# Configuring visibility timeouts in Amazon SQS


To ensure reliable message processing, set the visibility timeout to be longer than the AWS SDK read timeout. This applies when using the [https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSSimpleQueueService/latest/APIReference/API_ReceiveMessage.html](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSSimpleQueueService/latest/APIReference/API_ReceiveMessage.html) API with both short polling and long polling. A longer visibility timeout prevents messages from becoming available to other consumers before the original request completes, reducing the risk of duplicate processing.