Can’t Send or Receive TikTok Messages? Why DMs Stop Working and How to Fix It

Does this match what you see?

• You can only send one message and can’t send more.
• You can’t message someone at all.
• Your messages won’t send and you got a warning.
• A shared video says it’s unavailable.

iPhone & iPadAndroid

Based on TikTok’s “Direct messages”, “Manage direct messages”, “Streaks”, “Content violations and bans” and “Report a technical problem” pages (supplied by the site owner). Steps are for the TikTok app.

Why this happens: the possible causes

The reasons TikTok gives for messages not going through.

• A message request that hasn’t been acceptedCheck this first

  TikTok says you can send only one message request until the recipient accepts it.

• The other person’s message settingsCheck this first

  TikTok says you can’t send message requests if their DM privacy setting is set to Don’t receive message requests.

• A blockPossible

  TikTok says you can’t send message requests to someone who has blocked you.

• A Community Guidelines violationPossible

  TikTok says it may suspend your ability to send DMs, typically for 24 to 48 hours, or restrict your account to view-only.

• AgePossible

  TikTok says direct messaging is available to registered account holders aged 16 and older.

How to fix it, step by step

Work through these in order. They start with the quickest, safest checks and only move to steps that sign you out or remove data later.

Not receiving messages?

• TikTok says if you’re 18 or older, messages from mutual friends and accounts you follow go straight to your inbox. Messages from others appear as message requests, so check there.
• Check Inbox > Message requests, and the Filtered requests button at the top. TikTok says some requests are filtered there; tap Accept to move one into your inbox.
• TikTok says friends (followers you follow back) and accounts you follow can message you directly; everyone else sends a request. With a private account, accounts you follow can’t message you until they follow you.
• Choose who can send requests: Profile > Menu ☰ > Settings and privacy > Privacy > Direct messages, then set Potential connections and Others on TikTok to Requests or Don’t receive.
• Safe mode (on by default, in the same Direct messages settings) may hide messages with sensitive content; TikTok says you can view a hidden message if you wish. Filtered keywords hide messages containing words you add (TikTok says certain keywords can’t be filtered).
• Your privacy settings control who can message you. TikTok says if you set messages to Don’t receive, you can still read your history and use existing chats unless you block someone.
• TikTok says message requests can only be received from age 16, and they’re set to Don’t receive by default for under-18s.
• For alerts, check your notification settings (TikTok notifications not working).

Delete, mute, read receipts, report and block

• Delete a chat: in Inbox, swipe the chat and tap Delete > Confirm (iPhone), or press and hold it > Delete (Android).
• Delete one message: press and hold it > Delete > Delete for me, or Delete for everyone within 3 minutes of sending.
• Mute a chat: swipe it > More > Mute (iPhone), or press and hold > Mute (Android). Or open the chat > More options … > Mute notifications.
• Read status: Settings and privacy > Privacy > Direct messages > Read status. TikTok says the other person only sees you’ve read their message if you both have it on. It’s on by default for people 18 and older.
• Report a message: open the chat, then press and hold one message, or tap More options … at the top to report the whole chat. Tap Report, choose a reason, then Report and block or Report > Done. You can also swipe (iPhone) or press and hold (Android) the chat in your inbox > Report.
• Block someone from messaging you: swipe the chat > More > Block (iPhone), or press and hold > Block (Android), then confirm. TikTok says blocked accounts can’t send you message requests.

Streaks: why a Streak ended and how to restore it

TikTok says a Streak badge appears when you message someone (or a group chat) 3 days in a row. The badge fades if no messages are exchanged before the day ends, and the Streak ends if there’s no interaction for 24 hours after it fades.

• Restore a Streak: open the chat and tap Restore > Restore. TikTok says restoring may be an option depending on how long you’ve been messaging, and only within 48 hours after it ends; if there’s no Restore option, that time has passed. You get a limited number of restores each month, and the Streak returns to the same number of days.
• Streak notifications: Settings and privacy > Notifications > Streaks (and In-app notifications > Streaks).
• Streak Pets: TikTok says these aren’t available to everyone. If a Streak ends, the pet is removed for everyone in the chat, but returns if you restore the Streak.
• TikTok says you must be eligible for direct messaging and group chats to take part in Streaks.

Sharing videos in DMs

Tap the Share button on a video (or press and hold it), tap the profile photo of the person or people you want to send it to, add a message if you like, and send. TikTok says private videos can’t be shared, and if a creator makes a video private after you shared it, it becomes unavailable in the chat.

Translate a message: press and hold it > Translate. Change the language in Settings and privacy > Language > Translate into. TikTok says only text is translated.

Group chats, voice messages and voice calls

• Private group chats: tap Inbox > Chat, pick friends and tap Start group chat, or share a video with Create group chat with friends (up to 31 people). TikTok says you can only invite mutual friends, and group chats aren’t available everywhere.
• Public group chats: up to 300 members, discoverable by others. Not available everywhere.
• Voice messages: in a chat, press and hold Record (up to 60 seconds), then release to send. TikTok says you can delete one within 3 minutes of sending. Not available everywhere.
• Voice calls: tap Voice call at the top of a chat with someone you’ve messaged who messaged you back. TikTok says you must be 16 or older, calls aren’t recorded, and you can stop someone’s calls with More options … > Mute calls. Not available everywhere; you can control who can call you in your privacy settings.
• If it’s your first time using the microphone on TikTok, you’ll be asked to give access.

Are TikTok DMs private?

TikTok says DMs are encrypted while they’re sent and stored, but end-to-end encryption isn’t currently available, and it can decrypt data in response to valid legal processes and to enforce its Community Guidelines.

How to know it worked

• Your messages send, or you know which TikTok rule is stopping them.

Still not working? Your next steps

1. Our tip: update TikTok and restart your phone. See TikTok not working.
2. Report it: Profile > Menu ☰ > Settings and privacy > Help Center (scroll down) > Chat with us (how).

Frequently asked questions