Two Grey Ticks on WhatsApp but No Blue: Why
Two grey ticks on WhatsApp mean the message was delivered to the other person's phone or one of their linked devices, but WhatsApp hasn't marked it as read. They don't tell you whether the person saw it, and they're not the sign of a block.
Ticks can stay grey even after someone replies, and WhatsApp's help center lists six possible reasons. A blocked message looks different, and groups follow their own rule.
What two grey ticks do and don't tell you
The second tick means the message arrived. That's all. If their phone is off but WhatsApp Web is open on a laptop, the laptop can receive it and you'll still get two ticks.
| Two grey ticks tell you | Two grey ticks don't tell you |
|---|---|
| The message reached a device of theirs | That they've seen it |
| You're not stuck on one tick, so the delivery worked | That they're ignoring you |
| Nothing is wrong on your side with sending | That they blocked you |
The marks themselves are fixed. You can't recolour them or add detail in the chat. The only extra detail is Message info, which we cover in our guide to the full set of WhatsApp ticks.
The six reasons the ticks stay grey
WhatsApp's help center gives this list for missing blue ticks. It says each one "might" be the cause, so any of them may apply.
- You or the other person turned off read receipts in privacy settings.
- The recipient might have blocked you.
- The recipient hasn't opened your conversation.
- You or they have a connection problem.
- It's the first message they've had from you. WhatsApp says a read receipt might not be sent in that case.
- The date and time settings are wrong on your phone or theirs.
A block sits in that list next to everyday causes, which is why grey ticks alone prove nothing about one.
They replied, but the ticks are still grey
A reply proves they read your message, so why aren't the ticks blue?
The item on the list that fits is read receipts. When one side turns them off, blue ticks don't appear in one-to-one chats, even if the person is reading and answering normally. WhatsApp's wording is that if you turn off read receipts, you can't see read receipts from others either, so the setting cuts both ways.
The first-message case can produce the same thing. If you're writing to someone for the first time, WhatsApp says a read receipt might not be sent to you.
You can't tell from your side which of these applies. If it matters, ask. We explain what the setting hides and what it doesn't in WhatsApp read receipts off.
Two grey ticks and a block: not the same thing
People often connect grey ticks with being blocked. Look at what WhatsApp documents for the blocked case: messages you send to someone who blocked you show one grey tick and never a second. So two grey ticks mean your message was delivered, which a blocked message isn't.
WhatsApp does list "the recipient might have blocked you" among reasons for missing blue ticks, so it isn't ruled out as a cause of no blue. But two ticks at least show the message got through. WhatsApp itself says it can't tell you whether someone has blocked you, and that the signs it lists may also be due to other reasons. The full checklist is in how to know if someone blocked you on WhatsApp, and the opposite state is in what one grey tick means.
Two grey ticks in a group
Groups use a stricter rule. The second tick appears only once everyone in the group has received the message, and the ticks go blue only when everyone has read it. One member who hasn't opened the chat keeps the whole message grey.
Read receipts in groups are always sent. WhatsApp says turning off read receipts doesn't affect group chats, and there's no way to turn that off. To see who has read a message, use Message info on your own message: tap and hold it, then tap Info. On Android you may need More options first.
How to change what the other person sees
If you want your own blue ticks to stop showing, the setting is Settings > Privacy > Read receipts (on Android, open More options before Settings; on iPhone, Settings is also reached from your profile picture). Before you switch it, know the trade-offs:
- You also stop seeing other people's read receipts.
- Group read receipts and voice message played receipts stay on.
- You might not be able to see who viewed your status, and others may not see when you view theirs.
If you want to read messages without sending blue ticks, we cover the options in how to read WhatsApp messages without blue ticks.
Where Tenashi fits
On a business number, a grey tick is a question: did the customer get the quote? When the number sits on one phone, only whoever holds that phone can look, and the rest of the team asks around.
When your number is connected to Tenashi, messages sent from the shared inbox show WhatsApp's delivery status in the thread, with the same ticks, and Seen once WhatsApp reports the customer read it. If the customer has read receipts off, WhatsApp never reports that, so Tenashi can't show it either. Everyone on the team sees the same state before they chase. That covers chats on your own connected business number, from the day you connect it. For the wider picture, see our guide to WhatsApp for business.
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FAQ
Why do I have two grey ticks on WhatsApp but no blue?
Two grey ticks mean the message was delivered but isn't marked read. WhatsApp lists these causes: read receipts are off for you or them, they haven't opened the chat, a connection problem, it's their first message from you, or the date and time are wrong on a phone. A block is also listed.
What does WhatsApp delivered but not read mean?
It means the message reached the recipient's phone or a linked device, but WhatsApp has no read confirmation. They may not have opened the chat, or read receipts may be off on either side. Delivered doesn't tell you whether they have seen it.
Why are two grey ticks showing when they replied?
One reason that fits is that read receipts are turned off, by you or by them, so no blue ticks are sent. A first message to a new contact can also skip the receipt, since WhatsApp says one might not be sent. You can't tell which from your side.
Do two grey ticks mean I'm blocked on WhatsApp?
No. WhatsApp says messages to someone who blocked you show one grey tick and never a second. Two ticks mean the message was delivered. A block is still listed among reasons for missing blue ticks, but two grey ticks alone are no proof of it.
Why are my WhatsApp ticks not turning blue in a group?
In a group, the ticks turn blue only when every member has read the message. One member who hasn't opened the chat keeps it grey. Group read receipts can't be turned off, so tap and hold your message and open Info to see who has read it.
Two grey ticks only mean the message arrived, not that it was ignored. If your team needs to see that state in one place, get started with Tenashi.