Instagram messages or DMs are a great way to communicate with your followers and clients directly. It has an essential effect on increasing your credibility and brand trust. However, many people find Instagram DMs not working. How can you interact with your audience and grow in such a situation when your Instagram messages are not sending?!
Many marketers share Instagram coupons and discounts by sending mass DMs on Instagram. And for many businesses, the only channel through which their potential customers could talk and ask about the price or their services is Instagram direct! What will happen if they find Instagram messages not showing or even worse if they can view the messages but can’t reply?!
Unfortunately, when Instagram DMs are not working, you can’t send automated DMs either, and this may cause many delays in your marketing performance and sales. That’s why we’ve decided to dedicate an entire article to finding the reason for Instagram DM not working.
This article will break down why Instagram’s direct message is not working and grants you the best ways to prevent it. But if you’re not in the mood for reading a whole page, you can click here to access an instant solution to all your DM glitches and problems!
Now, let’s dive in.
Why Are Instagram Messages Not Sending
Seeing your Instagram DMs not working can be genuinely annoying. Indeed, when Instagram messages are not sending, you cannot start a new message, your message will disappear, Instagram gets stuck on sending messages, or you won’t be able to answer the messages. In such a situation, you can’t send a private message, let alone automated Instagram messages!
The issue of Instagram messages not sending can be extremely troublesome especially when your sales partially depend on DM marketing on Instagram. For some businesses, no DMs means no sales at all!
Facing such Instagram DM glitches can make you wonder if this error originates from your account or Instagram servers. In the following, you will read why you can’t send DMs on Instagram and how to fix your Instagram direct message not working.
1. Poor Internet Connection
Every day, we hear many users ask, ‘Why did my dm conversation on Instagram disappear?’ or ‘Why won’t the direct section open?’ All these questions could have a simple answer!
Whenever you face a problem with your Instagram messages not working, the first step is to check your connection. If you’re disconnected, then no wonder your Instagram message is not sending or your chat has stopped loading!
If you’re connected but have difficulty opening the posts and stories, it indicates that your internet connection is weak, and it has resulted in your Instagram DMS not working.
2. Your IG Cache Is Loaded
‘Why are my Instagram messages not sending even though I have a good Internet connection?’ some of you asked! Well, if your connection is not the problem, then maybe your Instagram cache is!
Perhaps your Instagram messages are not working because your Instagram cache is loaded with data. To fix your Instagram DMs not working by clearing your cache, follow the steps below:
- Open ‘Settings’ on your phone,
- Tap on ‘Apps’ then choose the ‘Manage Apps’ option,
- Now, select ‘Storage’ and ‘Clear data.’
3. Instagram Action Block Is the Reason For Instagram DMs Not Working
If you still see IG messages not sending among other errors and glitches, you might consider other possible issues. According to Instagram’s daily limits, every user can send 20 to 50 Instagram direct messages a day.
So, there is a high chance that your Instagram messages won’t send anymore if you have sent several spam messages, due to which Instagram has blocked you. It might be for a few hours during the first block, but as it blocks you again, the time will also increase too many hours and even days.
Generally, Instagram terms of use are against using malicious bots that will take action on your behalf. So, interacting with too many accounts in a short period can raise suspicions and make Instagram shadowban your page. So, if you’ve used such tools or had suspicious activities, don’t look for further reasons why messages are not sending in Instagram; you’ve probably been action blocked.
4. The Post Is Not Available
Those of you who ask, ‘Why are my messages on Instagram not sending?’ should also pay attention and see whether the post they’re trying to send is available. Sometimes you are sending a post as a DM, but it is not available anymore. Maybe Instagram or the person who published the photo has removed it from the feeds. So make sure the post is still sitting there as a feed.
5. Your Instagram Is Out of Date
If you notice messages not sending on Instagram, there’s a chance the application is outdated. After checking all the above items, if your Instagram messages are still not sending, your Instagram may need an update. Then, go to your setting and check for updates. Also, you can update your app in the App Store or Google Play.
6. Instagram Server Is the Reason For Instagram Messages Not Showing
It may seldom happen that Instagram is updating the platform or the server goes down. Consequently, the entire app or some features like the Instagram direct message is not working. In this case, it’s better to wait for the platform to recover itself and then start sending DMs.
If you see Instagram DMs not working while other features on the platform are also down, you can check for the servers.
7. The Recipient Blocked or Unfollowed You
It is not pleasant to hear, but Instagram messages are not sending because you send DMs to someone who has blocked you before.
Maybe the recipient is not following you and has set its settings to receive DMs only from followers. Indeed, that’s why your Instagram direct message is not working.
8. There are Some Technical Issues with Your Phone
If you don’t think any of the reasons above are the potential cause of you encountering these glitches, and are still wondering ‘why are my Instagram messages not sending?’, then check if your smartphone is updated.
Sometimes, there are some technical bugs in smartphones’ software and companies release new updates to fix them. These bugs can cause some errors in using various applications. Therefore, keep an eye on these updates to avoid issues such as Instagram messages not sending.
Instagram DMs Not working! How to Fix?
Now that you know why your Instagram message is not sending, it’s time to fix the issues! In the following, we will go pin-pointing to fix the Instagram direct message not working.
#1 Check the Basics
Firstly, we go through the step-by-step basic solutions to resolve the problem.
Test the Internet Connection
Check your internet connection first. Open other apps to check if you are connected to the internet. Examine the router by changing your internet from WiFi to Cellular Data. If it works, then you are done in the first stage. Otherwise, check for the next solutions to resolve Instagram DMs not sending!
Clear IG or Phone Cache
To stop Instagram messages not sending, check if your Instagram cache is full and clear up your cash. We’ve already gone through how you can do so to stop your problems with Instagram messages not showing!
Check Instagram Server Status
You can utilize some tools to check if the Instagram server is working well. Some of these tools may inform you if any other Instagrammers are facing the same problems as yours.
If you want to check if all the problems regarding Instagram not sending messages come down to Instagram servers, you can check it on DownDetector, a website that allows an overview of real-time issues and glitches across various platforms.
Ensure If Instagram Hasn’t Blocked You
Suppose you have sent spam messages repeatedly or violated the Instagram algorithm by publishing nudity posts, and now you are blocked. Therefore, it’s better to wait and do nothing till the platform unblocks you. However, you can use a VPN or change your internet to be able to send DMs.
Check If the User Blocked You
‘Why are my messages not sending on Instagram to a certain person?!’ That’s a good question. Well, if you can’t send Instagram messages to only one user, they may have limited their DMs to receive messages only from followers. Otherwise, you may have annoyed and made them block you. In this case, go to your room and think about what you have done!
Reach out to Instagram Support Team to Fix Instagram DMs Not Sending
Another solution to these bugs is simply contacting Instagram support team, and wait for their response. Indeed, this could only work if you have plenty of time and are not impatient to start using your DMs again.
To send a report regarding messages not sending Instagram needs you to take the steps below:
- Go to your profile and tap on the three horizontal lines at the upper right corner of your screen.
- Tap on ‘Settings’.
- Scroll down the page and tap on ‘Help’.
- Select ‘Report a Problem’.
- Now, explain your problem in the box and tap on ‘Submit’.
Try Uninstalling and Reinstalling Instagram Application
If you’ve tried all the ways mentioned above but got nowhere with your Instagram message not sending, then you should consider uninstalling your IG app. More often than not, it does the trick.
Still don’t see any progress?! Then read the next section to fix these glitches once and for all!
#2 Send Instagram Messages Using Your Email
Seeing Instagram DM not sending is truly nerve-racking. But what if you won’t have to deal with the DM section at all?! Why bother going through all the trouble if you can avoid such issues altogether? Fixing Instagram messages not working is a long time-killing process and not a busy marketer’s favorite. Don’t you agree that the best way to fix a problem is to prevent it from happening in the first place?
Now, after going through the whole process, I recommend you send Instagram messages using your email. You may ask how! Here is the answer:
Using DMpro, you can quickly connect DMs to your email and send your Instagram messages using your email.
To connect your Instagram DMs to your email and stop Instagram messages not working, you only need to:
- Sign up for free.
- Add your Instagram accounts(up to 30 accounts).
- Select ‘Manage.’
- Click on both ‘Direct Messages’ and ‘DM to Email’ tabs.
- Add your email.
- After confirming your email, you’ll get emails including your Instagram DMs each time you have new messages.

#3 Send Instagram Messages Via DMpro
The great news is that DMpro provides you with a feature to send Instagram messages to your target followers automatically. Therefore, you can sort and filter your Instagram DMs and send them to your audience at the right time. Moreover, you can respond to the DM directly from your Email Inbox!

To send Instagram messages to your target followers, go through the steps below:
- Log in to your free account on DMpro.
- Select ‘Manage.’
- Click on both ‘Direct Messages’ and ‘DM’ tabs.
- Edit your DM’s text.
- Select your target followers.
- Now, press ‘Start DM.’
As you see in the picture, you can auto-reply to your DMs and send Instagram messages in bulk. This is how DMpro facilitates you to send and receive your DMs without facing Instagram DMs not working.
FAQs on Instagram DMs Not Working
If you have problems with your Instagram messages not sending, this blog tried to offer a complete guide on why that happens and how to fix it. Now, let’s see what other questions you have!
1- Why Are My Instagram General Messages Not Showing?
If you run a business account, you’re already aware that your Instagram DM section is divided into two sections: primary and general. Now, if you’re not seeing your Instagram general messages, perhaps you’re on the ‘Primary’ page!
If that’s not the case, you should check the solutions stated above. And for preventing such problems from ever happening, you should get immediate access to DMPro, a platform designed to enable Instagrammers to mass DM their followers, connect their direct messages to Email, read Instagram messages without the seen receipt, and much more!
2- Is Instagram Not Working Today?
If you’re asking ‘Why is my Instagram messages not sending?’ then you should check whether others are going through the same problems. To check if Instagram servers are down, you should check the DownDetector website.
If everything seems fine there, check all the other options and solutions. You will surely find the remedy!
Bottom Line
Instagram DMs are a new way to instantly communicate with your community and make new groups to share ideas, products, and services. On the other hand, Instagram DMs not working stops you from contacting your audience ideally. Here, using a powerful Instagram DM tool, like DMPro, will pave the road for marketers to do their job efficiently.
So, don’t waste a second more and sign up on DMpro, to DM like a pro! Hassle-free, glitch-free!