A direct message is an Instagram chat feature that allows you to connect with any Instagram user by initiating a conversation with them. You can type and send a message and then wait for them to read and respond. It’s important to note that there’s no way you can know if the target user has read your messages or not until they accept your message request.
Messaging an Instagram user who has a public account on the platform is quite simple as a Direct Message (DM) option is clearly visible. Simply open the profile of a user and you will see the “Message” option right next to the “Follow” button. Click on the “Message” and you will be redirected to their inbox where you can leave a message.
You can text anyone you want on Instagram – whether you are following them or not. You can also send messages to multiple people at the same time.
But the same does not go for private account users. If you have checked a private profile, you must have noticed that there is only a “Follow “ button on their Instagram profile. So, how do you send them a direct message?
In this guide, you’ll learn how to message a private account on Instagram.
Can You Message a Private Account on Instagram?
There is no “Message” button on a Private Instagram user’s profile if you have noticed it closely. That, however, does not mean you have to follow their account to be able to send them a message.
You can send a message to anyone on Instagram including private profiles using the Direct Message feature. If you send a message to someone who doesn’t follow you, the message appears as a request in their inbox.
Here is the step-by-step guide for those looking to send message to private Instagram accounts.
How to Message a Private Account on Instagram
Method 1: Message Private Account on Instagram from Profile
- Open the Instagram app and log in to your account.
- Search for a private account to which you want to send messages.
- Tap the three vertical dots located in the top right corner of their profile.
- Next, select “Send Message” from the list options.
- There you go! The inbox of the user will open and you can type and send a message to them.
Method 2: Message Private Account on Instagram from DM
- Open your Instagram account and tap the airplane-like icon in the top right corner of the screen.
- This will take you to the chat screen where there’s a list of people you connected with.
- There is a search button on top of this page. Tap on it and type the username of the person you want to text.
- Click on the target user’s profile and this will take you to their inbox.
- That’s it, type a message and hit the enter button to send message to private Instagram account.
Can I Send Messages to People I’m Not Following on Instagram?
Yes, you can send a message to any private or public account user you are not following given that they have not enabled the Limits feature on Instagram. The steps for sending a direct message to these users are simple. Follow any of the above-listed methods and your message will be delivered to them.
However, Instagram has recently launched “limits”, a new restriction that lets people decide who they’d like to receive messages from.
Until now, you had an option to send a direct message to whoever you wanted on Instagram. You did not have to follow the person to get a message from them. However, people have been misusing this feature.
Many Instagrammers have reported spam messages in their inbox from random people, which is why social media has taken its security to the next level by introducing a new restriction. Now, Instagrammers can enable this feature to get messages from only people they follow.
Instagram Direct Messages (DMs) Limits & Restrictions
The Limits feature was launched quite recently. Instagram mentioned that they launched this function to help celebrities and influencers deal with the sudden spike of messages they received from unknown users. This is quite common among people who drop a new announcement, release a teaser of an upcoming project, or win something big.
It’s hard for people to filter their messages when their inbox is flooded with plenty of messages from unknown users. This may also mean abusive comments and unwanted messages from people you don’t know. You can enable the “limits” feature and avoid getting any DM requests from unknown user on Instagram.
Final Words
Hope you have learned how to send a direct message to an Instagram user. Follow the above steps to drop a message to a user’s inbox on Instagram (for both public and private accounts).
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