To DM someone on X (Twitter) in the app, tap the envelope icon, tap the new message icon, type their name or @username, write your message and tap the send icon. On the web, click Messages in the left menu, click the New message icon, add the person, click Next, type and press Send.
The catch is who you're allowed to message. X says you can message anyone who follows you, but people who don't follow you only get your DM if their settings allow it.
Below you'll find the steps for each device, the rules on who can message whom, and what happens when you edit or delete a DM. It's all from X's Help Center, read in October 2026.
How to send a DM on X on your phone
- Tap the envelope icon. You'll land in your messages.
- Tap the message icon to start a new message.
- In the address box, type the name or @username of the person you want to message.
- Type your message.
- Add a photo, video or GIF if you like, using the photo icon or the GIF icon.
- Tap the send icon. On iPhone it's a paper aeroplane.
X's steps for iPhone and Android are almost the same. The only difference is the name of the send button.
How to send a DM on X on a computer
- Click Messages in the left navigation bar.
- Click the New message icon at the top.
- Type the name or @username of the person you want to message.
- Click Next.
- Type your message, and add a photo, video, GIF or emoji if you want.
- Click Send, or press the Enter key.
Who you can DM on X
This is where most failed DMs come from. X's help page sets out the rules:
- You can start a private conversation or a group with anyone who follows you.
- Someone you don't follow can message you if you've opted in to receive DMs from anyone, if they're Verified and you've opted in to messages from Verified users, or if you've messaged them before.
- Some accounts, particularly businesses, accept DMs from anyone, so you can message them even if they don't follow you.
- Some accounts only accept DMs from Verified accounts, so you can only message them if you're Verified.
- In one-on-one conversations, you can't be in a conversation with an account you block.
So if your DM won't send, or you can't start one at all, it usually comes down to their settings rather than a fault.
Message requests: why they haven't replied
If you message someone who doesn't follow you, your DM may land in their Requests rather than their main inbox. X says that if a person has the setting to receive messages from anyone switched on, messages from people they don't follow appear as Requests in the Messages tab. They can accept or delete it.
Two details matter here. X says the sender won't know you've seen a request until you accept it. And by default, X filters lower-quality requests on the iOS and Android apps, with no notification for filtered ones, though they're still viewable behind the low quality filter at the bottom of Requests.
Group DMs on X
X says a group message can include up to 256 people. Anyone in a group can add other participants, and newly added people won't see the earlier history. Everyone in the group sees all messages, even if they don't all follow each other.
Editing, deleting and read receipts
| What you want | What X says happens |
|---|---|
| Edit a DM | Tap the three dots next to it, choose Edit, change it and Save. Edited shows underneath, up to 5 edits per message |
| Delete a DM | It's deleted from your account only. Others in the conversation can still see it |
| Stop people seeing you've read it | Turn off Show read receipts. You then can't see other people's read receipts either |
| Keep a chat at the top | Pin it. You can pin up to six conversations |
Deleting is the one that surprises people. Deleting a DM on your side doesn't remove it from theirs. If you're curious whether X tells the other person about screenshots, my guide to whether Twitter notifies screenshots of a DM covers it. For messages that seem to vanish by themselves, see why Twitter DMs disappear.
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Snooze or search your DMs
If a busy group won't stop buzzing, X lets you snooze a conversation for 1 hour, 8 hours, 1 week or Forever. Open the conversation, tap or click the information icon and choose Snooze notifications. You'll still get the messages, just without an alert each time. X notes that unless Snooze mentions is switched on, you'll still be notified when someone mentions you directly in a group.
To find an old conversation, tap or click the search bar in your DMs and type a keyword or name. X shows messages, groups and people that match, and tapping a result takes you straight to it.
When to block instead
If someone's messaging you and you want it to stop, snoozing or deleting won't do it. Blocking will, because X says you can't be in a one-on-one conversation with an account you block. My guide to blocking someone on X explains what they'll see.
My verdict
Sending a DM on X is easy. Getting it read is the hard part. If they follow you, you're fine. If they don't, your message depends on their settings and may sit in Requests, unseen. For a business, a short, clear first message with no links gives you the best chance of being accepted.
Frequently asked questions
How do I DM someone on X?
In the app, tap the envelope icon, tap the new message icon, type their name or @username, write your message and tap send. On the web, click Messages, then the New message icon.
Why can't I DM someone on X?
X only lets you message people who follow you, unless they've chosen to receive DMs from anyone, from Verified users, or you've messaged them before.
Does deleting a DM on X delete it for the other person?
No. X says a deleted DM or conversation is deleted from your account only, and others in the conversation can still see it.
Can I edit a DM on X?
Yes. Tap the three dots next to the message, choose Edit and save. Edited appears under it, and each message can be edited up to 5 times.
