Keep receipts enabled
You do not need to change your iMessage settings or give up seeing when other people read your messages.
Private inbox for Mac
Read it.
Leave it unread.
Read incoming iMessages without sending a read receipt. Keep the original when someone edits or unsends one.
Private beta in development
See how it works ↓
Are we still on for tonight?
8:41 pm
Actually, forget I said that.
Message was unsent · 8:43 pm
Read privatelyView messages without opening the conversation
Keep the originalSee what was edited or unsent
100% localNo account or cloud service
Built for MacA native macOS menu-bar app
Why it exists
Read receipts on.
Pressure off.
Opening a message can make it look like you are ready to reply. Read it first in Left on Read, then open the conversation in Messages whenever you want it marked as read.
Read privately
View the incoming message inside Left on Read without opening its conversation in Messages.
Reply when you are ready
Open the conversation normally when you choose. Messages handles the read receipt as usual.
Keep what arrived
Messages change.
Yours doesn’t have to.
If somebody edits or unsends a message, Left on Read keeps the version that originally arrived on your Mac. You can still see what changed.
A message arrives
Messages receives it normally. Left on Read does not sign in to iMessage or communicate with Apple’s messaging servers.
A private copy is saved
While capture is running, the incoming text is saved to Left on Read’s own local database on your Mac.
Something changes
If the sender edits or unsends it later, Left on Read keeps the original and marks what happened.
A familiar private inbox
Your messages, grouped by conversation.
Browse by sender, search saved messages, or jump straight to anything edited or unsent. The data stays on your Mac.
- Contact names resolved locally
- Preserved message history
- Original text from edited messages
- Unsent message history
- Search by contact or message text
- Filters for All, Unsent and Edited
SA
SarahActually, forget I said that.
2JM
JamesI'll send you the link.
AK
Alex KimThat makes much more sense.
Stored locally
Nothing leaves your Mac.
Your private inbox lives on your Mac. There is no developer server, analytics SDK, advertising network or Left on Read account.
macOS Full Disk Access is required because Apple protects the local Messages database. Contacts permission is optional and used only to show names.
Messages are viewed from Left on Read’s local copy rather than by opening the conversation in Messages. Left on Read does not intentionally send read receipts or modify your messages.
Capture works only while the Mac and app are running. Previously unsent text that Messages already removed cannot be recovered.
Before you install
What it needs.
What it can’t do.
Requires
macOS 13 or later, Messages signed in on the Mac, and Full Disk Access.
Optional
Contacts access for friendly sender names instead of phone numbers and email addresses.
Coming next
Signed and notarised public builds, launch at login, retention controls, attachments and export.
Made independently by rnodern
See it now.
Answer later.
Left on Read is being prepared for a private Mac beta. Want to test it, report an issue or tell us what it needs?