You can message someone on YouTube through its video sharing and messaging feature, but only by invite: you send an invite link, and the other person has to tap Allow before you can chat. It's available in select countries including the US and UK, you must be 18 or over and signed in to a YouTube channel. To reach a creator you don't know, the reliable routes are a comment, the business email on their channel, or their Community.
For years the honest answer was that YouTube had no inbox at all. YouTube Help now documents a messaging feature again, but it's built for sharing videos with people you already know, not for cold messaging a creator. So the right method depends on who you're trying to reach and why.
Which method fits what you want
| You want to | Best route | Private? |
|---|---|---|
| Chat with a friend about a video | Video sharing and messaging, by invite | Yes |
| Pitch a creator for work or a collaboration | The business email on their channel | Yes |
| Ask a creator a quick question | A comment on their latest video or post | No, comments on public videos are public |
| Talk to a creator's fans | Their Community, if they've set one up | No |
| Get a creator's attention publicly | Mention their @handle in your own post | No |
Using YouTube messaging
YouTube Help describes the feature as a way to share videos, Shorts and live streams and have conversations about them directly on YouTube. Before you can use it, check the rules:
- It's only in select countries and regions. YouTube's list includes the United States, the United Kingdom and most of the EU, but it isn't available to everyone yet.
- You must be 18 or older, age verified, and signed in to a YouTube channel.
- You need the latest version of the YouTube app.
- For Brand Accounts, YouTube says it's only available to channel owners, not moderators or delegates.
How to invite someone to chat
- Open the YouTube app on your phone.
- Tap Messages at the top right, then Invite to chat.
- Share the invite link with the person you want to message, by text, email or another app.
- Wait for them to tap Allow messaging. Once they accept, you can send videos and messages to each other on YouTube.
YouTube says invite links are valid for 7 days after creation. If the person taps Not now, your channel details aren't shared with them, though they can choose to allow messages later by replying to something you've shared.
Sharing a video straight to a contact
Once you've connected with someone, tap Share under any video and pick their name. If they aren't connected yet, tap Invite to message on YouTube to send an invite through another app.
Unsending and deleting
You can long press a message and tap Unsend. YouTube warns the other person may already have seen it and will be able to see that a message was unsent. Deleting a whole conversation only removes it for you; the other channel still sees it.
How to contact a creator by email
This is the route I'd use for anything business related. YouTube calls it Business Inquiry Emails, and its steps are:
- Go to the YouTube channel you want to contact.
- Click the end of the channel description to open the About section.
- Select View email address.
- Use that email address to send your message.
YouTube notes you can only see an email address if the channel owner has added one. If you're a creator, add yours, because brands look there first. While you're in your channel settings, YouTube also lets you show up to 14 links on your channel, so you can point people to a contact page. I explain how in adding links to your YouTube channel.
Leaving a comment that gets noticed
A comment is public, but it's often the fastest way to be seen, because creators read the comments on new uploads. Find the comment section under the video and type in the Add a comment box. A few things from YouTube Help to know first:
- You may not be able to comment if the owner has turned comments off, limited them to subscribers and members, or set a minimum subscription time.
- Comments aren't available on private videos.
- If you don't have a channel, posting a comment automatically creates one.
- Creators can pin a comment or give it a heart, and you'll get a notification if your comment gets a heart.
If you want to keep a conversation going under a comment, here's how to reply to a comment on YouTube.
Posting in a creator's Community
Some creators run a Community, a space where subscribers post and start discussions. If a creator has one, you'll see a Visit Community option next to the Subscribe button. YouTube says you can only post there once you've been subscribed for a period of time the creator chooses, so if posting fails, that's usually why.
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Mentioning a channel in your own post
If your channel can create posts, you can mention another channel by typing @ followed by their handle. YouTube says the channel may get a notification that you've mentioned them. It's public, so keep it friendly and specific.
If someone is messaging you and you want it to stop
In Messages, open the conversation and tap the menu, then Block messages. YouTube says the person isn't notified, but they'll see they can no longer message you. You can also turn off channel visibility for shared links in your privacy settings, so people who open videos you share can't reply to you on YouTube. For wider protection, see how to block someone on YouTube.
My advice
Use messaging for people you already know, and email for everyone else. If you're pitching a creator, a short email to the address on their About section beats any comment, because it's private and it lands where they handle business. Say who you are, what you're proposing and why it suits their audience in three or four sentences. Then leave a thoughtful comment on their next video, not a pitch, so your name is familiar when they read your email.
Frequently asked questions
Can you DM someone on YouTube?
Yes, in select countries including the US and UK, through YouTube's video sharing and messaging feature. You must be 18 or over, and the other person has to accept your invite before you can chat.
Why can't I see Messages on YouTube?
YouTube says the feature isn't available to everyone yet. You need to be in an available country, be 18 or older, be signed in to a YouTube channel and use the latest version of the app.
How do I find a YouTuber's email address?
Open their channel, click the end of the channel description to open the About section and select View email address. It only appears if the creator has added one.
How long does a YouTube chat invite last?
YouTube says invite links are valid for 7 days after creation.
Can I message a YouTuber without them accepting?
No. With YouTube messaging the other person has to allow messages first. Without that, use the business email on their channel or leave a public comment.
