diff --git a/plugins/platforms/whatsapp/adapter.py b/plugins/platforms/whatsapp/adapter.py
index 62689281b50..6c2be63df02 100644
--- a/plugins/platforms/whatsapp/adapter.py
+++ b/plugins/platforms/whatsapp/adapter.py
@@ -1271,7 +1271,10 @@ class WhatsAppAdapter(WhatsAppBehaviorMixin, BasePlatformAdapter):
                         for msg_data in messages:
                             event = await self._build_message_event(msg_data)
                             if event:
-                                await self._send_read_receipt(msg_data)
+                                # Fire-and-forget: a slow bridge /read must not
+                                # delay message dispatch (matches BlueBubbles
+                                # asyncio.create_task pattern for mark_read).
+                                asyncio.create_task(self._send_read_receipt(msg_data))
                                 if event.message_type == MessageType.TEXT:
                                     self._enqueue_text_event(event)
                                 else:
diff --git a/tests/gateway/test_whatsapp_reply_prefix.py b/tests/gateway/test_whatsapp_reply_prefix.py
index ba6084096ba..6ba12a06ca4 100644
--- a/tests/gateway/test_whatsapp_reply_prefix.py
+++ b/tests/gateway/test_whatsapp_reply_prefix.py
@@ -200,10 +200,10 @@ class TestReadReceiptPolicyOrdering:
 
         await adapter._poll_messages()
 
-        adapter._send_read_receipt.assert_not_awaited()
+        adapter._send_read_receipt.assert_not_called()
 
     @pytest.mark.asyncio
-    async def test_policy_accepted_message_is_marked_read_before_dispatch(self, monkeypatch):
+    async def test_policy_accepted_message_is_marked_read_fire_and_forget(self, monkeypatch):
         from plugins.platforms.whatsapp.adapter import WhatsAppAdapter
 
         adapter = WhatsAppAdapter(
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ class TestReadReceiptPolicyOrdering:
 
         await adapter._poll_messages()
 
-        adapter._send_read_receipt.assert_awaited_once_with(raw)
+        adapter._send_read_receipt.assert_called_once_with(raw)
         adapter.handle_message.assert_awaited_once_with(event)
 
 
diff --git a/website/docs/user-guide/messaging/whatsapp.md b/website/docs/user-guide/messaging/whatsapp.md
index b447b534707..a80333d3967 100644
--- a/website/docs/user-guide/messaging/whatsapp.md
+++ b/website/docs/user-guide/messaging/whatsapp.md
@@ -180,8 +180,11 @@ Hermes supports voice on WhatsApp:
 whatsapp:
   reply_prefix: ""                          # Empty string disables the header
   # reply_prefix: "🤖 *My Bot*\n──────\n"  # Custom prefix (supports \n for newlines)
+  send_read_receipts: false                 # Mark accepted inbound messages as read (blue ticks)
 ```
 
+When `send_read_receipts` is `true`, the adapter marks policy-accepted inbound messages as read after DM/group/mention filtering passes. Rejected messages (e.g., from non-allowlisted senders) are not marked read. Disabled by default for privacy. Changing this setting automatically restarts the bridge subprocess on the next connection.
+
 ---
 
 ## Message Formatting & Delivery