The function of the read receipt is to confirm that your message was opened. Hotmail’s Web interface doesn’t allow the read receipt feature, so a desktop email client must be used to access the account in order to benefit from it. If you don’t already have a desktop email client, use Outlook Express, which comes pre-installed on every version of Windows. If the recipient acknowledges the request for a read receipt in hotmail, the read receipt feature will then only activate.

What is read receipt: The majority of us spend our days sending emails without any thought to how or when they will be delivered. Usually, it’s enough if we hear back. However, knowing whether your message has been delivered or read can be helpful if it is critical. Read receipts are sent straight from the individual who opens the email and shows whether the message was opened.

How to Request the Read Receipt feature in Hotmail?

Outlook. com has replaced Hotmail. First, make an account on Outlook/Hotmail. com. Sign in to your account from Outlook. com. Your email address or phone number will help you to sign in. Then press Next. Add your password and tap on Sign in. Open the Start menu. From the menu choose Outlook Express. Select Accounts from the “Tools”.  Then click Add and add your Hotmail email address. Click on the Next button. Select POP3. In both the “Ingoing” and “Outgoing” fields type your Hotmail address. After selecting Next, input your email address into the “Account Name” field. Type Hotmail password and choose “Finish. ”To compose a new email choose Compose. Write your mail. From the message window, select the Tools icon.  Then select the Request Read Receipt.  Send your email.  When the receiver views your message, you are notified.

Request Read Receipt feature in Hotmail from IMAP:

The webmail interface of Hotmail.com (Outlook.com) does not offer to track and read receipts. They do support IMAP, so you can send emails using another email client like Mailspring that supports open tracking and read receipts.

Steps:

To use Mailspring, download it. Sign in to your Hotmail. com account, after choosing IMAP/SMTP from the email setup screen.  Write your email in Mailspring. Mailspring provides icons in the composer. Check those icons.  Then click Send from the window. You can even see who opened your email through Mailspring if there are multiple recipients of your email.  

Requesting read and delivery receipts for all messages on Outlook:

From the File tab select Options. Then go to Mail. Go to the Tracking section. Click the checkbox next to Request a Delivery Receipt.  Tick the checkbox next to Request a Read Receipt.

Requesting read and delivery receipts for a single message on Outlook:

Press the Options tab in your new email. Tick the checkboxes under the Tracking section.

Requesting read and delivery receipts on Outlook Web:

Click the symbol in your new email that says “…”. Show message options should be displayed. Check the Request a Delivery Receipt box.  Also, tick the read receipt checkbox.

Requesting a read receipt on other Email Applications:

Requesting a read receipt on Gmail: Read Receipt feature is only available on Gmail for work or school not on the gmail.com account.

Open Gmail from your computer. Compose a new email as you do normally. Go to the More option located on the bottom right. Tap on the Request Read Receipt icon. Finally, send your email.

Limitations of using the Read Receipt feature on Outlook:

Outlook gives the right to the recipient of a message to turn on/off the Read receipt option. The recipient’s email application does not allow read receipts, which can also result in the read receipts not being sent. Your email receiver cannot be compelled to send your Read receipt request.

You can request delivery and read receipts for emails on Outlook. If you want to get read receipts for your emails on your Hotmail account then it is better to access your Hotmail account either from Outlook Express or a desktop email client. Outlook/Hotmail.com also supports IMAP. Only email receivers have a right to acknowledge your read receipt request so it is better to appeal read receipt for important emails. 

What is meant by requesting Delivery Receipts on email applications?

This feature will notify you whether or not your email reached the mailbox of your recipient. It can mean that mail has reached to receiver’s email server, not his inbox.

What is the use of the Internet Message Access Protocol?

Through this protocol, you can access email from a possibly shared mail server.