Social Media Instagram How to Check Messages on Instagram Check messages from your phone, tablet, or possibly your computer by Elise Moreau Freelance Contributor Elise Moreau is a writer that has covered social media, texting, messaging, and streaming for Lifewire. Her work has appeared on Techvibes, SlashGear, Lifehack and others. our editorial process Facebook Twitter Elise Moreau Updated on December 05, 2020 reviewed by Jessica Kormos Lifewire Tech Review Board Member Jessica Kormos is a writer and editor with 15 years' experience writing articles, copy, and UX content for Tecca.com, Rosenfeld Media, and many others. our review board Article reviewed on Mar 30, 2020 Jessica Kormos Tweet Share Email The Ultimate Guide to Instagram The Ultimate Guide to Instagram Introduction Instagram Basics How to Use Instagram Instagram Tips for Beginners Check Messages on Instagram Add or Change an Instagram Background Search Instagram for Tags and Users Add Music to Instagram Video Use Instagram Video Chat Try Instagram Shopping Get Verified on Instagram Clear Search History on Instagram Posting on Instagram The Best Time to Post Save a Draft of a Post Repost an Instagram Story See Previously Liked Posts Post a GIF to Instagram Add Multiple Photos to Stories Save Instagram Videos How to Quickly Repost Photos Saving Photos Deleting Photos and Videos View Saved Posts With Instagram Collections Working With Followers Mute Someone on Instagram See Who Unfollowed You on Instagram Block Someone On Instagram Unblock Someone on Instagram See Who Viewed You Great Tools to Track Comments Remove Followers on Instagram Tips to Get a Shoutout on Instagram Attract More Instagram Followers Delete 'Suggestions for You' IG Tips & Tricks Instagram Tips and Tricks to Try Add Highlights on Instagram Learn About Instagram Direct Use Instagram's Close Friends Feature How to Delete or Deactivate Your Account Reactivate Your Account Reset Your Password Get Started With Location Tagging How to Repost Shoot Videos with Instagram Video Understanding IG Privacy & Security Hide Your Story on Instagram Does IG Send Screenshot Notifications? Make Your Instagram Account Private See Who Saved Your Instagram Posts Download Everything IG Knows About You Manage Multiple Instagram Accounts Hiding Photos Rather Than Deleting Them How to View Private Instagram Accounts Engaging Users on Instagram Start an Instagram Live Video How to Sell on Instagram Use an Instagram Creator Account Make Money as an Instagram Influencer How to Get More Likes Things You Should Definitely Do Get on the Instagram Explore Page The Best Instagram Apps to Boost Engagement How to Make a Poll Instagram Extras: Captions & More Steal These: The Best Instagram Captions Discover the Best Instagram Filters Have Fun With Instagram Hashtags Use Emoji Hashtags on IG The Easy Way to Track IG Hashtags How to Use the IG Questions Sticker Using Instagram on Other Platforms Can You Get Instagram on Apple Watch? Use Instagram on a PC or Mac Get Instagram for iPad What is the Galaxy S10 Instagram Mode? View Instagram on the Web Online Connect Instagram to Facebook Tools for Posting From the Desktop What to Know Instagram app: Tap the messages icon in the upper-right corner of the home screen.The icon looks like a paper airplane or the Facebook Messenger logo.Desktop: Tap the paper airplane in the upper-right corner. This article explains how to access, read, and reply to your Instagram direct messages on the Instagram mobile app or from Instagram on the desktop. We also explain how Facebook is in the process of merging messaging between Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp, and what you can expect when the rollout is complete. Traditional Way to Check Messages on the Instagram App Access your direct-message inbox from the Instagram main screen, where you see your current feed with posts from people and businesses you follow. If Facebook hasn't rolled out its new messaging app integration in your area, here's how to find and read your messages. You Can't Turn off Read Receipts on Instagram, but There Are Workarounds Open the Instagram app on your iOS or Android device and sign in to your account or switch to the appropriate account, if necessary. Tap the mail icon in the upper-right corner of the screen to go to your Instagram Direct inbox. If you have the newer Instagram messages version, you'll see an icon that looks like the Facebook Messenger icon. A number count appears on the mail icon in the upper-right corner when you open the app. The number represents how many unread messages you have. Your inbox messages are listed from most to least recent. Unread messages have a blue dot. Use the search field at the top to search for a message from a certain user or to search for a keyword or phrase. Tap any message to open the conversation thread, then use the text field and media buttons at the bottom to send a reply. To send a quick photo or video reply without opening the conversation, tap the camera to the right of every message listed in your inbox. Tap the arrow icon in the upper-left corner to exit the inbox and return to your feed. If you receive an Instagram message from someone you don't follow, it appears as a request in your inbox rather than a conversation. If you accept the request, you can reply without following the other user. If you decline the request, the other user can't contact you again unless you follow them. How to Check Instagram Messages on the Desktop You can also check your direct messages using Instagram on a web browser. Go to the official Instagram website and log in. Select the messages icon, which looks like a paper airplane. Your current conversations appear in the left pane. Click a conversation to open it. The message opens in the right pane. Enter your message in the text box to reply. Along with text, you can include emojis by clicking the smiley face icon. Include photos from your computer with the photo icon on the right side of the text box. Click the heart icon to send a heart emoji instantly. If you have a Windows PC, download the official Instagram app for Windows and send and receive direct messages through it, including photos, videos, and posts from your feed. What to Know About the New Messaging Integration According to a report in The Verge, in August of 2020, Facebook began rolling out a new messaging system, merging the messaging functionality of Instagram and Facebook, which both are owned by Facebook. While Facebook is testing this feature, your Instagram home page may greet you with a screen that says, "There's a New Way to Message on Instagram," along with an Update button. When you update, your paper-airplane-style Direct Messages icon changes to the Facebook Messenger logo. In theory, you can message Facebook friends who aren't on Instagram. News of this type of messaging merger was first reported in 2019, with sources like Mobile Monkey reporting that messaging will be merged between Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp. There's speculation that Facebook is making this cross-communication move as a convenience to users and businesses. Stay on the lookout for these cross-messaging features to appear in your area. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Email Address Sign up There was an error. Please try again. You're in! Thanks for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. Thank you for signing up. Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit