Once in awhile, Instagram users complain about issues regarding direct messages. This is while the Instagram DM is a very important app’s feature. Fully understanding how frustrating it is when Instagram direct message does not work, I have addressed almost all the possible issues with DMs, and the fixes to the problems will follow.
When I face Instagram DM not working
Possible Instagram DM Issues Users Might Face
Instagram users (including me) might have experienced any of the following issues when Instagram DM glitches occur:
- Instagram messages not sending
- New Instagram direct messages not showing up
- Instagram direct messages disappear
- Instagram can’t create threads
- Instagram says you have a message, but you don’t
- Instagram direct message cannot be deleted
- Instagram message requests disappear
- User receives Instagram DM notifications, but there is no message
- Users cannot receive chats from friends
- Messages won’t open, and they seem loading forever
- Instagram DM notification won’t go away
- Users Can’t See replies to their messages
- Users Can’t start a new message
- No notification for new messages are sent
Before going through the solution, let’s make sure that we have not done anything to violate Instagram’s DM limits (Wait! Is there even a limit on Instagram direct messages? Yes, there is) which include:
- DM Count limits: it’s a total of 100 DM’s a day. If you have recently mass-messaged to more than 100 people in one day, then you are message-banned by Instagram.
- DM Spam: Never send the same message over and over to a specific account. They might get frustrated and report messages as spam.
Never exceed the limits! Restrictions are there to protect the Instagram community. But it is tough to keep the account of messages sent in a day to prevent a ban. By our Instagram Auto DM service (which is a unique Instagram tool across the web), safeguard your Instagram account from being suspected of any spammy like activity. This web-based, on desktop tool sends a total of 100 DMs a day to targeted and makes sure no single user receives two similar messages. Try our Three Days Trial for free and make any further necessary decisions.
Instagram DM Fix Solutions
All the problems we talked about above can be solved by one of the fixes provided here. Go patiently through them and let me know which one worked for you (hopefully ;)).
One-Shot Solution (that will fix the DM not working at 99 percent of the times)
- Check the internet connection
Sometimes, complications are as simple as a lost or weak internet signal. To make sure that it is the Internet causing trouble, try connecting to another network. If DM’s problem is fixed, then that’s it. Better to contact your internet service provider.
- Update Instagram
Before doing anything technical, check for the app updates on the Google Play Store or App Store. Believe me, mostly, a simple Instagram update will solve not only DM problems, but also many other Instagram issues, such as app’s low performance, posts not showing up, video freezes, commenting bugs, etc.
- Go a version back!
Just opposite the previous case, sometimes updates might cause problems to Instagram. If you have recently updated Instagram and right after the update, Instagram DMs not working issue happened, then the chances are the phone is not compatible with new changes made to the app.First, check the version number of the Instagram app already installed on your phone, and then search the web for a version back. Uninstall the app and finally install the older version.
- Uninstall and re-install Instagram
This is another fix that usually works. Sometimes, the app installed might have lost some data needed to display Instagram DM. Uninstalling and installing it afresh will restore all the lost data and get everything work as usual.
- Check the device
To see if the direct message problem is due to the device or it’s a software-related issue, try logging into Instagram account using another device or web-based Instagram (a.k.a. webstagram). If the DM worked in the new device or on the web browser, then something is wrong with the phone.For starts, clear the phone’s cache or lighten the memory. Sometimes a full cache or device memory won’t let new messages download and be displayed. If clearing the memory and cache doesn’t work, then updating the phone’s OS and/or reset factory might work. If nothing made you any good, then contact the phone’s service provider and seek more professional help.
Take-action Solutions (to fix Instagram DM problems not caused by you or your device)
- You are blocked by the receiver
If an Instagram direct message cannot be sent to a particular friend, then the chances are that they have blocked your account. To know if they have blocked you, go to their page, and none of their posts will be displayed.
- You are not following the receiver
For Instagram privacy matters, some users prefer to receive messages only from followers. Then follow them first and try sending DM’s again.
- In-group messaging is not allowed
Some threads on Instagram contain limited permissions, and not everybody in the group can send DM’s to the thread. Contact the thread owner and ask them for in-group messaging permission.
- This is an Instagram server-side problem
If nothing has worked yet, then most probably it is Instagram causing the pain! Which means all you can do is only to wait and wait! To make sure if this is the case, ask friends for similar trouble with Instagram DM. Or go to Insatgramdown page on Twitter and see if people are talking about Instagram DMs not working.
This page lets users know about any problem users experience with Instagram
But if it is only you that are experiencing the direct messages trouble, then it’s time to contact Instagram support and seek help. This is how to contact Instagram support:
How do I contact Instagram directly?
Unfortunately, most often than not, Instagram does not reply to users. So we recommend in case of not receiving any answer from Instagram support, send them a message on Twitter or tweet the problem and mention @Instagram. This will hopefully work.
Remember to mention Instagram in the tweet
Over to you
I tried to think of all possible Instagram DM issues and their fixes, as far as my brain could help. There might some solutions or problems be ignored. So, I would be more than grateful if you could help me and the other DM-suffered users to find new ways out of it! Looking forward to your comments below on how you solved your problem.