X (Twitter) DMs Not Working? Can’t Send, Missing Messages, Requests and Read Receipts

Does this match what you see?

• There’s no message button, or you can’t DM someone.
• Someone says they messaged you but you don’t see it.
• You deleted a message but the other person still sees it.
• People can see when you’ve read their messages.

iPhone & iPadAndroidComputer (browser)

Based on X Help Center “About Direct Messages”, supplied by the site owner, October 31, 2026. Some newer X Chat features may work differently.

Why this happens: the possible causes

Why DMs don’t go through or don’t show up, from X’s rules.

• Their message settingsCheck this first

  X says you can message anyone who follows you; others must allow messages from everyone or from Verified users, or have messaged with you before.

• Message requests and filtersCheck this first

  X says messages from people you don’t follow go to Requests, and lower-quality requests are filtered to the bottom without notifications.

• BlockingPossible

  X says you can’t be in a one-on-one conversation with an account you block, and its blocking page says blocked accounts can’t DM you.

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.

Stop strangers messaging you

• iPhone: navigation menu > Settings and privacy > Privacy and safety > under Direct Messages, turn off Allow messages requests from everyone.
• Android and x.com: Settings and privacy > Privacy and safety > under Direct Messages, uncheck Receive messages from anyone.
• X says turning this off doesn’t stop someone you already have a conversation with. To stop them, block them or report the conversation. See block and report a DM.
• X says deleting a request doesn’t stop that account messaging again.
• X says some new accounts may already be set to receive message requests from people you don’t follow.
• Creators: X says letting subscribers message you is off by default (turn it on in Messaging settings). If you turn it on and reply to a subscriber, they can keep messaging you even if you turn it off later.

Delete a DM or conversation

• One message: tap and hold it (or click it on x.com) > Delete.
• A conversation: swipe left > trash can (iPhone), tap and hold > Delete conversation (Android), or open it > information icon > Delete conversation / Leave conversation.
• X says deleting removes it from your account only; others still see it. Deleting a group conversation means you leave the group.

Edit a DM

Click the three dots next to your message > Edit, make changes, then Save. X says:

• There’s no time limit, but each message can be edited up to 5 times; “Edited” shows underneath.
• The original timestamp stays the same, and nobody (including you) can see earlier versions. X logs edits for safety.
• If the other person has an older app, they may get a new message starting with “edited” (Android and web), or on iPhone only the edited version if they hadn’t seen the original.

Read receipts (“seen”)

• X says Show read receipts is on by default. Turn it off in Settings and privacy > Privacy and safety > Direct Messages. If you turn it off, you can’t see other people’s read receipts either.
• X says read receipts are still sent when you read DMs on mobile web.
• X says people in Requests can’t see that you’ve read their messages until you accept.

Snooze DM notifications

X says you can snooze a conversation for 1 hour, 8 hours, 1 week or Forever; messages still arrive, without notifications.

• In a conversation: tap the information icon > Snooze notifications.
• From the inbox: swipe left > notifications icon (iPhone), or long-press > Snooze notifications (Android).
• From a lock-screen notification: swipe left > View > Snooze for 1 hour (iPhone), or swipe down > Snooze (Android).
• X says in groups you’ll still be notified when you’re mentioned, unless you also turn on Snooze mentions.

Group chats

• X says a group can have up to 256 people, everyone sees all messages, and anyone in the group can add people. New members don’t see earlier messages.
• If you allow messages from everyone, X says anyone can add you to groups; groups from people you don’t follow appear in Requests.
• X’s Android steps say the group’s creator is admin (then the next member to join) and can remove members.
• To leave or report a group: information icon > Leave conversation or Report conversation.

Other DM tips

• Pin up to six conversations: swipe right (iPhone) or hold down (Android) on a conversation > pin icon; on x.com, the conversation’s more icon > Pin Conversation.
• Search DMs from the search bar in Messages. X says you can’t search for images or GIFs.
• New line on x.com: press Shift + Enter; Enter alone sends the message.
• X says links in DMs become t.co links and media links can be opened by anyone with the link.

How to know it worked

• Our check: messages send and arrive, requests are where you expect, and your settings match what you want.

Still not working? Your next steps

1. Being harassed in DMs? Report the message or conversation, and block the account.
2. App not working at all? See X app not working on iPhone or x.com not working.

Frequently asked questions