How to Enable and Use Direct Messages on TikTok

Download Article

Find out what and how you can DM friends on TikTok

Author Info

Last Updated: March 22, 2024

Download Article

• Enabling DMs
|
• Finding Friends
|
• Sending and Receiving
|
• Knowing the Limitations
|
• Video
|
• Q&A
|
• Tips

|Show more |Show less

TikTok, like many social networking platforms, has a feature called direct messaging that allows you to communicate with your friends on the platform. This wikiHow will show you how to send a direct message on the platform. You can only message your friends.

What can you send in a TikTok DM?

TikTok has a direct messaging feature that allows you to send messages, TikTok videos, gifs, and stickers to your friends. You cannot send photos or any other media that does not come from TikTok’s platform. For safety reasons, you can only DM users you are friends with.

Steps

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Enabling DMs

Download Article

1. 1
   Tap on your profile icon in the bottom right corner. This will show you your profile page.
2. 2
   Tap on the triple dots in the top right corner. This will open your settings.
   Advertisement
3. 3
   Tap on Privacy and Safety.
4. 4
   Tap on Who Can Send Me Messages.
5. 5
   Ensure that Friends is selected. You cannot send messages to people unless they are following you back.
Advertisement

Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Finding Friends

Download Article

1. 1
   Tap on your profile icon in the bottom right corner. This will show you your profile page.
2. 2
   Tap on the person in the upper left corner. This will bring up a page of people you may know.
3. 3
   Tap on Follow. This will follow (or request to follow) your friend's account.
4. 4
   Wait for a follow-back. In order to send a message, they need to be following you. Once they follow you, you will be able to message them.
Advertisement

Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Sending and Receiving

Download Article

1. 1
   Tap on your notifications page. This icon has a speech bubble.
2. 2
   Tap on the direct message icon. This icon looks like an office tray.
3. 3
   Tap on the friend to message. An automated message will read "I am [Display name], glad to be your friend".

   • If you deleted the chat, then tap on the +, then enter the username of the friend to message, then select it.
   • You can also send messages to your friend by tapping on Message on their profile page.
4. 4
   Tap on the message box at the bottom. This will allow you to type a message.

   • You can also send GIFs courtesy of GIPHY and custom emoji. Tap on the smile button to access them.
5. 5
   Tap on Send. This will send the message to your friend.
Advertisement

Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Knowing the Limitations

Download Article

1. 1
   Note that you cannot send messages to non-friends. For everyone's protection, DMs can only be sent to friends.
2. 2
   Know that messages you send cannot be deleted. Sent messages are saved in the phone's memory and are protected with end-to-end encryption. You cannot unsend a message, so be careful what you send.

   • Deleting a message or conversation only deletes it from your phone's memory and does not delete it for your friend.
3. 3
   Remember that only media on the TikTok platform can be sent. You can only send links to TikTok videos, TikTok live streams, TikTok audios, TikTok hashtags, and TikTok accounts. No other content can be sent.
Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

• Question

  How do I send pictures?

  

  Aasim

  Top Answerer

  Unfortunately, you cannot send images unless they are part of TikTok (such as GIPHY images).

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 38 Helpful 64
• Question

  Why can I "not send messages due to this user's privacy settings"?

  

  Aasim

  Top Answerer

  The user either blocked you (which you can tell if you cannot follow the user's account) or disabled the sending of direct messages (DMs).

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 15 Helpful 20
• Question

  Does it cost money to message on TikTok?

  

  💮Lexi💮

  Community Answer

  No, nothing for messaging on TikTok costs money. But in order to message, you must have a valid phone number.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 13 Helpful 32

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

Video

Tips

• If your friend is sending you harassing messages, choose Report.
  Thanks

  Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
• To prevent a friend from messaging you in the chat, tap on the chat, then choose Block. This will also prevent them from viewing your videos or following you.
  Thanks

  Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1

Show More Tips

• If your friend is sending you harassing messages, choose Report.
  Thanks

  Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0

Show More Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Advertisement