Private Message on Instagram Where No One Else Can See

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Karen Lin

Instagram 101 | Feb 16, 2024

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It feels like we are in the era of the Jetsons. Alexa talks back to us, and our phones eavesdrop. This is the easiest communication has ever been. Now, if you don’t have someone’s number, you just head over to the Instagram DM and shoot a message. You can send a private message on Instagram with ease. Sending a message to numerous people at once has never been easier.

Knowing how to send a private message on Instagram is just the beginning. Just when you think sending a video reply is the most convenient. IG improves with calls. The paper plane button in the message field is virtually magic. Recipients get your messages instantaneously.

Start that conversation thread. You’ll see that message entry is easier than ever. Path Social will show you why!

A content creator sends a follower a private message.

How To Send a Private Message on Instagram: The Basics

Knowing how to send a private message on Instagram may sound like the most basic thing. Still, sometimes you forget. It can be tricky to remember how to do simple things when Instagram updates the platform so often. Luckily for you, we have you covered.

Instagram makes it simple for you to start a discussion with a direct message. It’s the most private way to communicate on the platform.

Take the following steps:

  1. Access the messaging screen by tapping or clicking the symbol that looks like a paper airplane. It is in the upper-right-hand corner of the home screen.
  1. Tap or click the symbol that looks like a pencil in a square. The prompt for entering a New Message appears.
  1. To identify the recipients, either type a name into the Search box or scroll down the Suggested list.
  1. Once you’ve located them, tap or click on their usernames.
  1. After you have tapped or clicked on a recipient’s name, a tick mark will display to the right of that name. It is also possible to search for one or more recipients.
  1. On an iPhone, press or click the Next button. Once you have chosen one or more recipients on an Android device, the text input box will show up at the bottom of the screen.
  1. When you have finished typing your message, click the Send button at the bottom of the page.

That’s it! If this person is already a mutual follower, they should receive a notification immediately.

A woman has a video call with someone in her DMs.

Sending a Private Message on Instagram: Photos and Videos

We aren’t in the dark ages. We send more than just text messages. We can even react to Instagram messages with emojis. Source a photo or video and send it to the other person instead. You are even able to personalize the shot by adding text, filters, and GIFs. We’ll show you how to send a private message on Instagram with a picture or video.

  1. Tap or click the Camera icon located on the main page for Direct messages. This should be beside the name of the person in your direct messages.
  1. You can take a picture by touching or clicking the white button. You can record a video by holding down the white button.
  1. You also have the option of selecting a photo or video from your camera roll. Simply touch the little camera icon in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
  1. Select the photo or video that you want to use.
  1. Press the X to discard the photo or video and take another snap to start again.
  1. Tap or click the text (Aa) button to add text on top of your photo or video.  After entering your message, select the Done button.
  1. Click the Send button in the bottom right corner.

The Direct Messages page loads, and at the top of the chat list, it displays the message that you just sent to the recipient.

A woman has a phone call through her DMs.

Can You Send Private Messages on Instagram: Disappearing Messages

Maybe we didn’t understand you when you asked, “Can you send private messages on Instagram?” By “private message on Instagram”, did you mean a message that is a little risque? In that case, the answer is yes. IG allows vanishing messages.

This is how you send a vanishing image or video:

  1. Tap the Instagram DM symbol.
  1. Find the person you intend to send the message to.
  1. Enter the chat and look for the message box.
  1. To access the camera, tap the blue camera symbol at the bottom of the screen.
  1. Use the white button in the center to take pictures by pressing or clicking it. Hold it down to record videos.
  1. You may switch between the front and back cameras if necessary. Use the switch cameras symbol that displays to the right of the white button.
  1. Tap the X to erase the image or video if you’re not satisfied with what you captured, and try again.
  1. Would you like to use a prior photo or video? You may do so by touching the tiny square in the lower left corner of the camera screen.
  1. Select the image/movie you want to use. You can select multiple.
  1. Select Next at the bottom of the page.
  1. This is the fun part. You can select View Once, Allow Replay, or Keep in Chat by scrolling left or right exactly over the wording. They are pretty self-explanatory. Select a viewing method, then click the Send button.

If you wish to share your Instagram stories, your closest friends only, or additional contacts, you may also select the Share to Others button.

When you send a disappearing message, IG notifies you when the recipient takes a screenshot.

A woman sent a direct message to a new online friend.

Can You Message a Private Account on Instagram? Here’s the Best Way To Do It

It can be difficult when the person you want to talk to seems out of reach. You’ve generally got the DM thing down, but private accounts trip you up a bit. Can you message a private account on Instagram? Yes, you can. This is how you should do it, though.

You first have to make a follow request to a private Instagram account. Wait for the person to grant it. If they don’t, you should go ahead with your message. They may not see your message if it’s too deep in the DMs.

Were you blocked? Maybe this is why you’re having difficulty sending them a message.

If the owner of the account has blocked you, you won’t be able to communicate with them in any way. This includes sending them messages or seeing their postings. If you think that someone has blocked you, there are ways to make sure. Don’t jump to conclusions. This is a last resort for most people. There could be other reasons for the faulty communication.

Maybe they restricted communication with your account. Maybe the user of the private account you’re trying to communicate has deleted or deactivated it. You won’t be able to send them a message if this is so. Before attempting to send a message, you should first make sure that the account is still active.

An influencer scribbles on her iPad.

How To Send a Private Message on Instagram

Instagram brings us all closer. It gives you the ability to connect with your followers. These could be common friends and other Instagram users in both public and private settings. This includes sending direct messages to a total stranger. Keep reading for information on how to send a private message on Instagram.

A private Instagram account is different from a public Instagram account, of course. It imposes a number of restrictions on anyone who is not already following the account in question. You are aware that in order to follow a private account, you will have to send a request. The owner of the account will then decide whether or not to approve. Similarly, when you send a message to them, it is not automatically received. They decide whether or not to accept.

  1. Go to your profile.
  1. Choose the Instagram user whose private account you want to send a direct message to.
  1. You should observe three dots in the upper right-hand corner of your screen.
  1. If you tap on those dots, a pop-up will emerge with a number of alternatives that you may choose from.
  1. Simply touching on the Send Message option will bring up the menu.
  1. You will see a chat box come up for you to type in, and you are now able to type and send a text message.
  1. The message now rests deep in their DMs, which hopefully they check.

Note that you will not be able to talk to that person in the chat, even after you have sent them a message. This is because they have to approve your message request before you can proceed with the chat with them.

We hope this works!

A Black woman sends a DM while on Instagram.

Instead of a Private Message on Instagram, Start a Video Call

So you know the answer to the question, “Can you message a private account on Instagram?” Well, what can’t Instagram do? Well, you already have microphone access and now you can make calls on Instagram. You can make a live call to a single person or a group of people via video chat. You even have an unlimited amount of time for video chatting. The popularity of video messaging pushed us to this point, and we’re grateful.

Keep in mind that any person whose direct message you have accepted can participate in a video chat with you. Don’t worry. You can also mute call notifications. You may mute the discussion or block the person who is trying to call you so they can’t use the video calling feature. This is how the process goes:

  1. To send a message, use the arrow symbol located in the top right corner of the Feed.
  1. Simply selecting a user name or the name of a group will launch the chat. To initiate a video call, swipe right into your Direct inbox and choose any message thread from the list.
  1. Tap the symbol that looks like a camera that’s going to be in the top right corner. This initiates the call. The camera symbol in a group discussion will become blue whenever there is a running video chat on that topic. You may reduce the video so that you can continue to explore Instagram. 
  1. Tap the red phone symbol at the bottom of the screen when you want to end the call.

A woman sending a message on her phone.

A Strong Following Will Help You Get Seen When You Share a Private Message on Instagram

So, to the question “Can you send messages on Instagram?” it’s a clear yes. Follow these steps to increase your chances of making a strong first impression. Start engaging with a private Instagram account. You don’t need to be afraid to send that private message on Instagram when you have a strong following. To increase your chances of receiving a response, make sure your account is public. This will optimize growth potential

When you utilize Path Social, you will have the advantage of precise audience targeting. With their state-of-the-art, proprietary AI technology, you will get the results you want. We use an algorithm to examine the demographics, interests, and hashtags of your brand. We figure out how to contact your target audience and who they are.

Path Social’s internal social media experts are more than happy to impart their marketing expertise to you. They will guide you through the process of growth and help you promote your content to your audience.

Look forward to gradual growth in the number of engaged followers after the right individuals notice your content. You might be able to develop a committed following with the aid of followers who are interested in the content you offer. Naturally, they will raise brand awareness. People believe in Path Social a lot. Start acquiring followers and growing your Instagram following right away!