How to Direct Message (DM) on Twitter

Direct Messages are the private side of Twitter. You can use Direct Messages to have private conversations with people about Tweets and other content. Skiptomaincontent HelpCenter AboutDirectMessages DirectMessagesaretheprivatesideofTwitter.YoucanuseDirectMessagestohaveprivateconversationswithpeopleaboutTweetsandothercontent.   Thebasics TosendaDirectMessagefromTwitterforiOS TosendaDirectMessagefromTwitterforAndroid TosendaDirectMessageviatheweb TopinDirectMessages TosearchDirectMessages TosnoozeDirectMessagenotifications ToreportaDirectMessageorconversation ToshareaTweetviaDirectMessage ToreceiveDirectMessagesfromanyone ToreviewDirectMessagerequests TodisableDirectMessagereadreceipts TosendandreceiveDirectMessagesonyourphoneviaSMS SomeimportantthingstoknowaboutDirectMessages   Yourbrowserdoesnotsupportthevideoelement.   Thebasics Youcanstartaprivateconversationorcreateagroupconversationwithanyonewhofollowsyou.AnyoneyoudonotfollowcansendyouaDirectMessageif:YouhaveoptedintoreceiveDirectMessagesfromanyone*or;YouhavepreviouslysentthatpersonaDirectMessage. AnyoneinaconversationcansendDirectMessagestothegroup.Everyoneinagroupcanseeallmessages,evenifeveryonedoesn’tfolloweachother.Ingroupconversations,anyoneintheconversationcanaddotherparticipants.Newlyaddedparticipantswon’tseethepriorhistoryoftheconversation.Someaccounts,particularlybusinessesonTwitter,haveenabledasettingtoreceiveDirectMessagesfromanyone.YoucansendaDirectMessagetotheseaccountseveniftheydon’tfollowyou.Inbothgroupandone-on-oneconversations,youcannotbeinaconversationwithanaccountyoublock. *Note:ForsomepeoplewhocreateanewaccountonTwitter,youraccountsettingsmayalreadybesettoreceivemessagerequestsfromotherpeopleyoudon'tfollow.TheserequestsarekeptseparatefromyourotherDMsuntilyouacceptthem.Youcanaccepttherequesttocontinuetheconversation.Todisablemessagerequests,gotoyourSettings.    TosendaDirectMessagefromTwitterforiOS Taptheenvelopeicon.You’llbedirectedtoyourmessages.Tapthemessageicon  tocreateanewmessage.Intheaddressbox,enterthename(s)or@username(s)ofthepeopleyouwishtosendamessageto.Agroupmessagecanincludeupto50people.Enteryourmessage.Inadditiontotext,youcanincludeaphoto,video,orGIFwithyourDirectMessage.Fromthemessagecomposebar,ortheplusicon  youcanaccessthefollowingoptions: Tapthephotoicon totakeaphotoorrecordavideo,orattachonefromyourdevicegallery.Youhavetheoptiontoedityourphotobeforesendingyourmessage.Taponthephototobringupeditingscreenwhereyoucanenhance,crop,andaddfilters.Whenyouaredoneediting,tapSave.Learn moreaboutadvancedphotooptions.ToincludeananimatedGIFinyourmessage,taptheGIFicon  tosearchforandselectafilefromthemedialibrary. Tosendyourmessage,tapthepaperairplaneicon  TodeleteaDirectMessageorconversation:   TodeleteaDirectMessage,tapandholdthemessageandselectDeletemessagefromthemenuthatpopsup.Todeleteanentireconversationfromyourinbox,swipeleftontheconversationandtapthetrashcanicon  Youcanalsodeleteanentireconversationbytappingtheinformationicon  andselectingDeleteconversationfromtheConversationinfopage.WhenyoudeleteaDirectMessageorconversation(sentorreceived),itisdeletedfromyouraccountonly.OthersintheconversationwillstillbeabletoseeDirectMessagesorconversationsthatyouhavedeleted.   Tomanageagroupconversation:   Toquicklyaccessthelistofconversationparticipants,taptheprofilephotoofthegroupconversationfromyourinbox. Fromwithinagroupconversation,tapontheinformationicon  tobringupasettingspage.Settingsdetails:TapEdittoupdatethegroupconversationprofilephotoandname.Tochangethephoto,tapthecameraiconinthephototoChoosefromlibraryorTakenewphoto.TapSavetoupdate.  Note:Onceyouupdatethephoto,you’llhavetheoptiontoRemovecurrentphoto,Viewcurrentphoto,Choosefromlibrary,orTakenewphoto.TapAddmemberstoaddpeopletotheconversation.DragtheslidernexttoSnoozeconversationtosnoozenotificationsfor1hour,8hours,1week,orForever. DragtheslidernexttoSnoozementionstocontrolwhetheryouwillreceivenotificationswhenyouarementionedinagroupconversation.Pleasenotethat,unlessthisfeatureisenabled,youwillreceivenotificationswhenyouaredirectlymentionedinaconversation,evenifyouhaveenabledtheSnoozeconversationfeature.Additionally,youmustbeaparticipantinagroupconversationtoreceivementionnotificationsforthatconversation. Toreportthegroupconversation,tapReportconversation.Toremoveyourselffromthegroupconversation,tapLeaveconversation.    TosendaDirectMessagefromTwitterforAndroid   Taptheenvelopeicon.You’llbedirectedtoyourmessages.Tapthemessageicon  tocreateanewmessage.Intheaddressbox,enterthename(s)or@username(s)ofthepeopleyouwishtosendamessageto.Agroupmessagecanincludeupto50people.Enteryourmessage.Inadditiontotext,youcanincludeaphoto,video,orGIFviaDirectMessage.Tapthephotoicon  totakeaphotoorrecordavideo,orattachonefromyourdevicegallery.YouhavetheoptiontoedityourphotothroughyourTwitterforiOSorTwitterforAndroidappbeforesendingyourmessage.Taponthephototobringupeditingscreenwhereyoucanenhance,crop,andaddfilters.Whenyouaredoneediting,tapSave. Learn moreabout advancedphotooptions. ToincludeananimatedGIFinyourmessage,taptheGIFicon  tosearchforandselectafilefromthemedialibrary. Tapthesendicon.   TodeleteaDirectMessageorconversation:   TodeleteaDirectMessage,tapandholdthemessageandselectDeletemessagefromthemenuthatpopsup.Todeleteanentireconversationfromyourinbox,tapandholdtheconversationandselectDeleteconversation.Youcanalsodeleteanentireconversationbytappingtheinformationicon  andselectingDeleteconversationfromtheConversationinfopage.WhenyoudeleteaDirectMessageorconversation(sentorreceived),itisdeletedfromyouraccountonly.OthersintheconversationwillstillbeabletoseeDirectMessagesorconversationsthatyouhavedeleted.   Tomanageagroupconversation:   Toquicklyaccessthelistofconversationparticipants,taptheprofilephotoofthegroupconversationfromyourinbox.Fromwithinagroupconversation,tapontheinformationicon  tobringupasettingspage.Settingsdetails:TapEdittoupdatethegroupconversationprofilephotoandname.Tapthecameraicontobringupthefollowingphotooptions:Viewphoto,Camera,PhotoGallery,orRemovephoto.TapSavetoupdate.TapAddmemberstoaddpeopletotheconversation.  Thecreatorofthegroupisthedefaultadmin.Ifthecreatorisnolongerinthegroup,thefirstmembertojointhegroupaftertheadminwillbecometheadmin.Asthegroupadmin,youareabletoremovemembersfromthegroup.TapSnoozeconversationtosnoozenotificationsfor1hour,8hours,1week,orForever. ChecktheboxnexttoSnoozementions tocontrolwhetheryouwillreceivenotificationswhenyouarementionedinagroupconversation.Pleasenotethat,unlessthisfeatureisenabled,youwillreceivenotificationswhenyouaredirectlymentionedinaconversation,evenifyouhaveenabledthe Snoozeconversation feature. Additionally,youmustbeaparticipantinagroupconversationtoreceivementionnotificationsforthatconversation. Toreportthegroupconversation,tapReportconversation.Toremoveyourselffromthegroupconversation,tapLeaveconversation.   TosendaDirectMessageviatheweb   ClickMessagesintheleftnavigationbar.You'llseeyourDirectMessagehistory.ClicktheNewmessageiconatthetop.Intheaddressbox,enterthename(s)or@username(s)ofthepeopleyouwishtosendamessageto.Agroupmessagecanincludeupto50people.ClickNextInthemessagebox,youcanincludeaphoto,video,GIF,oremojiviaDirectMessage: Clickthephotoicontouploadaphotoorvideo.ToincludeananimatedGIFinyourmessage,taptheGIFicontosearchforandselectafilefromthemedialibrary.ClicktheSendbuttonorpresstheenterkeytosend.    Note:Tostartanewlineinamessage,presstheshiftandenterkeysatthesametime.Pressingonlytheenterkeywillsendyourmessage.   TodeleteaDirectMessageorconversation:   TodeleteaDirectMessage,clickonthemessageandselectDelete.Toleaveaconversation,locatetheconversationandclicktoopenit.Clicktheinformation  icon,andselectLeaveconversation.WhenyoudeleteaDirectMessageorleaveaconversation(sentorreceived),itisdeletedfromyouraccountonly.OthersintheconversationwillstillbeabletoseeDirectMessagesorconversationsthatyouhavedeleted.   Tomanageagroupconversation:   Fromwithinagroupconversation,clickontheinformationicon  toaccesstheconversationsettings:FromwithintheGroupinfopage,clickthemoreicon  toaccessthedrop-downmenu.YoucanchoosetoEditgroupname,Uploadnewphoto,Viewphoto,orRemovephoto. Note:Theoptiontoviewandremovethephotowillbeavailableonlyifagroupmessagephotoisuploaded. UnderNotifications,youcanselectto: ClickSnoozenotificationstosnoozenotificationsfor1hour,8hours,1week,orForever. ClickSnoozementions tocontrolwhetheryouwillreceivenotificationswhenyouarementionedinagroupconversation.Pleasenotethat,unlessthisfeatureisenabled,youwillreceivenotificationswhenyouaredirectlymentionedinaconversation,evenifyouhaveenabledthe Snoozeconversation feature. Additionally,youmustbeaparticipantinagroupconversationtoreceivementionnotificationsforthatconversation. Toreportthegroupconversation,clickReportconversation.Toremoveyourselffromthegroupconversation,clickLeaveconversation.     TosearchDirectMessages RevisitconversationsbysearchingkeywordsandnamesintheDirectMessagessearchbar. HowtosearchyourDirectMessages NavigatetoyourDMsandtaporclickonthesearchbar.Fromthere,typeinkeywordsandnamesoftheconversationsyou'relookingforandmessages,groups,andpeoplewiththosekeywordsornameswillpopulate.Togodirectlytothemessage,taporclickonthesearchresult.  Note:Currently,searchingimagesorGIFstofindDMconversationsisnotavailable.    TopinDirectMessages ThisfeatureletsyoupinyourfavoriteconversationstothetopofyourDMinboxsoyoucanfindthemeasily.Pinuptosixconversationsatatime. Howtopinaconversation Step1 NavigatetoyourDirectMessageinbox. Step2 SwipefromlefttorightontheconversationyouwanttokeepatthetopofyourDMinbox. Step3 Tapthepin  icon. Yourpinnedmessagewillnowappearatthetopofyourinbox.Pinnedconversationsappearfromtoptobottomintheorderthatyoupinthem.   ToremoveaconversationfromyourPinnedConversationslist,swipelefttorightandtapthepin   iconagain. Step1 NavigatetoyourDirectMessageinbox. Step2 HolddownontheconversationyouwanttokeepatthetopofyourDMinbox. Step3 Tapthepin  icon. Yourpinnedmessagewillnowappearatthetopofyourinbox.Pinnedconversationsappearfromtoptobottomintheorderthatyoupinthem.   ToremoveaconversationfromyourPinnedConversationslist,holddownandtapthe pin  iconagain. Step1 NavigatetoyourDirectMessageinbox. Step2 GototheconversationyouwanttokeepatthetopofyourDMinboxandtaporclickonthemore  icon. Step3 SelectPinConversation.  Yourpinnedmessagewillnowappearatthetopofyourinbox.Pinnedconversationsappearfromtoptobottomintheorderthatyoupinthem.   ToremoveaconversationfromyourPinnedConversationslist,taporclickonthemore  icontounpintheconversation.   TosnoozeDirectMessagenotifications YoucansnoozenotificationsforDirectMessagesfor1hour,8hours,1week,orForever.WhenyousnoozeaDirectMessageconversation,youwillstillreceivenewmessages,butyouwon’treceiveanotificationeachtime. Note:UnlesstheSnoozementionssettingisenabled,youwillstillreceivenotificationswhenyouaredirectlymentionedinagroupconversationthatyouareapartof. HowtosnoozefromwithinaDirectMessageconversationontwitter.com,TwitterforiOS,andTwitterforAndroid:   NavigatetotheDirectMessageyou’dliketosnooze.Clickortapintothemessagesettings.Clickortaptheinformationicon  thenselectSnoozenotifications. Fromthepop-upmenu,selectthesnoozetimeintervalyou’dlike:1hour,8hours,1week,orForever. Tounsnooze,clickortaptheinformationicon,thenclickortapthesliderfor snoozenotifications.   HowtosnoozefromyourDirectMessageinboxonTwitterforiOS:   NavigatetoyourDirectMessageinbox.Findtheconversationyou’dliketosnooze.Swipeleftonthemessageandtapthenotificationsicon  Note:Youcanalsochoosetoreport  ordelete  aconversationwhenyouswipeleft.Fromthepop-upmenu,selectthesnoozetimeintervalyou’dlike:1hour,8hours,1week,orForever. Tounsnooze,swipeleftandtapthesnoozednotificationsicon    HowtosnoozefromyourDirectMessageinboxonTwitterforAndroid:   NavigatetoyourDirectMessageinbox.Findtheconversationyou’dliketosnooze.Long-pressonthemessageandtapSnoozenotifications.Fromthepop-upmenu,selectthesnoozetimeintervalyou’dlike:1hour,8hours,1week,orForever. Tounsnooze,long-pressonthemessageandtapUnsnoozenotifications.   HowtosnoozefromaDirectMessagepushnotification:   FindtheDirectMessagepushnotificationonyourmobiledevice’slockscreenyou’dliketosnooze:FromtheTwitterforiOSapp:Swipeleftonthelockscreenpushnotification,tapView,thentapSnoozefor1hour.FromtheTwitterforAndroidapp:Swipedownonthelockscreenpushnotification,thentapSnooze.  Conversationnotificationswillbesnoozedforonehour.    ToreportaDirectMessageorconversation   Youcanreportanindividualmessageoranentireconversation.LearnhowtoreportaTweetorDirectMessageforviolations.   ToshareaTweetviaDirectMessage   SharingaTweetviaDirectMessageisagreatwaytosparkaconversationwithagroupoffriends.    ToreceiveDirectMessagesfromanyone   YoucanreceivemessagesfromanyoneifyouchecktheboxnexttoAllowMessagesrequestsfromeveryoneinyourPrivacyandsafetysettingsontwitter.com.YoucanalsoadjustthissettingviatheTwitterforiOSorTwitterforAndroidapps.Ifyouenablethisoption,anyonecanmessageyouandaddyoutogroupconversations.   TochangeyoursettingsusingTwitterforiOS:   Tapthenavigationmenu.SelectSettingsandprivacy.TapPrivacyandsafety.UnderDirectMessages,andnexttoAllowmessagesrequestsfromeveryone,dragtheslidertoallowanyonetosendyouDirectMessages.   TochangeyoursettingsusingTwitterforAndroid:   Inthetopmenu,youwilleitherseeanavigationmenuicon  oryourprofileicon.Tapwhichevericonyouhave.SelectSettingsandprivacy.TapPrivacyandsafety.UnderDirectMessages,andnexttoReceivemessagesfromanyone,checktheboxtoallowanyonetosendyouDirectMessages.   TochangeyoursettingsusingTwitterfortwitter.com:   ClickontheMore  iconinthenavigationbar. SelectSettingsandprivacy.TapPrivacyandsafety.UnderDirectMessages,andnexttoReceivemessagesfromanyone,checktheboxtoallowanyonetosendyouDirectMessages.   Note:Disablingthe Receivemessagesfromanyone settingwillnotpreventyoufromcontinuingtoreceiveDirectMessagesfromsomeoneyoudon'tfollowifyouhaveapriorconversationalreadyestablishedwiththatperson.Youwillneedtoeither report theconversationor block theaccounttostopreceivingDirectMessagesfromthatperson.   ToreviewDirectMessagerequests   IfyouhavetheReceivemessagesfromanyonesettingenabled,incomingmessagesfrompeopleyoudon’tfollowwillappearasRequestsintheMessagestab.Newgroupconversationsthatyou’readdedtobypeopleyoudon’tfollowwillalsoappearinRequests.Enteringtheconversation,youwillbeaskedtoeitherDeleteorAcceptthemessage.Acceptingthemessagewillallowyoutoengagewiththeperson,andwillmovethemessagetoyourinbox.Pleasenotethattheywillnotknowyouhaveseenthemessageuntilyouhaveacceptedtheirrequest. Deletingthemessagewillremoveitfromyourinbox.Note:Deletingamessagewillnotpreventthataccountfromsendingyoumessagesinthefuture.Youwillalwayshavetheoptiontoblocktheaccountorreporttheconversation.Blockedaccountscannotsendyoumessages,unlessyouunblockthem. Acceptingthemessagewillallowyoutoengagewiththeperson.Allmediawillbehiddenpriortoacceptingthemessage.Ifyouwishtoviewthehiddenmedia,clickortapViewmedia. Note:Theoptionto Accept or Delete messagesand ViewMedia fromsomeonenewthatyoudon'tfollowisonlyavailableontheTwitterforiOSandAndroidapps,andtwitter.com. Additionally,bydefault,wefilterlower-qualityrequestsfromtheRequestssectionofyourinboxfortheTwitterforiOSandAndroidapp.Whenenabled,thequalityfilterformessagerequestshidesconversationrequestswethinkmaybelowerquality. Youwillnotreceivenotificationsforfilteredrequests,butthesemessageswillstillbeviewablebehindthelowqualityfilterthatexistsatthebottomofthe Requests sectionofyourinbox. Todisableorenablethequalityfilterformessagerequests: AtthetopofyourRequeststab,tapChangesettings. InthePrivacysectionofyourMessagesettings,toggletheslidernexttoQualityfilter.   HowtofiltergraphicmediainDirectMessages Thefilterisenabledbydefaultandwillworkinthisway: TherewillbeadisplayedwarningovergraphicmediainDMs,forbothpeopleyoufollowandunknownsenders.Additionally,ifit’sfromsomeoneyoudon’tfollow,we’llalsotreatitlikespamandmoveittothebottomofyourRequestinbox.Ifturnedoff,andyoureceiveagraphicmessagefromsomeoneyoudofollow,wewillshowthegraphicmediainthesamemannerasanyotherimage,video,orGIFintheconversationyoumayreceive.Ifit’sfromsomeoneyoudon’tfollow,we’llstilldisplayawarningbecausewedothatwithallmedia,butitwon’texplicitlyidentifythemediaaspotentiallysensitive/graphic. Note:IfyouhavetheAllowmessagerequestsfromeveryone settingenabledundertheDirectMessagessectionofyourPrivacyandsafetysettings,itispossibletodisableandenablethequalityfilterfromyourprivacysettings.ThisfeatureisonlyavailablecurrentlyoniOSandAndroiddevices.   TodisableDirectMessagereadreceipts   DirectMessagesfeaturereadreceiptssoyouknowwhenpeoplehaveseenyourmessages.WhensomeonesendsyouaDirectMessageandyourShowreadreceiptssettingisenabled,everyoneintheconversationwillknowwhenyou’veseenit.Thissettingisenabledbydefaultbutyoucanturnitoff(orbackon)throughyoursettingsatanytime.IfyouturnofftheShowreadreceiptssetting,youwillnotbeabletoseereadreceiptsfromotherpeople. ReadreceiptsareonlyviewableontheTwitterforiOSandAndroidapps,andtwitter.com.Pleasenote,however,thatreadreceiptswillalsobesentwhenyouviewDirectMessagesonmobileweb.   TodisableorenableusingTwitterforiOS:   Inthetopmenu,tapyourprofileicon.SelectSettingsandprivacy.TapPrivacyandsafety.UnderDirectMessages,andnexttoShowreadreceipts,dragtheslidertoturnthefeatureofforbackon.    TodisableorenableusingTwitterforAndroid:   Inthetopmenu,youwilleitherseeanavigationmenuicon  oryourprofileicon.Tapwhichevericonyouhave.SelectSettingsandprivacy.TapPrivacyandsafety.UnderDirectMessages,andnexttoShowreadreceipts,unchecktheboxtoturnthefeatureofforchecktheboxtoturnbackon.   Todisableorenableviatwitter.com:   Clickthemore   icon,thenclickPrivacyandsafety.UnderPrivacyandsafetyandnexttoShowreadreceipts,clicktheboxtoturnthefeatureofforclicktheboxtoturnbackon. Note:Forconversationsthatappearunder Requests,thesender(s)willnotbeabletoseeifyouhavereadtheirDirectMessagesunlessyouaccepttheconversation.   TosendandreceiveDirectMessagesonyourphoneviaSMS   IfyourTwitteraccountisconnectedtoyourmobilephone,youcansendandreceiveDirectMessagesviaSMS. Haven'taddedyourmobilephoneyet?Findouthowtoaddyourphonenumbertoyouraccount.Addedyourmobilephonealready?FindoutwhattextcommandstousetosendDirectMessagesviaSMS.ReadthisarticleaboutsettingupyourmobilepreferencestolearnmoreabouthowtoreceiveDirectMessagesviaSMS. Note: AnoteaboutDirectMessagefailures: PleasebecarefultoensurethatDirectMessagesyousendviaSMSareunder160characters,includingthedcommandandusername. YourserviceprovidermaysplitSMSmessagesgreaterthan160charactersintomultipleSMSmessages.Inthiscase,thesecondandanysubsequentSMSmessageswillpostaspublicTweetsbecausetheydon’tbeginwiththeappropriatetextcommand(dusername)thattellsTwittertheyareDirectMessages,asthefirstSMSmessagedid.   SomeimportantthingstoknowaboutDirectMessages   WhenyoudeleteaDirectMessageorconversation(sentorreceived),itisdeletedfromyouraccountonly.OthersintheconversationwillstillbeabletoseeDirectMessagesorconversationsthatyouhavedeleted.Whenyoudeleteagroupconversation,youwillleavethatgroupandwillnolongerbeabletoparticipate.WhenyousharealinkinaDirectMessage,itisautomaticallyprocessedandshortenedtoat.colink.Learnmoreaboutlinkshortening.Pleasenotethatanyonewithat.coshortenedlinkwillbeabletonavigatetothedestinationURL.WhenyousharemediainaDirectMessage,itwillbeviewablebyeveryoneintheconversation.Pleasenotethatrecipientsmaydownloadorre-sharelinkstomediathatyoushareinaDirectMessage.AnyonewiththelinktomediasharedinaDirectMessagewillbeabletoviewthecontent.   Needmoreinformation?   CheckoutthemostfrequentlyaskedquestionsaboutDirectMessages. 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