Instagram Direct Messages (DMs) Not Working? (Fix This Right Now)

Hitting on your Direct Message (DM) box, only to see that all of it is blank? 

Or perhaps, you’re not receiving any messages from your Insta friends. Not even a single notification! 

Did you know that these issues are real and you can actually fix them? 

Well, in this article, we are going to look at why Instagram direct messages (DMs) are not working for you and how you can stop them from ever happening again.

So, without further ado, dig in! 

Why Are Instagram Direct (DMs) Messages Not Working?

There can be myriads of reasons why you’re facing issues with Instagram DMs. But before breaking down why and what causes the problems in detail, let’s find out some common glitches, you may encounter while sending DMs on Instagram:

• Instagram is constantly sending you notifications for new updates. 
• Your DMs are not being delivered to your friends. 
• You can’t see the DM icon. 
• You’re not receiving notifications when someone DMs you on Instagram. 
• Your Insta app is stuck while sending a DM. 
• You can’t delete Instagram direct messages. 
• Your device screen went blank while sending a DM.
• You can’t open the DM, or it seems forever to load the messages. 
• You’re unable to start a new message. 
• You’re seeing black stripes on the direct messages. 
• You’re unable to see the replies from your friends. 

If you face any of the issues we’ve listed above, your Instagram DMs won’t work properly. Now, let’s figure out what’s the root cause behind these issues. 

Why Does This Issue Occur?

If your Instagram direct messages aren’t working properly, the reasons could be:

• You have a poor network connection. 
• Your Instagram app is not updated with the latest version.
• Instagram servers are down.
• Your friend has unsent the Insta Dm.
• App bug is affecting the DM feature. 
• Instagram might have banned your account temporarily.

So, these are some of the common reasons why you might face a glitch on Instagram DM. No matter what the reason is, there’s always a way to fix these issues. 

Let’s move on to our next point to find out how you can solve the issue easily without much technical knowledge. 

How to Solve Instagram Direct (DMs) Messages Problem (Proven Solutions)

1. Close And Restart The App

If your device is acting all crazy while sending a Dm, try closing the app. You can force stop the app and restart it again to check if Instagram’s DM feature is working properly. 

Here’s how you can do that: 

Android Users

1. From your Android home screen, tap and hold the Instagram app. 
2. A pop-up menu will appear on your screen; from there, tap App info. 
3. Next tap on Force stops to close the app. 
4. You can restart the Instagram app again from your home screen.

iPhone Users

1. Open the app switcher. 
2. Now swipe right to find the Instagram app. 
3. Then, swipe up on the Instagram app to close it. 
4. You can restart it by visiting the app library or home screen, then tapping on the app. 

2. Log Out And Sign in Again

This is the easiest yet most effective hack to fix the Instagram DMs issues. All you have to do is simply log out and sign in again to ensure that the direct messages are working.

Here’s how you can do that:

1. Open the Instagram app on your Android or iPhone device.
2. Tap on your profile and head to the account settings. 
3. Scroll down and tap on the log-out option.
4. Log in again by putting your email and other credentials. 

3. Delete And Reinstall The App

If the Instagram app has any installation issues, you may face trouble while sending or receiving a message via DMs. In such cases, completely deleting the app before installing a fresh version can work amazingly. 

Here’s how you can do that:

1. Uninstall or delete the Instagram app by long-pressing it. You can also delete it from the settings menu. 
2. Tap on Uninstall or Remove App.
3. Now, reinstall the app from the App Store or Play Store. 

4. Change Your Data Connection

If the DM issue is still there, even after closing and reinstalling the app, try changing your data connection. People often overlook this simple hack. 

But, having a poor connection can interrupt your massage services on Instagram. 

So, here’s what you can do to solve this problem:

1. Open the settings menu on your device. 
2. Check whether your WiFi or Mobile data is turned on. 
3. Try changing between WiFi and mobile data connection. 
4. Contact your WiFi operator to check the internet speed. 

5. Update Your Instagram App

Using an outdated Instagram app can cause various glitches. 

That’s why make sure to check if the app version is up-to-date or not. 

If you’re using an older version of Instagram, visit App Store or Play Store to see if there’s the latest update pending. 

6. Wait For Instagram to Solve The Issue

If you’re unable to access DMs, maybe the problem is with Instagram itself. 

With over 1 billion active users worldwide, the app rarely causes problems. However, sometimes the app’s server can go down. 

Also, there can be some bug issues within the Instagram app, which cause problems when loading the messages. 

In such cases, all you can do is wait for Instagram to solve the issue. Other than waiting, there’s nothing you can do from your side. 

7. Check if The User Has Blocked You

No matter what you try, Instagram DMs won’t work if the one you’re trying to text has already blocked you. 

If a user blocks your account on Instagram, you can’t send or receive messages from that person. Also, all the conversations you had previously will disappear from your DM. 

So, the best thing you can do is check whether you can see the Instagram posts or stories from the user you’re trying to contact. If you can’t see any activity from that user, chances are you’re blocked. And unfortunately, there’s nothing you can do to fix this issue. 

8. Contact Instagram support

Try contacting the support team if you’ve tried everything and still can’t get your Instagram direct message working. 

Here’s how you can do that:

• Open the app on your device. 
• Tap on your profile and head to settings. 
• Scroll down and look for the help option. 
• Tap on the Report a Problem option. 
• Now follow the instructions and explain the issues you’re facing with DMs. 
• Tap on Send Report. 

Wait until Instagram resolves your issue. This process may take a long time to complete. 

Wrapping Up

Many users experience glitches and bugs in Instagram’s DM feature. Mainly because the app often goes through new updates and regulations. 

However, if your Instagram direct messages are not working as well, the solution we have provided here will solve the problem permanently.

And before you leave, do you have your own trick for dealing with the Instagram DMs issue? If yes, do share it with us in the comment.