zulip/templates/zerver/help/marking-messages-as-read.md

# Marking messages as read

## Configure whether messages are automatically marked as read

{start_tabs}

{tab|mobile}

{!mobile-profile-menu.md!}

1. Tap **Settings**.

1. Tap **Mark messages as read on scroll**.

1. Select **Always**, **Never** or **Only in conversation views**.

{end_tabs}

## Move the blue box to mark messages as read
In the Zulip desktop or web app, messages are marked as read when the
**blue box** passes over them. You can move the blue box with the keyboard (see
[keyboard shortcuts for navigation](/help/keyboard-shortcuts#navigation)),
or by scrolling the message feed with your mouse.

## Scroll to mark messages as read

Zulip automatically keeps track of which messages you have and haven't read.
Unread messages have a dark line along their left side, which fades as
the message gets marked as read. When you get to the bottom of a view, Zulip
marks all messages in that view as read.

## Mark all messages as read

You can manually **mark all messages as read**, or **mark all messages in a
stream or topic as read**.

{start_tabs}

{tab|desktop-web}

1. Hover over a stream, topic, or **All messages** in the left sidebar.

1. Click the ellipsis (<i class="zulip-icon zulip-icon-ellipsis-v-solid"></i>)
   to the right.

1. Click **Mark all messages as read**.

{tab|mobile}

1. Tap a stream, topic, or the all messages
   (<img src="/static/images/help/mobile-globe-icon.svg" alt="globe" class="mobile-icon"/>)
   tab.

1. Tap **Mark stream as read**, **Mark topic as read**, or **Mark all as read**
   near the top right corner of the app.

!!! tip ""

    You can also press and hold a topic until the long-press menu appears, and
    select **Mark topic as read**.

{end_tabs}

## Related articles

* [Reading strategies](/help/reading-strategies)