To check Instagram direct messages, open Instagram, sign in, tap Messages at the bottom of the phone app, and select a conversation. For messages outside your main inbox, open Requests, then check Spam for filtered requests.
On an iPad or the desktop website, select Messages on the left instead. Check the inbox directly for conversations, because notification previews show only the content Instagram sends in an alert.
The short version
- Phone inbox: Tap Messages at the bottom of the Instagram app and open a conversation.
- Other devices: Select Messages on the left in the iPad app or desktop website.
- Message requests: Open Requests and choose Accept to move a request into your inbox.
- Filtered messages: Check Requests > Spam manually because spam requests do not produce notifications.
- Missing conversations: Confirm the account you are using, then review request folders and delivery settings.
| Where you are checking | Open your DMs | Check other folders |
|---|---|---|
| Android or iPhone app | Messages at the bottom | Requests, then Spam |
| Native iPad app | Messages on the left | Requests at the top right, then Spam |
| Desktop website | Messages on the left | requests near the top left, then Spam |
| Mobile website | Messages at the bottom | Use the phone app for the request steps below |
| Instagram Lite | Messages at the top right of Feed | Use the standard app for the request steps below |
| Business or creator account in the phone app | Messages, then Primary or General | Requests, with All requests selected |
Open your messages on a phone
Open Instagram on your Android phone or iPhone and sign in to your account. Tap Messages at the bottom, then tap the conversation you want to read. Messages from people you follow normally arrive in your chats, while other permitted first contacts can arrive as requests.
You can also open a conversation from the profile of someone you follow. Visit their profile and tap Message to open the chat.
Instagram Lite uses a different inbox location. Open Lite, sign in, and tap Messages at the top right of Feed, then select the conversation. This path applies to Instagram Lite for Android, where available.
Read DMs on an iPad or in a browser
In the native iPad app, open Instagram and sign in, then tap Messages on the left. Select a conversation to read it. The iPad app requires iPadOS 16.3 or later.
On a computer, visit Instagram.com in your browser and sign in. Click Messages on the left, then select the chat you want to open.
In a phone browser, visit Instagram.com and sign in. Tap Messages at the bottom, then open a conversation. To check requests and filtered messages on your phone, follow the Instagram app steps below.
Check and manage message requests
In the Android or iPhone app, tap Messages > Requests, then open a request. Choose Accept to move the conversation into your inbox, or choose Delete to decline it. Accepting a request also changes where future messages in that conversation are delivered.
On an iPad, tap Messages on the left, then Requests at the top right. Open the message thread you want to read. On the desktop website, click Messages, select requests next to Messages near the top left, and open a request.
Check this folder for conversations with people you have restricted, too. Existing chats and subsequent messages from restricted people move to message requests. To review those accounts on a phone, open Profile > Menu > Restricted > Next, search for the account, and select Unrestrict if you want to remove the restriction.
Look through Spam for filtered requests
Check filtered requests manually because they do not generate notifications. On a phone, open Messages > Requests > Spam. On an iPad, start with Messages on the left, then open Requests > Spam.
Open a thread and tap a concealed message to view it. On a phone, you can also tap and hold the concealed message. Choose Accept to move the conversation into your main messages.
On the desktop website, click Messages > requests > Spam. Open a thread and click a message to view it, then select Accept if you want to move the conversation into your main inbox.
Check every professional inbox folder
If you use a business or creator account, open Messages and inspect Primary, General, and Requests. Open the relevant conversations in each folder. To find unread or flagged threads, tap the filter icon on the right side of the search bar and select the corresponding filter.
In Requests, tap All requests, then select Top requests if you want to prioritize requests from important accounts. Return to All requests when you want to check the complete list.
Find a missing conversation
Start by confirming that you are checking the right Instagram account. In the phone app, open Profile, tap your username at the top, select the account, and return to Messages. On desktop, choose More > Switch accounts, select the account, and open Messages.
After checking Requests and Spam, review whether your account accepts the expected requests. In the app, open Profile > Menu > Messages and story replies > Message requests. On desktop, open More > Settings > Messages and story replies > Message controls. Review whether the relevant requests go to your request folder or are not received.
In the app's Message requests settings, review Hide unwanted message requests. Turning it off stops that filtering and restores the message requests it had hidden. Teens under 16 need parental permission to weaken this protection. You can view spam requests on desktop, but you cannot change this filtering control in a browser.
Custom terms can conceal requests too. Open Profile > Menu > Hidden words, review your entries, and tap Delete beside a term you want to remove. To manage the list on desktop, open More > Settings > Hidden Words > Manage custom words and phrases.
For a missing new conversation, open Profile > Menu > Limit interactions. Review What will be limited and Who will be limited, then select Turn off if you want to stop those limits. New chats from limited accounts move to the Hidden requests folder in your message requests, so check there for affected conversations. Limits affect new chat threads, while existing threads remain visible.
If you blocked someone, your existing thread remains in your inbox, but messages they sent while blocked are not delivered later after unblocking. If you are checking whether the other person blocked you, see how to know if someone blocked you on Instagram.
Choose whether chats show read receipts
To read chats with read receipts disabled, open Profile > Menu > Messages and story replies > Show read receipts. Switch off Read receipts, then read your messages normally. This control is available in the Android, iPhone, and iPad apps.
To change the setting for an individual conversation, open the chat and tap its name. Choose Privacy & safety, then switch off Read receipts. That chat's setting overrides the account-wide setting. For last-seen visibility, see how to turn off Instagram active status.
Open disappearing photos and videos
In the Instagram app, open Messages and tap the blue play button beside the conversation. Alternatively, open the chat and tap View Photo or Play Video. What you can view depends on the sender's viewing option.
After viewing an item, tap Photo or Video in the conversation to replay it if another view is still available. Replay depends on the sender's settings and the item's availability.
For a disappearing-message conversation, open it through Messages or tap its notification. Tap and hold a message to inspect its remaining lifetime, and swipe up in the chat to turn disappearing messages off for subsequent use. This feature is available in supported locations for eligible one-to-one Instagram chats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you check new Instagram DMs in Messenger?
You cannot receive new Instagram DMs through consumer Messenger. Meta ended that cross-app connection beginning in December 2023, so open Instagram's inbox for new messages.
Can exporting your Instagram information recover deleted messages?
An export does not restore deleted information, and unsent messages are excluded. To export retained history in the app, open Profile > Menu > Meta Account > Your information and permissions > Export your information > Create export. Select Instagram, choose Next > Export to device, select message information, a date range, and a format, then choose Start export and retrieve the file from Available downloads when ready. On desktop, start at More > Settings; some accounts display Accounts Center instead of Meta Account.
Does marking a conversation as unread undo a read receipt?
Marking a conversation as unread acts as a reminder and does not reverse the other participant's read receipt.
Why are you not receiving alerts for ordinary Instagram messages?
In Instagram, open Profile > Menu > Notifications, review the notification categories, and disable Pause push notifications or let the pause expire. On iPhone, open Settings > Notifications > Instagram and enable Allow Notifications. On Android, open Settings > Notifications > App notifications > Instagram and turn notifications on, allowing for manufacturer differences in menu names.
Why did a professional message request move into General?
Requests answered through a connected third-party tool may move into General. Check that folder if you already replied through a connected business inbox.
Can a parent read a teen's Instagram DMs through supervision?
Parental supervision does not give you access to a teen's message contents. It can show recent conversation partners and help you manage messaging protections.