How to Send Direct Messages on Instagram on Mobile or Desktop

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Learn how to DM your friends text, pictures, and videos with our guide

Written by Hunter Rising

Last Updated: July 20, 2024 Fact Checked

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How to Send Disappearing Messages

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Instagram DM FAQs

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If you want to chat with your friends over Instagram, direct messages make it so easy. Direct messages, or DMs, are perfect whether you’re using your phone or computer, and it’s simple to start a conversation with anyone. Keep reading, and we’ll walk you through how to send a DM over Instagram on any platform and answer your most common questions.

How to Send a Message on Instagram

Click on the chat bubble icon at the top-right corner of your screen. Choose the new message icon, select the people you want to chat with, type out your message, and click Send to start the conversation.

Section 1 of 4:

How to DM on Instagram for iPhone or Android

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1
Tap the chat bubble icon on the Instagram home page. Open the Instagram app on your phone and select the Home tab from the bottom menu. Look in the upper-right area of the screen and tap on the chat bubble icon to open your inbox.
- Instagram will usually load onto the home page when you first open the app. If you aren't on the Home page, tap the house-shaped icon in the bottom-left corner of the screen first.
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Tap the new message icon
in the top right. The icon looks like a pencil and piece of paper in the corner of your screen. Select the icon to open up a brand new message.
- If you already have a conversation going, you can tap the recipient's name in your inbox to open the chat.
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Select your recipient(s). Choose one or more contacts from the list of suggestions, or type someone's username into the "Search" bar at the top to select them in the results. Selecting a single person starts a direct message, but adding more people creates a group conversation.^{[1]
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- Alternatively, tap the search icon at the bottom of the screen, type the name or username of the person you want to message, and then tap onto their profile. Then, tap Message below their bio to start a direct message.
- While you can send direct messages on Instagram to people who don’t follow you, your chat may go to a “Message Requests” folder and they may not see it in their main inbox.
- If you want to direct message someone with a private account, visit their profile and tap the 3 dots (...) in the top-right corner. Then, select Send Message to start a new chat.
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Type out your message. Tap on the text field at the bottom of the screen and start writing out what you want to say. If you want to send a photo instead, tap the photo icon to the right of the text field and select one now.
- To record a voice message, tap and hold the microphone. When you lift your finger, the message will automatically send.
- If you want to send a sticker or a GIF, tap the Sticker icon on the far right of the text field.

Section 2 of 4:

How to Message on Instagram from a Computer

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1
Log in to the Instagram site in a web browser. Any web browser on your computer works for sending a direct message to someone on Instagram, so choose your favorite. Visit https://www.instagram.com and enter your login info to access your account.
- Alternatively, use your Facebook account to log in.
- If Instagram already detects an account you’ve logged into before, then click the Continue as option.
- If you have two-factor authentication enabled, you'll also need to enter a 6-digit code sent to your phone, email, or authenticator app to log in.
Look for the icon that looks like a chat bubble with a squiggly line inside and click on it. This opens up your Messages list and any other DMs you’ve already had.
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Click Send Message. Look for the blue button in the panel on the right side of the screen. After you click it, a "New Message" window will pop up in the center of the page.
- If you don't see this button, click the icon that looks like a sheet of paper with a pencil in the top-right corner of the left panel.
- If you’ve already DMed the person you want to message, click on their picture or name from the left panel.
- Alternatively, type the person's name or username into the Search field at the top of the current page, and then click on their profile. Click Message from their profile to send them a message.
Type a recipient's name next to "To:" in the top search bar. Click on the person’s profile once it appears in the results to add them to the message. You may message a single person or add multiple people to start a group chat. Once you’re finished adding people to the message, click the Chat button at the bottom of the window.
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Type your message into the text field at the bottom. When you’re finished, tap the Send button or hit Enter to send the message.
- Alternatively, send a photo by clicking the icon that resembles a photo to the right of the Message field. Then, browse your files and click a photo to open it in the chat.
- To send a voice clip, click and hold down on the microphone icon to record your message. When you’re finished, let go of the mouse, and the clip will be sent.
- If you want to send emojis, click the smiley face icon on the right side of the chat window.
- If the person you write doesn't follow you, they’ll receive a message request that they'll need to approve. Once the recipient approves the message, they'll be able to message you back.

Section 3 of 4:

How to Send a Disappearing Message on Mobile

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1
Tap on the chat bubble icon in the Instagram app. Open the app on your device and look for the icon in the upper-right corner of the Home tab. After selecting it, you’ll see a list of your previous DMs.
- You can also send a message by tapping Message on the top of someone's profile.
Look for the pencil and paper icon in the top-right corner. Otherwise, tap the recipient's name in your inbox to open a conversation you already have going on.
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Select your recipient(s). Choose one or more contacts from the list of suggestions, or type someone's username into the "Search" bar at the top and select them in the results. Selecting more than one recipient creates a group conversation.
- You may only send disappearing photos to people who follow you or have approved your message requests already.
4
Take a picture or video to send. Tap the blue-and-white camera icon in the bottom-left corner of the screen. If you want to send a photo or video, tap the large circle at the bottom to take a photo, or tap and hold it to record a video.
- Swipe through the carousel at the bottom of the screen to choose a filter you want to use for your image.
- Add effects in the menu at the top-left, such as Boomerang to record a short, forward-and-reverse video, or Superzoom to zoom in on a subject with dramatic music.
- If you don't want to send a photo or video, tap Aa in the upper-left corner of the screen to enter Create Mode. Write your message with text, emojis, drawings, music, and more. When you're finished, tap the large circle at the bottom to go to the next screen.
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Set the viewing duration for your message. Look for the icon on the bottom-left of the screen that lists the different viewing options. Pick one of the following options depending on how long you want the message visible.^{[2]
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- Choose View Once so the message permanently disappears after someone looks at it once.
- Select Allow Replay to loop the photo or video one more time after someone views it.
- Choose Keep in Chat to keep a preview in the chat thread even after the actual photo or video disappears.
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Tap Send to send the message. Once you’re happy with your message and settings, click the button near the bottom of the screen. The message will stay in your chat and disappear once opened.
- Remember that the other person can still screenshot the message you send them. You’ll get a notification warning you if someone screenshots your message.

Section 4 of 4:

Instagram DM FAQs

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1
What types of messages can you send on Instagram? Besides regular chat messages, pictures, and videos, you can also send posts you see in your Home feed or another person’s profile. You can also share an Instagram story over messages.^{[3]
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- If you want to share a post, click the paper airplane icon under the post and select the people you want to share it with.
- To share a profile, visit the page you want to share and click the ... in the top right. Select Share this profile and select the person you want to send it to.
- To share a story, open it on your device and select the paper airplane icon near the bottom of the screen. Then, select who you want to share the story with. The story will only be visible for 24 hours after it was originally posted.
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How do you unsend a message on Instagram? If you want to remove a message you’ve sent, open the conversation and click the three dots next to the chat. Select the Unsend option from the menu to remove the chat.
- Your chat will no longer be visible to anyone in the chat, but it will show that there was once a message there. Keep in mind that anyone who opened the chat before you unsent the message may have already seen it.
How do you react on Instagram messages? Open the conversation and hold your finger down on the chat you want to react to. Select one of the emojis that pops up, or click on the plus sign to choose your own emoji reaction.
Open up a conversation with another person on Instagram. If you want to make an audio call, click on the phone icon at the top of the chat. If you’d rather talk face-to-face, click the video camera icon to start a video call.
You can message anyone, regardless of whether their profile is public or private. If the person doesn’t follow you, they may receive your message in a “Message Requests folder that they need to approve before you can keep chatting.
Click on the chat bubble icon from the home page to open up your list of messages. Select the Requests button on the right side of the screen to see any messages from people you don’t follow. From there, you can individually open the messages and approve or deny them.

Community Q&A

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Question

Can I delete photos sent via direct message?

Community Answer

Yes, you can "unsend" any content that you don't want the receiver to see anymore. This includes photos and text.

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Question

Can they receive my DM, even if they don't follow me?

Community Answer

Yes. They will get a message request and they can still read it before they accept your request.

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Question

Do I have to send a picture in order for someone to read a message?

Community Answer

No, you may direct message someone on Instagram without sending them a picture.

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