Gmail Read Receipt Blocker

WHAT IT DOES

This script automatically unchecks the "Request read receipt" option in Gmail compose windows, preventing read receipt requests from being sent with your emails. When you compose a new email, Gmail sometimes has the "Request read receipt" checkbox checked by default (depending on your settings). This script finds that checkbox and unchecks it, so you don't accidentally request read receipts. You can still manually check the box if you want to request a read receipt for a specific email—the script does not prevent you from doing so. A toggle in the settings panel lets you enable or disable the blocker, and you can choose whether to block read receipts by default or leave them as-is.

WHERE IT RUNS

The script runs on Gmail (mail.google.com). It works on the compose window in both the main Gmail interface and the popup compose view. It supports both desktop and mobile views.

HOW TO USE

After installation, the settings panel appears on the left side of the screen with the gear emoji (⚙️). Open the panel to configure the script:

- The "Enable read receipt blocker" toggle enables or disables the script.

- Toggle "Block read receipts by default" to control whether the script unchecks the read receipt checkbox automatically.

When you compose a new email, the script will automatically uncheck the "Request read receipt" checkbox if it is checked and the blocker is enabled. You can manually check the box at any time to override the default behavior for that specific email.

TECHNICAL SECTION — REAL MECHANISM

The script detects Gmail compose windows by looking for elements like .AD, .aoD, .aZm, .aoT, and [role="dialog"]. It finds the "Request read receipt" checkbox using selectors like input[type="checkbox"][aria-label*="read receipt"], input[type="checkbox"][data-tooltip*="read receipt"], and input[type="checkbox"][name*="readReceipt"]. It also searches for labels containing "read receipt" or "request read receipt" and finds the associated checkbox. When the checkbox is found and the blocker is enabled, the script checks if the checkbox is checked and, if blockByDefault is true, unchecks it. The script dispatches "change" and "input" events to ensure React's event system detects the change. A MutationObserver is attached to the compose window to watch for DOM changes and re-apply the uncheck if Gmail re-renders the checkbox. The script also periodically scans for new compose windows to ensure it catches all instances.

THE PANEL

The settings panel is built with BotGentz's BGPanel component. It is draggable via its header, allowing you to reposition it anywhere on the screen. The panel snaps to the left edge by default but can be moved freely. Click the gear emoji to collapse the panel into a small bubble, and click the bubble to expand it again. The panel remembers its position per page session. Press the Escape key to quickly close or minimize the panel. The panel includes a status flash bar that provides visual feedback when settings are changed or actions are performed. All settings save automatically via GM_setValue.

PLEASE NOTE

This script requires the free BotGentz browser extension to run. It does not function as a standalone Chrome extension and does not use chrome.* APIs. Gmail frequently updates its compose interface, which may affect the selectors used to find the read receipt checkbox. If the script stops working, please check for updates. The script only unchecks the checkbox—it does not prevent read receipts from being requested if you manually check the box and send the email. The script stores only your preferences via GM_setValue. No data is sent externally—all data is stored locally in your browser. The script never reads or writes password fields, hidden inputs, or file inputs. All DOM operations use safe methods (style properties, textContent, appendChild) and never use innerHTML.