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To send a private message on Instagram, open Messages (also called Instagram Direct or DMs), start a new conversation, choose an account, write your message, and tap or click Send. If the person does not follow you, Instagram may place the message in their Message requests instead of their regular Chats inbox.
The exact icon and menu labels can differ by device, app version, region, age-based safety settings, and account type. The steps below cover the usual phone and computer workflows, along with requests, group chats, shared posts, privacy controls, and common delivery problems.
What is an Instagram DM?
“DM” means direct message: a private conversation between Instagram accounts rather than a public comment or post. A DM can include text, photos, videos, GIFs, voice messages, shared posts, Reels, Stories, profiles, links, and—where available—calls or temporary media.
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Instagram DMs may be:
- Individual chats between two accounts.
- Group chats with multiple participants.
- Message requests from accounts that are not yet connected in the usual way.
- Story replies, which open or add to a private conversation.
Temporary photos, videos, and related disappearing-message features have separate controls and eligibility rules. They should not be treated as content that can never be saved or copied.
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How to send a DM on Instagram from your phone
- Open the Instagram app and sign in.
- From the Feed, tap the Messages or Messenger-shaped icon, usually near the upper-right corner.
- Tap the New message or compose icon.
- Search for the person by username or display name.
- Tap the correct account. Check the profile photo and username before continuing.
- Type your message in the text field.
- Tap Send.
The conversation should appear in Messages, and the text you sent should appear in the thread. If the recipient does not follow you, the thread may instead be treated as a message request. That request may show an invitation or acceptance state rather than the normal chat interface.
Instagram explains the relationship between followers, message requests, and delivery in its Help Center.
Another way: message someone from their profile
- Open the person’s Instagram profile.
- Tap Message, if that button is available.
- Write your message.
- Tap Send.
If the Message button is missing, use the New message route from your inbox. If that also fails, the account may have restricted incoming messages, blocked you, become unavailable, or be subject to age, region, or account restrictions.
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- Sign in to Instagram in a web browser.
- Select Messages from the navigation menu.
- Select the compose or New message option.
- Search for and select the recipient.
- Enter your message.
- Send it.
Instagram’s browser and mobile experiences are not always identical. If a sharing, voice-message, or temporary-media control is absent on desktop, try the current mobile app rather than assuming that the feature is unavailable on your account.
How to send a post, Reel, Story, profile, photo, or video by DM
Share a post, Reel, or profile
- Open the post, Reel, or profile you want to share.
- Tap or click the Share paper-airplane icon.
- Select a recipient or group.
- Add an optional note.
- Tap or click Send.
Share a Story
While viewing the Story, use its share or send control, choose a person or group, and send it privately. A Story may be unavailable if it has expired or if the recipient cannot view the original account or content.
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Share a photo or video from a chat
Open the conversation and use the camera, gallery, or attachment control. Depending on the account and conversation, Instagram may offer ordinary media as well as temporary photo or video options.
Sending a post is not the same as copying it. If the original account is private, the recipient is not an approved follower, the post is deleted, or the content is restricted by age or region, the recipient may not be able to view it.
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You may be able to send the message, but delivery is controlled by the recipient’s settings. Instagram may route your first message to Message requests rather than the recipient’s normal Chats inbox. The recipient may need to accept the request before later messages are delivered directly to the regular inbox.
A request can also be prevented by the recipient’s message controls. Therefore, a message that appears sent on your side is not proof that the person has seen it. These are separate states:
- Sent: Instagram accepted the message from your account.
- Delivered or visible in Requests: it may be available to the recipient, subject to filtering and settings.
- Accepted: the recipient approved the request.
- Seen: the recipient has viewed it, if read-status information is available.
- Replied: the recipient chose to respond.
Do not repeatedly send the same unsolicited message. High-volume or repetitive outreach can look like spam, and the recipient is not required to accept or answer a request.
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How to find and accept an Instagram message request
- Open Instagram and go to Messages.
- Look for Requests or Message requests.
- Open the request and review the account and message.
- Choose the available action, such as accepting, deleting, blocking, or reporting.
Opening a request does not necessarily mean it has been accepted. Button names and the location of filtered requests can vary. Instagram’s instructions for managing requests and group invitations are in its message-request Help Center article.
How to start an Instagram group chat
- Open Messages.
- Tap or click New message.
- Select multiple accounts.
- Tap or click Chat, or the equivalent confirmation control.
- Send the first message.
Who can add you to a group is controlled by message settings. Depending on the account and available options, Instagram lets people choose between receiving group-chat invitations from everyone or only from people they follow or have previously messaged.
How to control who can message you
- Open your profile.
- Open the menu.
- Go to Settings and activity, Settings and privacy, or the equivalent settings screen.
- Open Messages and story replies.
- Choose Message controls.
- Adjust who can send message requests, invite you to group chats, or reply to your Stories.
On desktop, the route is generally Settings → Messages and story replies → Message controls. Instagram can offer different categories on different devices and accounts. Its system may route a contact to Chats, send it to Requests, or prevent contact entirely. Some request-setting changes do not necessarily stop messaging connected with ads or monetized content, as noted in Instagram’s official guidance.
Mute, restrict, block, or report a DM
| Action | Best for | Does it stop contact? | Key distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mute | Reducing notifications | Usually no | Quietens the conversation without necessarily preventing new messages. |
| Restrict | Creating distance discreetly | Not completely | Moves interaction away from the normal flow and can change read or notification signals. |
| Block | Ending contact | Yes, for the blocked account | Blocking one account may not block every other account controlled by the same person. |
| Report | Harassment, scams, threats, impersonation, or other violations | Not necessarily immediately | Sends relevant message, media, or account information to Instagram for review. |
Use the conversation’s information or options menu to find these controls. Instagram says an entire group chat cannot be reported as one single object; individual messages, media, or participants can be reported. See its guide to reporting a message or chat.
Delete a chat versus unsend a message
- Delete a chat: normally removes the conversation from your own inbox, not necessarily from the other person’s inbox.
- Unsend a message: removes a particular sent message from the conversation using the available message options.
- Delete a request: removes or declines the request without starting a normal conversation.
Unsend is not a guarantee that nobody retained the content. The recipient may already have read, copied, forwarded, photographed, or otherwise saved it.
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How to send disappearing messages or media
Disappearing photos and videos use separate sending controls from ordinary chat attachments. Instagram specifically says this type of media can be sent only to people who follow the sender or have already approved the sender’s messages, so it may not be available in a first-time request.
The names and availability of temporary-message features, including controls sometimes associated with Vanish mode, can change. Temporary does not mean risk-free: recipients can still retain content through screenshots, another device, or other means.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.DMing a business or creator
Open the business or creator’s profile and select Message, if available. Professional accounts may organize their inbox into Primary, General, and Requests folders. Instagram identifies Business and Creator accounts as professional accounts and describes these additional inbox tools in its professional-account Help Center documentation.
A business may also manage Instagram messages alongside a connected Facebook Page. That does not guarantee a prompt reply or create an obligation for the business to provide customer service through DMs.
Why can’t I DM someone on Instagram?
The Message button is missing
Possible causes include disabled incoming messages, blocking, an unavailable or deactivated profile, age or region restrictions, an outdated app, or a limited web experience. Try these steps:
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- Search for the account again and verify the username.
- Use the Messages compose route instead of the profile’s Message button.
- Restart Instagram and update it.
- Try the mobile app if you are on the browser, or the browser if the app is failing.
- Check whether either account has blocked or restricted the other.
Avoid third-party “DM unlock,” recovery, follower-growth, or automation services. They can put your login and account at risk.
The message does not appear to send
Check your internet connection, Instagram’s service status, and whether the account has blocked you or disabled requests. The content itself may also be unavailable or restricted, and unusually high-volume outreach can trigger spam protections. Do not keep sending duplicates.
The recipient never replies
The person may not have seen the request, may have declined it, or may simply choose not to respond. A sent message is not evidence of acceptance or a reply. In an existing relationship, one polite follow-up may be reasonable; repeated unsolicited contact is not.
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A message request is missing
Check Requests, filtered or hidden areas, and—if you use a professional account—separate inbox tabs. A notification may disappear after being opened, or the conversation may have been affected by blocking, restricting, deletion, or an account change. Not every account has the same folders.
Instagram DM safety tips
- Never send passwords, authentication codes, recovery codes, banking details, or sensitive identity documents.
- Treat unexpected prize, job, investment, romance, or account-warning messages as possible scams.
- Verify supposed Instagram or Meta support messages through the app instead of trusting a link in a DM.
- Be cautious with links, QR codes, payment requests, and demands to move the conversation elsewhere.
- Assume anything you send can be retained or shared, including temporary media.
- Do not use unofficial automation tools for mass outreach.
For a child or teenager, use private-account and message controls where appropriate, discuss suspicious contacts, and involve a trusted adult when a message includes threats, coercion, sexual exploitation, or demands for secrecy. Meta says teen protections can limit messages from people a teen does not follow or is not already connected to; these protections depend on age, account configuration, and other factors and are not universal rules for every adult account. See Meta’s stricter message settings for teens.
Important privacy distinction
An Instagram DM is not public-feed content, but it is not a promise that only the intended recipient will ever possess the information. A recipient can copy, forward, photograph, or otherwise retain a message or media. Avoid making blanket claims about encryption or screenshot notifications because availability and behavior can depend on the current feature, account, and message type.
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