--- title: What is the difference between Read/Unread and Active/Closed conversations? description: Opus1 utilizes the Active/Closed flags to identify conversations that need follow-up. --- [Skip to content](https://kb.opus1.io/what-is-the-difference-between-read/unread-and-active/closed-conversations#main-content) English Show submenu for translations ![Opus1-3-icon-color-1.png\]](https://kb.opus1.io/hs-fs/hubfs/Opus1-3-icon-color-1.png?height=50&name=Opus1-3-icon-color-1.png) Open main navigation Close main navigation - English Show submenu for translations - Go to opus1.io Go to opus1.io Hello. How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [opus1io Knowledge Base](https://kb.opus1.io/?hsLang=en) 2. [Communication](https://kb.opus1.io/communication?hsLang=en) 3. [SMS](https://kb.opus1.io/communication?hsLang=en#sms) # What is the difference between Read/Unread and Active/Closed conversations? ## Opus1 utilizes the Active/Closed flags to identify conversations that need follow-up. Unlike email, **our SMS messaging system doesn’t use Read/Unread statuses.** Instead, we organize messages based on their **conversation state** — **Active** or **Closed** — which better reflects the workflow of how SMS communication actually functions. ### **Why We Don’t Use Read/Unread** SMS is fundamentally a **broadcast-based technology**, not a live, synchronized messaging system. That means there’s no reliable or consistent way to know when a message has been “read” by a recipient or even viewed within a conversation thread. This limitation applies to all SMS systems — including ours. By contrast, platforms like iMessage, Slack, or WhatsApp can display read indicators because they operate within closed, data-based ecosystems where every participant is authenticated and connected through the same network. For that reason, we don’t surface “Read/Unread” as a status, since it would be misleading or incomplete in most real-world cases. ### **Active vs. Closed Conversations** Instead of Read/Unread, we use **Active** and **Closed** to indicate the *status of the conversation itself*, not individual messages. - **Active** conversations are ongoing or awaiting a response — for example, when a customer has recently sent a message or your team is still working on a reply. - **Closed** conversations are completed — for instance, when an issue has been resolved or no further action is needed. Closing a conversation doesn’t delete it; it simply helps you keep your workspace organized. If the customer replies to a Closed conversation, it will automatically re-open as **Active**, bringing it back into your queue. ![](https://kb.opus1.io/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202025-11-04%20at%2010-23-46%E2%80%AFAM-png.png?width=688&height=258&name=Screenshot%202025-11-04%20at%2010-23-46%E2%80%AFAM-png.png) You can mark a conversation as **Closed **by clicking the "Flag conversation as closed" button in the top-right corner of the conversation view: ![](https://kb.opus1.io/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202025-11-04%20at%2010-26-46%E2%80%AFAM-png.png?width=688&height=368&name=Screenshot%202025-11-04%20at%2010-26-46%E2%80%AFAM-png.png) Finally, you can filter for only **Active **conversations using the filters above the conversations list on the left side of the instant messaging interface: ![](https://kb.opus1.io/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Nov-04-2025-04-28-53-0394-PM.png?width=688&height=701&name=image-png-Nov-04-2025-04-28-53-0394-PM.png) - [Account & Troubleshooting](https://kb.opus1.io/account-troubleshooting?hsLang=en#main-content) - [General](https://kb.opus1.io/account-troubleshooting?hsLang=en#general) - [Login & Access](https://kb.opus1.io/account-troubleshooting?hsLang=en#login-access) - [Release Notes](https://kb.opus1.io/account-troubleshooting?hsLang=en#release-notes) - [Business](https://kb.opus1.io/business?hsLang=en#main-content) - [General](https://kb.opus1.io/business?hsLang=en#general) - [Business Profile & Billing](https://kb.opus1.io/business?hsLang=en#business-profile-billing) - [Client Data & Forms](https://kb.opus1.io/business?hsLang=en#client-data-forms) - [Integrations](https://kb.opus1.io/business?hsLang=en#integrations) - [Locations & Rooms](https://kb.opus1.io/business?hsLang=en#locations-rooms) - [Self-Booking Links](https://kb.opus1.io/business?hsLang=en#self-booking-links) - [Terms & Conditions](https://kb.opus1.io/business?hsLang=en#terms-conditions) - [Calendar & Scheduling](https://kb.opus1.io/calendar-scheduling?hsLang=en#main-content) - [General](https://kb.opus1.io/calendar-scheduling?hsLang=en#general) - [Batch Schedule Actions](https://kb.opus1.io/calendar-scheduling?hsLang=en#batch-schedule-actions) - [Calendar Notes & Display](https://kb.opus1.io/calendar-scheduling?hsLang=en#calendar-notes-display) - [Enrollment](https://kb.opus1.io/calendar-scheduling?hsLang=en#enrollment) - [Recurring & Rescheduling](https://kb.opus1.io/calendar-scheduling?hsLang=en#recurring-rescheduling) - [Substitutes](https://kb.opus1.io/calendar-scheduling?hsLang=en#substitutes) - [Clients](https://kb.opus1.io/clients?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Account Managers & Dependents](https://kb.opus1.io/clients?hsLang=en#account-managers-dependents) - [Client Experience](https://kb.opus1.io/clients?hsLang=en#client-experience) - [Client Records](https://kb.opus1.io/clients?hsLang=en#client-records) - [Credits](https://kb.opus1.io/clients?hsLang=en#credits) - [Gift Cards](https://kb.opus1.io/clients?hsLang=en#gift-cards) - [Invoices](https://kb.opus1.io/clients?hsLang=en#invoices) - [Payments & Auto-Pay](https://kb.opus1.io/clients?hsLang=en#payments-auto-pay) - [Subscriptions](https://kb.opus1.io/clients?hsLang=en#subscriptions) - [Waitlist Notifications](https://kb.opus1.io/clients?hsLang=en#waitlist-notifications) - [Communication](https://kb.opus1.io/communication?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Email & Notifications](https://kb.opus1.io/communication?hsLang=en#email-notifications) - [SMS](https://kb.opus1.io/communication?hsLang=en#sms) - [Voice](https://kb.opus1.io/communication?hsLang=en#voice) - [Grow Your Music School](https://kb.opus1.io/grow-your-music-school?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Convert Prospects](https://kb.opus1.io/grow-your-music-school?hsLang=en#convert-prospects) - [Email Campaigns](https://kb.opus1.io/grow-your-music-school?hsLang=en#email-campaigns) - [Get Found & Capture Leads](https://kb.opus1.io/grow-your-music-school?hsLang=en#get-found-capture-leads) - [Reviews & Reputation](https://kb.opus1.io/grow-your-music-school?hsLang=en#reviews-reputation) - [Payment Processing](https://kb.opus1.io/payment-processing?hsLang=en#main-content) - [General](https://kb.opus1.io/payment-processing?hsLang=en#general) - [Opus1 Payments (Stripe)](https://kb.opus1.io/payment-processing?hsLang=en#opus1-payments-stripe) - [Clover Connect (FiServ / Cardpointe)](https://kb.opus1.io/payment-processing?hsLang=en#clover-connect-fiserv-cardpointe) - [Reporting](https://kb.opus1.io/reporting?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Attendance](https://kb.opus1.io/reporting?hsLang=en#attendance) - [Credits](https://kb.opus1.io/reporting?hsLang=en#credits) - [Invoices](https://kb.opus1.io/reporting?hsLang=en#invoices) - [Subscriptions](https://kb.opus1.io/reporting?hsLang=en#subscriptions) - [Transactions](https://kb.opus1.io/reporting?hsLang=en#transactions) - [Data Exports](https://kb.opus1.io/reporting?hsLang=en#data-exports) - [Services](https://kb.opus1.io/services?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Appointments](https://kb.opus1.io/services?hsLang=en#appointments) - [Building Services](https://kb.opus1.io/services?hsLang=en#building-services) - [Cancellation](https://kb.opus1.io/services?hsLang=en#cancellation) - [Events](https://kb.opus1.io/services?hsLang=en#events) - [Optimization & Conversion](https://kb.opus1.io/services?hsLang=en#optimization-conversion) - [Payment Plans](https://kb.opus1.io/services?hsLang=en#payment-plans) - [Sessions](https://kb.opus1.io/services?hsLang=en#sessions) - [Subscription-Only](https://kb.opus1.io/services?hsLang=en#subscription-only) - [Staff](https://kb.opus1.io/staff?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Availability & Self-Booking](https://kb.opus1.io/staff?hsLang=en#availability-self-booking) - [Calendar Sync](https://kb.opus1.io/staff?hsLang=en#calendar-sync) - [Onboarding & Offboarding](https://kb.opus1.io/staff?hsLang=en#onboarding-offboarding) - [Payroll & Compensation](https://kb.opus1.io/staff?hsLang=en#payroll-compensation) - [Roles & Permissions](https://kb.opus1.io/staff?hsLang=en#roles-permissions) - [Teacher Tools & Access](https://kb.opus1.io/staff?hsLang=en#teacher-tools-access) - [Time-off](https://kb.opus1.io/staff?hsLang=en#time-off) - [Stats](https://kb.opus1.io/stats?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Conversions](https://kb.opus1.io/stats?hsLang=en#conversions) - [Client Metrics](https://kb.opus1.io/stats?hsLang=en#client-metrics) - [Dashboard](https://kb.opus1.io/stats?hsLang=en#dashboard) - [Session Enrollment](https://kb.opus1.io/stats?hsLang=en#session-enrollment) - [Today](https://kb.opus1.io/stats?hsLang=en#today) - [Utilization](https://kb.opus1.io/stats?hsLang=en#utilization) [![Chill listening crop-3](https://kb.opus1.io/hs-fs/hubfs/Opus1-3-icon-color-2.png?width=35&height=24&name=Opus1-3-icon-color-2.png "Chill listening crop-3")](http://opus1.io) Copyright © 2025, Opus1.io