How to Send a Private Message on X/Twitter: Step-by-Step Guide

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How to send direct messages on X, formerly Twitter
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Want to send a private message to somebody on X, the site formerly known as Twitter? It's easy to send direct messages (also known as DMs) to anyone who follows you or has contacted you first. If you want to contact someone who doesn't follow you, you can only do so if that person allows direct messages from non-followers. We'll show you how to contact someone privately on X using your iPhone, iPad, Android, or computer.

How to DM on Twitter (X)

Click or tap the envelope icon at the bottom of the screen on mobile or the left side of the screen on desktop. Type the name of the user you want to message, then type your message. Click or tap the paper airplane icon to send the DM.

Section 1 of 3:

Sending from the Inbox (Mobile)

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  1. It's the black icon with a white X.
    • If you don't have the X app, you can download it from the App Store or Google Play Store .
    • X is the new name for Twitter, so you may see it referenced as one or the other (or sometimes both).
  2. This opens your inbox.
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  3. It's the envelope icon with a plus symbol in the bottom-right corner of your screen.
    • If you've sent or received messages with X users in the past, you'll see those conversations in your inbox. You can reply to an existing message by tapping the user's name in your inbox to open the conversation.
  4. As you type, X will display matching users.
  5. This will immediately open a new DM with that user. To send messages to multiple people, tap Create a group when typing a user's name, then add users to a new message group. You can add up to 256 members to a group DM.
    • If you'd like, you can also attach an image to the message by tapping the photo icon and selecting an image.
    • To send an animated GIF sticker, tap the GIF icon to find and select one from the list.
  7. It's the paper airplane to the right of the typing area. This sends your message to the selected user. [1]
    • Depending on the user's notification settings, the user may or may not receive a notification that they have a new message.
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Section 2 of 3:

Sending from the Inbox (Browser)

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  1. Go to x.com in a web browser. If you're already signed in, you'll see your X feed.
    • If you're not signed in or haven't yet created an X account, you'll be taken to the sign-in screen. Sign in with your account, or sign up with your Google account, Apple account, or email.
    • You must have a Twitter/X account to send a direct message.
  2. You'll see it in the vertical row of icons running along the left side of X. This opens your inbox.
    • Any direct messages you've exchanged with other users appear in the left panel of your inbox.
  3. It's in the right panel.
    • To respond to an existing message, click that message in the left panel to display the conversation in the right panel, and type your response into the typing area.
  4. As you type, X will display matching users.
  5. If you want to message multiple people at once (a group message), you can add additional users by searching for and selecting those users.
    • You can send a group DM to up to 256 users at a time.
  6. It's at the top-right corner.
  7. You'll see the typing area at the bottom of the right panel.
    • If you'd like, you can also attach an image to the message by clicking the photo icon and selecting an image.
    • To send an animated GIF sticker, click the GIF icon to find and select one from the list.
  8. It's at the bottom-right corner. This sends the message. [2]
    • Depending on the recipient's notification settings, they may or may not be notified that they have received a message.
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Section 3 of 3:

Sending from a Profile (All Platforms)

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  1. 1
    Open X. Either open the mobile app on your phone or go to x.com in your browser.
    • If you're not signed in, you'll be prompted to do so when you first open the app or website. Sign in now, or create a new account using your Google account, Apple account, or email.
  2. 2
    Search for the account you want to message. To do this, tap the magnifying glass icon at the bottom of your screen on mobile, or type into the search bar in the upper-right corner of the screen on desktop.
  3. 3
    Click or tap the profile you want to message. If you didn't search for the user's full username, you may have to scroll a bit to find the user you want to message.
    • You can also access a user's profile by clicking or tapping on their profile from your feed or the Explore page.
  4. 4
    Click or tap the envelope icon. If you're able to send that user a DM, there will be an envelope icon directly to the left of the Follow button.
    • You can send a DM to any user who follows you.
    • You can also send DMs to any user who has enabled public DMs in their account settings.
  5. 5
    Type your message into the field. If you'd like, you can also attach an image to the message by clicking the photo icon and selecting an image.
    • To send an animated GIF sticker, click the GIF icon to find and select one from the list.
  6. 6
    Click or tap the paper airplane icon. It's near the bottom of the screen for both desktop and mobile. This sends the message.
    • Depending on the recipient's notification settings, they may or may not be notified that they have received a message.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    How can I send a message to someone I follow?
    Community Answer
    If they aren't following you or don't have private messages open, you cannot send them a private message. If you are both following each other, then you can follow the instructions above.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 7
  • Question
    Can I add a hyperlink to a private message on Twitter?
    WF
    Top Answerer
    No, you can't add a hyperlink for Direct Message in Twitter. Instead, you can directly share any links/URLs.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 7 Helpful 4
  • Question
    How can I ask someone to follow me?
    Community Answer
    You can send them a private message or send them a public message using @ and their user name. Be careful though, doing this frequently to multiple users can be seen as spam.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      References

      1. ↑ https://help.x.com/en/using-x/direct-messages#ios
      2. ↑ https://help.x.com/en/using-x/direct-messages#send-via-web
      3. ↑ https://help.x.com/en/using-x/direct-message-faqs

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open the Twitter app.
      2. Tap the envelope icon.
      3. Tap the envelope with a plus sign.
      4. Start typing the person's username.
      5. Tap the correct person in the search results.
      6. Type your message.
      7. Tap the paper airplane to send.

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