About Direct Messages

Direct Messages are the private side of Twitter. You can use Direct Messages to have private conversations with people about Tweets and other content.

The basics
To send a Direct Message from your Twitter app
To send a Direct Message via the web
To mute Direct Message notifications
To share a Tweet via Direct Message
To receive Direct Messages from anyone
To disable Direct Message read receipts
To send and receive Direct Messages on your phone via SMS
Some important things to know about Direct Messages

The basics

• You can start a private conversation or create a group conversation with anyone who follows you.
• Anyone you do not follow can send you a Direct Message if:
• You have opted in to receive Direct Messages from anyone or;
• You have previously sent that person a Direct Message.
• Anyone in a conversation can send Direct Messages to the group. Everyone in a group can see all messages, even if everyone doesn’t follow each other.
• In group conversations, anyone in the conversation can add other participants. Newly added participants won’t see the prior history of the conversation.
• Some accounts, particularly businesses on Twitter, have enabled a setting to receive Direct Messages from anyone. You can send a Direct Message to these accounts even if they don’t follow you.
• In both group and one-on-one conversations, you cannot be in a conversation with an account you block.

To send a Direct Message from your Twitter app

1. Tap the envelope icon. You’ll be directed to your messages.
2. Tap the message icon  to create a new message.
3. In the address box, enter the name(s) or @username(s) of the people you wish to send a message to. A group message can include up to 50 people.
4. Enter your message.
5. In addition to text, you can include a photo, video, GIF, or send a sticker via Direct Message.
   
   • Tap the camera icon  to take a photo or record a video, or attach one from your device gallery. You have the option to edit your photo through your Twitter for iOS or Twitter for Android app before sending your message. Tap on the photo to bring up editing screen where you can enhance, crop, add filters, and add stickers. When you are done editing, tap Save.
     Note: For more information on advanced photo options, read our Posting photos or GIFs on Twitter article.
   • To include an animated GIF in your message, tap the GIF icon  to search for and select a file from the media library.
   • To send a sticker, tap the sticker iconbefore typing your message. Select and tap a sticker from a preselected set, and it will immediately send. 
6. Tap Send.
7. You and anyone else in a conversation can click or tap the more icon(iOS) or the overflow icon  (Android) to add new people to the group, view everyone participating in the group, edit the name of the group, turn off notifications for the conversation, or delete the conversation. 

To delete a Direct Message or conversation:

• To delete a Direct Message, tap and hold the message and select Delete from the menu that pops up.
• To delete an entire conversation, swipe left on the conversation and tap the trash can icon (iOS) or tap and hold the conversation and select Delete (Android). You can also delete an entire conversation by tapping the more icon(iOS) or overflow icon  (Android) and selecting Delete from the menu that pops up.
• When you delete a Direct Message or conversation (sent or received), it is deleted from your account only. Others in the conversation will still be able to see Direct Messages or conversations that you have deleted.

To send a Direct Message via the web

1. Log in to your Twitter account.
2. Click Messages in the top navigation bar.
3. You'll see a pop up showing your Direct Message history. Click the New message button.
4. In the address box, enter the name(s) or @username(s) of the people you wish to send a message to. A group message can include up to 50 people.
5. In addition to text, you can include a photo, video, GIF, or send a sticker via Direct Message.
   
   • Click the camera icon to upload a photo or video.
   • To include an animated GIF in your message, tap the GIF icon  to search for and select a file from the media library.
   • Click the sticker iconto select a sticker from a preselected set to immediately send.
6. Click the Send button or press the enter key to send.
7. You and anyone else in a conversation can click the More iconto add new people to the group, view everyone participating in the group, edit the name of the group, turn off notifications for the conversation, or delete the conversation.

To delete a Direct Message or conversation:

• To delete a Direct Message, hover your mouse over the message and click the trash can icon  that appears. Then click Delete message to confirm.
• To delete an entire conversation, locate the conversation and click to open it. Then click the more iconand select Delete Conversation. Then click Yes to confirm.
• When you delete a Direct Message or conversation (sent or received), it is deleted from your account only. Others in the conversation will still be able to see Direct Messages or conversations that you have deleted.

To mute Direct Message notifications

You can mute notifications for Direct Messages for 1 hour, 8 hours, 1 week, or Forever. When you mute a Direct Message conversation, you will still receive new messages, but you won’t receive a notification each time.

How to mute from within a Direct Message conversation:

1. Navigate to the Direct Message you’d like to mute.
2. Click or tap into the message settings:
1. From the Twitter for iOS app and via twitter.com: Click or tap the more icon  then select Mute notifications. 
2. From the Twitter for Android app: Tap the overflow icon  then select Mute notifications. 
3. From the pop-up menu, select the mute time interval you’d like: 1 hour, 8 hours, 1 week, or Forever. 
4. To unmute, click or tap the more icon or overflow icon, then click or tap Unmute notifications.

How to mute from your Direct Message inbox on Twitter for iOS:

1. Navigate to your Direct Message inbox.
2. Find the conversation you’d like to mute.
3. Swipe left on the message and tap the notifications icon 
   Note: You can also choose to flag  or delete  a conversation when you swipe left.
4. From the pop-up menu, select the mute time interval you’d like: 1 hour, 8 hours, 1 week, or Forever. 
5. To unmute, swipe left and tap the muted notifications icon 

How to mute from your Direct Message inbox on Twitter for Android:

1. Navigate to your Direct Message inbox.
2. Find the conversation you’d like to mute.
3. Long-press on the message and tap Mute notifications.
4. From the pop-up menu, select the mute time interval you’d like: 1 hour, 8 hours, 1 week, or Forever. 
5. To unmute, long-press on the message and tap the muted notifications icon 

How to mute from a Direct Message push notification:

1. Find the Direct Message push notification on your mobile device’s lock screen you’d like to mute:
1. From the Twitter for iOS app: Swipe left on the lock screen push notification, tap View, then tap Mute for 1 hour.
2. From the Twitter for Android app: Swipe down on the lock screen push notification, then tap Mute. 
2. Conversation notifications will be muted for one hour. 

To share a Tweet via Direct Message

Sharing a Tweet via Direct Message is a great way to spark a conversation with a group of friends. Learn more here.

To receive Direct Messages from anyone

You can receive messages from anyone if you check the box next to Receive Direct Messages from anyone in your Privacy and safety settings on twitter.com. You can also adjust this setting via the Twitter for iOS or Twitter for Android apps.

Note: If you enable this option, anyone can add you to group conversations.

To change your settings using Twitter for iOS:

1. From the Me tab, tap the gear icon 
2. Select Settings.
3. Tap Privacy and safety.
4. Under Privacy, and next to Receive Direct Messages from anyone, slide the switch to allow anyone to send you messages.

To change your settings using Twitter for Android:

1. In the top menu, you will either see a navigation menu icon  or your profile icon. Tap whichever icon you have.
2. Select Settings.
3. Tap Privacy and safety.
4. Next to Receive messages from anyone, check the box to allow anyone to send you Direct Messages.

To disable Direct Message read receipts

Direct Messages feature read receipts so you know when people have seen your messages. When someone sends you a Direct Message and your Send/Receive read receipts setting is enabled, everyone in the conversation will know when you’ve seen it. This setting is enabled by default but you can turn it off (or back on) through your settings at any time. If you turn off the Send/Receive read receipts setting, you will not be able to see read receipts from other people.

Read receipts are only viewable on the Twitter for iOS and Android apps, and twitter.com. Please note, however, that read receipts will also be sent when you view Direct Messages on mobile web.

To disable or enable using Twitter for iOS:

1. From the Me tab, tap the gear icon  
2. Select Settings.
3. Tap Privacy and safety.
4. Under Privacy, and next to Send/Receive read receipts, drag the slider to turn the feature off or back on. 

To disable or enable using Twitter for Android:

1. In the top menu, you will either see a navigation menu icon  or your profile icon. Tap whichever icon you have.
2. Select Settings.
3. Tap Privacy and safety.
4. Next to Send/Receive read receipts, uncheck the box to turn the feature off or check the box to turn back on.

To disable or enable via twitter.com:

1. Click your profile icon, then click Settings.
2. Click on Privacy and safety.
3. Under Privacy and next to Send/Receive read receipts, click the box to turn the feature off or click the box to turn back on.

To send and receive Direct Messages on your phone via SMS

If your Twitter account is connected to your mobile phone, you can send and receive Direct Messages via SMS.

• Haven't added your mobile phone yet? Find out how here.
• Added your mobile phone already? Find out what text commands to use to send Direct Messages via SMS.
• Read this article about setting up your mobile preferences to learn more about how to receive Direct Messages via SMS.

Some important things to know about Direct Messages

• When you delete a Direct Message or conversation (sent or received), it is deleted from your account only. Others in the conversation will still be able to see Direct Messages or conversations that you have deleted. When you delete a group conversation, you will leave that group and will no longer be able to participate.
• When you share a link in a Direct Message, it is automatically processed and shortened to a t.co link. You can learn more about link shortening here. Please note that anyone with a t.co shortened link will be able to navigate to the destination URL.
• When you share media in a Direct Message, it will be viewable by everyone in the conversation. Please note that recipients may download or re-share links to media that you share in a Direct Message. Anyone with the link to media shared in a Direct Message will be able to view the content.

Need more information?

Check out our frequently asked questions article for Direct Messages.