How to block email trackers and read receipts

TL:DR; you can block trackers in three ways, jump to the solutions, but first...

What is an email tracker?

Almost every email we get from a company mailing list these days is tracking us. These trackers work by embedding a pixel within the email, which loads from an external website. When you open the email, the pixel loads and the sender can now see that you've opened it.

As well as simply knowing you've read the email, tracking pixels can be used for various other nefarious and intrusive means, as was proved last year by popular new email client SuperHuman.

It was reported that as well as read-receipts, SuperHuman was recording when the email was opened, how many times it was opened, and even where the recipient was when they opened it, which rightly creeped a lot of people out.

After the exposé, SuperHuman decided to remove these tracking features, but it had started a set of heated conversions on social media regarding the ethical use of tracking pixels.

Unlike other web tracking, with pixel tracking it's not something that you can easily opt-out of. But we've collected a few options, so if you don't want to be tracked then follow these steps...

Disable images

Tracking pixels are tiny 1x1 pixel images embedded in an email. So by far the easiest strategy is to simply block all images in your email client. Most clients let you do this and then allow you to enable the images in a specific email if you need to.

Pros;
- Guaranteed to block all tracking

Cons;
- You wont see images in your client anymore
- If you enable images in a specific email then it will re-enable tracking in that email

How to disable images in Gmail

Use our block list with your ad blocker

If you're using an ad-blocker then it can be customised to add specific URLs and elements to block. We've created a custom block list specifically for email pixel tracking URLs. Check it out here for install instructions.

Pros;
- Only block the tracking pixels, other images wont be blocked

Cons;
- We might not catch every URL companies use for tracking as they could periodically change (but you can submit more here and we'll try and keep it up to date).

Unsubscribe!

Finally, it's always in your power to just unsubscribe from mailing lists that are tracking you!

If you need help with this, Leave Me Alone will now show you which mailing lists contain trackers when you run a scan, and as always you can easily unsubscribe from them with a single click.

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this post drop us a like or retweet on Twitter, it really goes a long way to helping us reach more people ❤

And as always, enjoy your clean inbox! 💌

FAQs

What exactly is an email tracker or tracking pixel?

An email tracker — often implemented as a “tracking pixel” — is a tiny (sometimes invisible) image embedded in an email. When the email is opened and the image is loaded, the sender’s server receives a request — which can reveal that you’ve opened the email, the time, and sometimes device / approximate location info.

Does disabling images in my email prevent tracking?

Yes — if your email client is set to block or ask before loading external images, tracking pixels won’t be downloaded and thus won’t alert the sender that you opened the email. This is widely regarded as one of the most effective ways to stop email tracking.

Are read‑receipts the same as tracking pixels, and can I block them too?

Read receipts and tracking pixels are related but different. Read receipts are a request from sender (or email software) to notify when an email is opened; tracking pixels are invisible “spies” embedded in the email content. Many email clients and services let you disable automatic image loading, which blocks pixel‑based tracking, and for read‑receipts you can decline the request or disable automatic download of remote content so that “open” is never reported.

Are there tools or extensions that can help block trackers automatically?

Yes — some browser extensions and third‑party apps (or features in privacy‑focused email services) detect and block tracking pixels and read‑receipt mechanisms. These can offer more convenient protection than manually changing settings.

If I block images, will it affect how emails display (like newsletters or marketing emails)?

That’s the trade‑off. Blocking external images stops tracking, but it also means embedded images (like logos, product images, or design elements) won’t show until you manually allow them — which can make some emails look broken or less visually appealing.

Does blocking trackers guarantee full privacy from email-based tracking and profiling?

Blocking trackers significantly reduces the most common methods (like pixel-based tracking). But it isn’t a full guarantee — other tracking methods like link tracking, email‑header analysis, or metadata leaks may still pose risks. For maximum protection, use a combination of tactics: disable remote image loading, avoid suspicious links, consider privacy‑focused email providers or alias addresses.

How can I check whether an email contains tracking pixels before I open it?

Some email‑client extensions or tools flag emails that include external images or suspicious tracking URLs, allowing you to decide whether to block or open them. Alternatively, viewing the email in “plain‑text” mode (if supported) instead of HTML prevents loading of hidden images, offering a safer preview.