Instagram’s Direct Message (also know as simply the ‘DM’) inbox is a great place to exchange private messages with friends and other users, sharing everything from photos to reels, messages, and more.
While there are a selection of other ways to communicate with users on Instagram, when the DM inbox stops working for some reason, it can be both annoying and incredibly frustrating. Not to mention, if you are a brand or influencer who relies on DM’s for networking and connecting with other users, it can quickly cause damage to your reputation and business.
Which is why being able to identify the problem – and fix it – is so important.
Here are some of the reasons why you may not be able to send a message on Instagram, and what you can do to fix it.
1. There’s a Glitch In The System
Instagram, like every other social app, can face issues when something stops working.
You can often tell that something is wrong with Instagram by the number of Tweets and other social media updates from users asking if anyone else is having trouble with Instagram – with even the shortest lived issues spreading across the internet like wildfire.
If there’s a glitch in the system, Instagram will often have the app back up and running swiftly – making this an issue that you simply need to wait out!
2. Your Internet Isn’t Good Enough
This one can be really annoying, especially if you need to send a message but find yourself somewhere with poor internet connection.
If your messages aren’t sending, your internet could be the problem. Try sending a WhatsApp or alternative message to check if it’s something wrong with your app or your internet and seek out the closest WiFi for better connectivity.
3. You’ve Been Blocked (!)
This is more common than you think and will likely be the root cause of a message which won’t send to a specific user. When someone blocks you on Instagram, you can no longer send them Direct Messages and will no longer be able to see their updates and content.
So, if Instagram won’t let you view a user’s profile or send them a message, the chances are that you could have been blocked…
4. Your App Needs An Update
Just as Instagram can often face challenges and downtime, the app is also subject to regular updates designed to streamline and improve the user experience.
If you are using an outdated version of the app, this could be the reason why messages won’t send.
How to Fix The Problem
Here are some of the things that you can do to get your Instagram inbox back up and running, so that you can continue sending DMs and private messages to your friends and followers.
- Update your app by deleting and reinstalling or going to your device app centre and downloading the latest version.
- Check your internet connection to see if this is the issue.
- Try messaging a different user. If you can easily send a message to another user but continue to struggle to send messages to one specific individual, then the chances are that that profile has blocked you.
These are three of the top and most common things that we recommend trying if you think that Instagram is preventing you from sending a message. If none of these work, you can always sign out and sign back in again or contact Instagram via the help centre to get tailored advice for your profile.
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