diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 187c8fbcc..05826d4b6 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 - Browser: add Chrome extension relay takeover mode (toolbar button), plus `clawdbot browser extension install/path` and remote browser control via `clawdbot browser serve` + `browser.controlToken`.
 - CLI/Docs: add per-command CLI doc pages and link them from `clawdbot <command> --help`.
 - Browser: copy the installed Chrome extension path to clipboard after `clawdbot browser extension install/path`.
+- WhatsApp: add `channels.whatsapp.sendReadReceipts` to disable auto read receipts. (#882) — thanks @chrisrodz.
 
 ### Fixes
 - Browser: add tests for snapshot labels/efficient query params and labeled image responses.
diff --git a/docs/channels/telegram.md b/docs/channels/telegram.md
index 86eebc24d..e74f220dd 100644
--- a/docs/channels/telegram.md
+++ b/docs/channels/telegram.md
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ group messages, so use admin if you need full visibility.
 - Multi-agent override: set per-agent patterns on `agents.list[].groupChat.mentionPatterns`.
 - Replies always route back to the same Telegram chat.
 - Long-polling uses grammY runner with per-chat sequencing; overall concurrency is capped by `agents.defaults.maxConcurrent`.
+- Telegram Bot API does not support read receipts; there is no `sendReadReceipts` option.
 
 ## Formatting (Telegram HTML)
 - Outbound Telegram text uses `parse_mode: "HTML"` (Telegram’s supported tag subset).
diff --git a/docs/channels/whatsapp.md b/docs/channels/whatsapp.md
index d2cafe96c..e66e18769 100644
--- a/docs/channels/whatsapp.md
+++ b/docs/channels/whatsapp.md
@@ -138,6 +138,32 @@ Behavior:
 - Self-chat mode (allowFrom includes your number) avoids auto read receipts and ignores mention JIDs.
 - Read receipts sent for non-self-chat DMs.
 
+## Read receipts
+By default, the gateway marks inbound WhatsApp messages as read (blue ticks) once they are accepted.
+
+Disable globally:
+```json5
+{
+  channels: { whatsapp: { sendReadReceipts: false } }
+}
+```
+
+Disable per account:
+```json5
+{
+  channels: {
+    whatsapp: {
+      accounts: {
+        personal: { sendReadReceipts: false }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
+```
+
+Notes:
+- Self-chat mode always skips read receipts.
+
 ## WhatsApp FAQ: sending messages + pairing
 
 **Will Clawdbot message random contacts when I link WhatsApp?**  
diff --git a/docs/gateway/configuration.md b/docs/gateway/configuration.md
index 589e5ade8..a1f90fd7d 100644
--- a/docs/gateway/configuration.md
+++ b/docs/gateway/configuration.md
@@ -430,6 +430,22 @@ For groups, use `channels.whatsapp.groupPolicy` + `channels.whatsapp.groupAllowF
 }
 ```
 
+### `channels.whatsapp.sendReadReceipts`
+
+Controls whether inbound WhatsApp messages are marked as read (blue ticks). Default: `true`.
+
+Self-chat mode always skips read receipts, even when enabled.
+
+Per-account override: `channels.whatsapp.accounts.<id>.sendReadReceipts`.
+
+```json5
+{
+  channels: {
+    whatsapp: { sendReadReceipts: false }
+  }
+}
+```
+
 ### `channels.whatsapp.accounts` (multi-account)
 
 Run multiple WhatsApp accounts in one gateway:
diff --git a/src/config/types.whatsapp.ts b/src/config/types.whatsapp.ts
index 82f467530..c28178f06 100644
--- a/src/config/types.whatsapp.ts
+++ b/src/config/types.whatsapp.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ export type WhatsAppConfig = {
   capabilities?: string[];
   /** Allow channel-initiated config writes (default: true). */
   configWrites?: boolean;
+  /** Send read receipts for incoming messages (default true). */
+  sendReadReceipts?: boolean;
   /**
    * Inbound message prefix (WhatsApp only).
    * Default: `[{agents.list[].identity.name}]` (or `[clawdbot]`) when allowFrom is empty, else `""`.
@@ -84,6 +86,8 @@ export type WhatsAppAccountConfig = {
   configWrites?: boolean;
   /** If false, do not start this WhatsApp account provider. Default: true. */
   enabled?: boolean;
+  /** Send read receipts for incoming messages (default true). */
+  sendReadReceipts?: boolean;
   /** Inbound message prefix override for this account (WhatsApp only). */
   messagePrefix?: string;
   /** Override auth directory (Baileys multi-file auth state). */
diff --git a/src/config/zod-schema.providers-whatsapp.ts b/src/config/zod-schema.providers-whatsapp.ts
index 3636c302c..962bb5619 100644
--- a/src/config/zod-schema.providers-whatsapp.ts
+++ b/src/config/zod-schema.providers-whatsapp.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ export const WhatsAppAccountSchema = z
     capabilities: z.array(z.string()).optional(),
     configWrites: z.boolean().optional(),
     enabled: z.boolean().optional(),
+    sendReadReceipts: z.boolean().optional(),
     messagePrefix: z.string().optional(),
     /** Override auth directory for this WhatsApp account (Baileys multi-file auth state). */
     authDir: z.string().optional(),
@@ -62,6 +63,7 @@ export const WhatsAppConfigSchema = z
     accounts: z.record(z.string(), WhatsAppAccountSchema.optional()).optional(),
     capabilities: z.array(z.string()).optional(),
     configWrites: z.boolean().optional(),
+    sendReadReceipts: z.boolean().optional(),
     dmPolicy: DmPolicySchema.optional().default("pairing"),
     messagePrefix: z.string().optional(),
     selfChatMode: z.boolean().optional(),
diff --git a/src/web/accounts.ts b/src/web/accounts.ts
index d1c4e1722..618b57d2d 100644
--- a/src/web/accounts.ts
+++ b/src/web/accounts.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ export type ResolvedWhatsAppAccount = {
   accountId: string;
   name?: string;
   enabled: boolean;
+  sendReadReceipts: boolean;
   messagePrefix?: string;
   authDir: string;
   isLegacyAuthDir: boolean;
@@ -125,6 +126,7 @@ export function resolveWhatsAppAccount(params: {
   cfg: ClawdbotConfig;
   accountId?: string | null;
 }): ResolvedWhatsAppAccount {
+  const rootCfg = params.cfg.channels?.whatsapp;
   const accountId = params.accountId?.trim() || resolveDefaultWhatsAppAccountId(params.cfg);
   const accountCfg = resolveAccountConfig(params.cfg, accountId);
   const enabled = accountCfg?.enabled !== false;
@@ -136,22 +138,21 @@ export function resolveWhatsAppAccount(params: {
     accountId,
     name: accountCfg?.name?.trim() || undefined,
     enabled,
+    sendReadReceipts: accountCfg?.sendReadReceipts ?? rootCfg?.sendReadReceipts ?? true,
     messagePrefix:
-      accountCfg?.messagePrefix ??
-      params.cfg.channels?.whatsapp?.messagePrefix ??
-      params.cfg.messages?.messagePrefix,
+      accountCfg?.messagePrefix ?? rootCfg?.messagePrefix ?? params.cfg.messages?.messagePrefix,
     authDir,
     isLegacyAuthDir: isLegacy,
-    selfChatMode: accountCfg?.selfChatMode ?? params.cfg.channels?.whatsapp?.selfChatMode,
-    dmPolicy: accountCfg?.dmPolicy ?? params.cfg.channels?.whatsapp?.dmPolicy,
-    allowFrom: accountCfg?.allowFrom ?? params.cfg.channels?.whatsapp?.allowFrom,
-    groupAllowFrom: accountCfg?.groupAllowFrom ?? params.cfg.channels?.whatsapp?.groupAllowFrom,
-    groupPolicy: accountCfg?.groupPolicy ?? params.cfg.channels?.whatsapp?.groupPolicy,
-    textChunkLimit: accountCfg?.textChunkLimit ?? params.cfg.channels?.whatsapp?.textChunkLimit,
-    mediaMaxMb: accountCfg?.mediaMaxMb ?? params.cfg.channels?.whatsapp?.mediaMaxMb,
-    blockStreaming: accountCfg?.blockStreaming ?? params.cfg.channels?.whatsapp?.blockStreaming,
-    ackReaction: accountCfg?.ackReaction ?? params.cfg.channels?.whatsapp?.ackReaction,
-    groups: accountCfg?.groups ?? params.cfg.channels?.whatsapp?.groups,
+    selfChatMode: accountCfg?.selfChatMode ?? rootCfg?.selfChatMode,
+    dmPolicy: accountCfg?.dmPolicy ?? rootCfg?.dmPolicy,
+    allowFrom: accountCfg?.allowFrom ?? rootCfg?.allowFrom,
+    groupAllowFrom: accountCfg?.groupAllowFrom ?? rootCfg?.groupAllowFrom,
+    groupPolicy: accountCfg?.groupPolicy ?? rootCfg?.groupPolicy,
+    textChunkLimit: accountCfg?.textChunkLimit ?? rootCfg?.textChunkLimit,
+    mediaMaxMb: accountCfg?.mediaMaxMb ?? rootCfg?.mediaMaxMb,
+    blockStreaming: accountCfg?.blockStreaming ?? rootCfg?.blockStreaming,
+    ackReaction: accountCfg?.ackReaction ?? rootCfg?.ackReaction,
+    groups: accountCfg?.groups ?? rootCfg?.groups,
   };
 }
 
diff --git a/src/web/auto-reply/monitor.ts b/src/web/auto-reply/monitor.ts
index 328b49a55..c8d139032 100644
--- a/src/web/auto-reply/monitor.ts
+++ b/src/web/auto-reply/monitor.ts
@@ -174,6 +174,7 @@ export async function monitorWebChannel(
       accountId: account.accountId,
       authDir: account.authDir,
       mediaMaxMb: account.mediaMaxMb,
+      sendReadReceipts: account.sendReadReceipts,
       onMessage: async (msg: WebInboundMsg) => {
         handledMessages += 1;
         lastMessageAt = Date.now();
diff --git a/src/web/inbound/monitor.ts b/src/web/inbound/monitor.ts
index 395de7cb6..3c92fe4a2 100644
--- a/src/web/inbound/monitor.ts
+++ b/src/web/inbound/monitor.ts
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ export async function monitorWebInbox(options: {
   authDir: string;
   onMessage: (msg: WebInboundMessage) => Promise<void>;
   mediaMaxMb?: number;
+  /** Send read receipts for incoming messages (default true). */
+  sendReadReceipts?: boolean;
 }) {
   const inboundLogger = getChildLogger({ module: "web-inbound" });
   const inboundConsoleLog = createSubsystemLogger("gateway/channels/whatsapp").child("inbound");
@@ -139,7 +141,7 @@ export async function monitorWebInbox(options: {
       });
       if (!access.allowed) continue;
 
-      if (id && !access.isSelfChat) {
+      if (id && !access.isSelfChat && options.sendReadReceipts !== false) {
         const participant = msg.key?.participant;
         try {
           await sock.readMessages([{ remoteJid, id, participant, fromMe: false }]);
diff --git a/src/web/monitor-inbox.blocks-messages-from-unauthorized-senders-not-allowfrom.test.ts b/src/web/monitor-inbox.blocks-messages-from-unauthorized-senders-not-allowfrom.test.ts
index 1b0f2d3b2..b1ce05c2d 100644
--- a/src/web/monitor-inbox.blocks-messages-from-unauthorized-senders-not-allowfrom.test.ts
+++ b/src/web/monitor-inbox.blocks-messages-from-unauthorized-senders-not-allowfrom.test.ts
@@ -210,6 +210,35 @@ describe("web monitor inbox", () => {
     await listener.close();
   });
 
+  it("skips read receipts when disabled", async () => {
+    const onMessage = vi.fn();
+    const listener = await monitorWebInbox({
+      verbose: false,
+      onMessage,
+      sendReadReceipts: false,
+    });
+    const sock = await createWaSocket();
+
+    const upsert = {
+      type: "notify",
+      messages: [
+        {
+          key: { id: "rr-off-1", fromMe: false, remoteJid: "222@s.whatsapp.net" },
+          message: { conversation: "read receipts off" },
+          messageTimestamp: 1_700_000_000,
+        },
+      ],
+    };
+
+    sock.ev.emit("messages.upsert", upsert);
+    await new Promise((resolve) => setImmediate(resolve));
+
+    expect(onMessage).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(sock.readMessages).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+    await listener.close();
+  });
+
   it("lets group messages through even when sender not in allowFrom", async () => {
     mockLoadConfig.mockReturnValue({
       channels: { whatsapp: { allowFrom: ["+1234"], groupPolicy: "open" } },