "read" and what to do

Telegram is fundamentally different from other messengers — there are no traditional “read” checkmarks. Instead, it uses a “Last Time Online” system and browsing marks for media files. On Xiaomi, this works the same way as on other devices, but adjusted for the energy saving of MIUI.

How to know if the message has been read:

• 👁️ If the interlocutor opened the chat, under the avatar will appear the inscription was (a) in the network recently.
• 📷 For photos and videos, the number of views is displayed (eye at the bottom of the message).
• ✅ In secret chats, ticks appear only after reading.

If these labels are not updated:

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi with MIUI 13/14 Telegram may not show activity due to aggressive power saving mode. Add messenger to exceptions: Settings → Battery → Choice of applications → Telegram → No restrictions.

You can use bots like @ReadReceiptBot to accurately track your reading on Telegram, but they require mutual installation and are not always reliable.

4. Viber and other messengers: features on Xiaomi

Viber read status works in a similar way to WhatsApp, but Xiaomi has some nuances with notifications. If you can't see the blue checkmarks, follow these steps:

Enable notifications in the application settings|Add Viber to Auto Launch (MIUI)|Disable battery optimization for messenger|Update the application to the latest version-->

For other messengers (Facebook Messenger, Skype) the algorithm is similar:

Redmi devices with MIUI 12 and below may require manual permission settings for each messenger via Settings → Applications → Permissions.

5. Hidden MIUI features for tracking messages

The MIUI’s proprietary shell contains a few little-known messaging tools that aren’t documented in the official instructions, such as the Xiaomi 12/13/14 model, which features a “Notification log” that captures all incoming alerts, including reading messages in instant messengers.

How to turn on the magazine:

Settings → Special features → Notification log → Include

After activation, you will be able to see:

• 📱 Time of receipt of the communication.
• 📌 Notification status (read/deleted).
• 🔍 Source (which app sent the notification).

Another hidden feature is the Second Space mode (on MIUI 14+), which allows you to create a separate profile with your own messaging settings, where you can turn off read notifications for specific contacts.

6.Why Reading Status Doesn't Work: 5 Main Reasons

If the ticks do not appear or are displayed incorrectly, the problem lies in one of the following reasons:

1. Battery Limitations: MIUI blocks the background activity of messengers. The solution is to add the application to the exceptions (Settings → Battery → Application Selection).
2. Disabled notifications: Check permissions for the messenger in Settings → Notifications.
3. Internet problems: Xiaomi can work with the function Data Limitation in the background (disables in Settings → Network and Internet → Data Transfer).
4. Outdated version of the messenger: Update the app in Google Play or through the MIUI App Store.
5. Confidentiality settings: If the recipient has the read status disabled, you won’t see a tick even when you set up your phone correctly.

💡

On POCO X3/X4 models with MIUI 13, a bug will often run in which WhatsApp does not update its read status before the phone restarts.

To diagnose the problem, use the built-in Network Diagnostics tool:

Settings → About the phone → Diagnostic → Network Check

7.Alternative ways: bots, third-party applications and tricks

If standard methods don't work, you can use third-party solutions, and importantly, most of them require installation on both devices (you and the other person).

Popular tools:

• 🤖 Messenger bots: @ReadReceiptBot In Telegram (shows reading time). Blue Ticks for WA WhatsApp (requires root rights).
• 📱 Third-party SMS-Appendixes: Pulse SMS (synchronization + Reading status. Textra (support) RCS for extended notices).
• 🔍 Tricks without apps: Send a voice message -- WhatsApp labels it as listened to. Use reactions (👍/❤️) — They confirm the reading indirectly.

⚠️ Attention: Apps like Read Receipts for WhatsApp (from Google Play) often contain malicious code. Don't install them without checking reviews and developer reputation. MIUI These programs may conflict with system services.

For users of Redmi Note 11/12 with MIUI 14, there is another way - using the "Screen Time" function to track activity in messengers:

Settings → Screen time → Applications → [Select messenger]

FAQ: Frequent Reading Status Questions on Xiaomi