# Mark as Unread - default set by admin?

**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/mark-as-unread-default-set-by-admin/378715
**Category:** Support
**Tags:** ux
**Created:** [August 15, 2025, 9:33am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/mark-as-unread-default-set-by-admin/378715 "2025-08-15T09:33:32Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![alltiagocom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/alltiagocom/32/492709_2.png) [@alltiagocom](https://meta.discourse.org/u/alltiagocom)
#### Post date: [August 15, 2025, 9:33am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/mark-as-unread-default-set-by-admin/378715/1 "2025-08-15T09:33:33Z")

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Is it possible to make the option `Enable mark topics as unread` in the user preferences/interface be set to `checked` by default, set by the admin?

> EDIT: Found it. It’s actually called `Default other enable defer` (I’m confused about why not call it `Mark Unread` instead of `Defer`?)

I also just noticed that this doesn’t do what I expected it to do, so I’m not sure how useful this feature actually is?

1. I was expecting it to be available on replies, not on the topic. Isn’t what the bookmark is already doing? If I like a topic, I bookmark it. Mark as Unread seems a bit redundant?
2. If it’s applied to individual replies, then that would show in my notifications panel. If I click a reply notification, read it, and think I need to reply to it later today because I don’t have time now, then a `Mark as Unread` would be helpful. Maybe this could be limited to replies directed to me?

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### Author: ![chapoi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/chapoi/32/537252_2.png) [@chapoi](https://meta.discourse.org/u/chapoi)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2025, 9:46pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/mark-as-unread-default-set-by-admin/378715/2 "2025-10-23T21:46:34Z")

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> [@alltiagocom](#):
>
> If I like a topic, I bookmark it. Mark as Unread seems a bit redundant?

It’s not exactly the same. Mark as unread will make it reappear in your unread or new list + reactive the notification, in case you had one for that specific topic (ie on a mention for example).

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### Author: ![tobiaseigen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/tobiaseigen/32/539204_2.png) [@tobiaseigen](https://meta.discourse.org/u/tobiaseigen)
#### Post date: [November 3, 2025, 8:22pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/mark-as-unread-default-set-by-admin/378715/3 "2025-11-03T20:22:31Z")

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