INSTAGRAM DMs

You can send messages, photos and videos in chats to one or more people on Instagram.

Messages wont appear in feed, search or your profile.

Send a message

1. Click []Messages on the left.

2. Click []Compose in the top left.

3. Select the people you'd like to send a message to, then click Chat.

4. Enter a message. You can also click [] Add photo or video to select a photo or video from your library.

   • Note: Sending photos or videos from your devices library currently isnt supported on Meta Quest devices.

5. Click Send.

To message someone you follow, you can also go to their profile and click Message.

When you send a message to someone who doesnt follow you or isnt already connected to you, your message is sent as a message request and can only contain text. You cant send photos, videos or voice notes until they accept your message request.

Keep in mind, Instagram accounts you message may use third party apps or automated services to send messages in chats.

If youre having trouble sending a message to someone on Instagram, try these troubleshooting steps to help solve the issue.

Learn how to react and reply to messages you receive.

To unsend a message you've sent in a chat on Instagram:

1. Click []Messages on the left.

2. Select the conversation and go to the message you'd like to unsend.

3. Click

   [] Options next to the message.

   • Note: For Meta Quest users, press and hold a message and then click Unsend.

4. Click Unsend, then click Unsend to confirm.

Once you unsend a message, it will no longer be visible to people included in the chat. Keep in mind that the people you sent it to may have already seen your message.

Note that your Data Download file doesn't include messages that you've unsent from your Instagram account.

If the chat or a surrounding message is reported, unsent messages could also be included in the report.

You can start an audio or video call with up to 8 people on Instagram.

Start a call

To begin an audio or video call on Instagram:

1. Click []Messages on the left.

2. Click an existing conversation on the left or start a new conversation.

3. From your chat, you can:

   • Click

     []

     Call in the top right to start an audio call.

   • Click [] Video in the top right to start a video call.

4. Click Start call.

The person or group you call will receive a notification that you're calling them.

Keep in mind that anyone you've accepted a message from, except for verified accounts, can video call with you. To prevent someone from video calling with you, you can block them.

Manage a call

While on an audio or video call, you can:

• Enter full screen. Click [] Expand in the top right to expand your call screen.

• Update camera and audio settings. Click [] Settings in the top right to make changes to your camera and audio settings.

• End a video call. Click [] End call at the bottom to end your video call.

To manage who can send you message requests on Instagram:

1. Click [More icon, represented by a hamburger]More in the bottom left, then click [Settings icon]Settings.

2. Below How others can interact with you, click Messages and story replies.

3. Click Message controls.

4. Choose whether message requests from people on Instagram go to your Message Requests folder or whether to receive them at all.

Note that youll need to accept message requests in your Message Requests folder before they appear in your Chats list. Messages from people you follow on Instagram will appear in your Chats list.

Changes to your message request setting will not impact your Messaging Ads or monetized content. You can still receive messages from others through your ad campaigns and products you've shared.

Manage group chat message requests

You can choose who can add you to groups.

To manage group settings:

1. Click [More icon, represented by a hamburger]More in the bottom left, then click [Settings icon]Settings.

2. Below How others can interact with you, click Messages and story replies.

3. Click Message controls.

4. Below Who can add you to groups, you can click:

   • Everyone on Instagram: Group chats from Instagram accounts youve already connected with will appear in your Chats list. All other group chats will be sent to your Message Requests folder.

   • Only people you follow on Instagram: People you follow or have messaged before can add you to groups.

Accounts youve blocked wont be able to send you message requests or add you to groups. If the account youve blocked is in a group chat youve been added to, youll be notified before you join the chat. Note if the person you blocked has multiple Instagram accounts, you may need to block each account.

Learn how to report a message on Instagram.

Instagram lets you send messages to one or more people in chats. These messages can include text and photos or videos you take or upload from your library. You can also send the following things as a message:

• Posts you see in feed

• Disappearing photos and videos

• Instagram profiles

See messages you've sent in chats

1. Click []Messages on the left.

2. Click the conversation you want to view.

When you send a post from feed as a message, it'll only be visible to people who can already see it. For example, if you send a post from a private account as a message, only people who follow that account will be able to see it.

Photos or videos sent in a chat can't be shared through Instagram to other sites like Facebook or Twitter, and won't appear on hashtag and location pages.

Learn how to view messages you've received on Instagram.

You can send a photo, reel or carousel you see on Instagram as a message in chats. Messages wont appear in feed, search or your profile.

Share a post to a chat

1. Click [] Share below the post youd like to send.

2. Click the person or group from the list below or click Search to search for someone.

3. Click Write a message... to add an optional message, then click Send.

Keep in mind that when you send a private accounts post as a message, only people who follow that account will be able to see the post. The person who uploaded the post wont be notified.

Notes gives you a space to share updates and thoughts as short posts with certain people. You can share up to 1 note with others on Instagram.

Your note will appear at the top of your inbox in Instagram messaging and above your profile picture in your profile.

Click an option below to learn how to share a note from your inbox or profile.

1. Click []Messages on the left.

2. Click Your note below your profile picture.

3. Enter a note of up to 60 characters.

4. Select to share your note with Followers you follow back or your Close Friends.

   • Keep in mind: If you share your note with Close Friends, your note can be seen by Close Friends that follow you back.

5. Click Share.

Keep in mind that certain notes, like notes with GIFs or videos, will not appear on your profile.

1. Click your profile picture on the left to go to your profile.

2. Click Note... above your profile picture.

3. Enter a note of up to 60 characters.

4. Select to share your note with Followers you follow back or your Close Friends.

   • Keep in mind: If you share your note with Close Friends, your note can be seen by Close Friends that follow you back.

5. Click Share.

You and others will see your note at the top of the inbox and your profile for up to 24 hours. After this time, your note will no longer be visible on Instagram. Your note can be deleted at any time by tapping on it, then tapping Delete note. Learn more about what happens to content you've deleted from your Instagram account.

People who see your note can like or reply to it. Only you can see whos liked or replied to your note.

You can see a list of who liked your note by tapping your note. You can start a conversation with someone whos liked your note by tapping [] Messages next to their name.

When people reply to your note, it will start a conversation between you and them only. You can find these conversations in your inbox.

Notes you share must follow our Community Standards. When a note is reported, we have tools and reviewers to help us identify, review or remove content that may violate our Community Standards. Even after 24 hours, when a note is no longer visible, it can be subject to additional review processes. Learn more about our content review process and how to appeal Instagrams content decision.

You can leave a new note at any time. Your new note will replace any current note youve shared with other accounts.

1. Tap your note at the top of your inbox or profile, then tap Leave a new note.

2. Enter a note of up to 60 characters.

3. Select the audience for your note.

4. Tap Share in the top right to share your new note.

Learn how to like and reply to notes you see on Instagram.

This feature isnt available to everyone.

You can like or reply to notes that you see at the top of your inbox or above someone's profile picture in their profile on Instagram.

Like or reply to a note

1. Tap someone's note you see at the top of your inbox or at the top of their profile.

2. From here, you can:
   • Tap []Like to like the note.

   • Tap Send message or Reply to [name] and enter your reply. Tap Send. Your reply will be sent as a direct message.

You can also like someones note by double-tapping the note at the top of your inbox or their profile.

If you see a note that doesn't follow our Community Standards, you can report it.

Keep in mind that when you:

• Like a note: Only the person who shared the note can see your like.

• Reply to a note: Your reply will start a conversation between you and them only. You can find these conversations in your inbox.

Learn how to respond to a prompt or mute or unmute notes from someone.