- Where Instagram message requests appear on your phone
- The Instagram spam folder is a separate place from message requests
- The Hide unwanted message requests setting on Instagram
- Choosing who can send you Instagram message requests
- Blocked accounts and Instagram message requests
- Instagram professional accounts and the Requests folder
- Group chat requests on Instagram
- An Instagram message request checklist
- If Instagram message requests still aren't showing
- Frequently asked questions
If Instagram message requests are not showing, open Messages, tap Requests, then check the Spam folder, where Instagram says unwanted requests go without notifications. Also check who can send you requests, whether you blocked the sender and, on a business account, the Primary, General and Requests folders.
You know someone has messaged you. A customer said they'd send a question, or a collaborator said they'd drop you a message, and yet nothing's in your inbox. Before you assume Instagram has lost it, there are a few places a message request can legitimately be hiding, and they're all in Instagram's own help pages.
I'll take you through them in the order that usually solves it. None of this needs special tools, and none of it involves anyone else's account. It's all your own settings.
Where Instagram message requests appear on your phone
Start with the obvious spot. Instagram says messages from people you follow go straight to your Chats list, but requests from people you don't follow are held back in a Message Requests folder. They won't join your Chats list until you accept them.
So if the sender isn't someone you follow, the first thing to do is open your messages and look for Requests. Instagram's steps for the spam folder start the same way on a phone:
- Tap Messages at the bottom of the app.
- Tap Requests in the top right.
- Look through the requests that are listed there.
Menu names move around between app versions, so if the wording looks slightly different, look for the word Requests near the top of your messages.
The Instagram spam folder is a separate place from message requests
This is the answer for most people who say their requests aren't showing. Instagram says message requests that may be offensive, unwanted, spam, or that match your Hidden Words preferences appear in a separate Spam folder. It adds that you won't receive notifications for spam.
That last point explains why you saw nothing. No buzz, no badge. To look, Instagram's phone steps are:
- Tap Messages at the bottom.
- Tap Requests in the top right, then tap Spam.
- Tap Edit in the top right to delete them all, or tap a message thread to open it.
- Open a message to see your options: Block or Leave, Delete, or Accept.
Tapping Accept moves the conversation into your main messages folder. On a computer, Instagram says you click Messages, click requests next to Messages in the top left and then click Spam.
The Hide unwanted message requests setting on Instagram
If messages you want are ending up in Spam, check this setting. Instagram says Hide unwanted message requests sends requests that may contain scams or offensive words, phrases or emojis to your spam folder. It says the setting is off by default, so if your wanted messages are being filtered, it's worth checking whether it has been switched on.
There's also a custom list called Hidden Words, where you can add words, phrases, numbers or emojis you don't want to see. Instagram says hidden messages don't tell the sender they've been hidden. One detail to remember: Instagram says messages from accounts you've already connected with won't be hidden, even if they include offensive words.
Choosing who can send you Instagram message requests
The next place to look is the control that decides whether requests reach you at all. Instagram says you can choose whether message requests from people on Instagram go to your Message Requests folder or whether you receive them at all.
- Tap your profile picture in the bottom right.
- Tap Menu in the top right.
- Below How others can interact with you, tap the messages option.
- Tap Message requests.
- Choose where requests from people on Instagram go, or whether to receive them.
If you've picked the option not to receive requests, then of course nothing shows up. Switching it back is the fix.
Blocked accounts and Instagram message requests
Instagram is clear that accounts you've blocked won't be able to send you message requests or add you to groups. If someone says they messaged you and you can't find it, think about whether you've blocked them in the past.
If you'd like to know what blocking does to old chats, see my page on messages when you block someone on Instagram. Instagram adds a useful note: if the person you blocked has more than one Instagram account, you may need to block each of them. The reverse is also true, so a person who contacts you from a second account may appear as a brand new request.
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Instagram professional accounts and the Requests folder
If you run a business or creator account, you'll see a slightly different inbox. Instagram says professional accounts get an inbox with Primary, General and Requests folders, and you can sort requests by the date they were received or by top accounts.
It's worth checking each folder in turn. A message from a customer you don't follow is very likely to be in Requests, while a message you expected in Primary might be in General.
Group chat requests on Instagram
Group invites can look like missing messages too. Instagram lets you choose who can add you to groups, either everyone on Instagram or only people you follow. Under the Everyone choice, group chats from accounts you've already connected with appear in your Chats list, while all other group chats go to your Message Requests folder.
If you picked the people you follow option, people you follow or have messaged before can add you to groups.
If you'd like a nudge when a request arrives, my guide to controlling Instagram notifications shows where the switches are. And once you accept a request, calling someone on Instagram is the next step if you'd rather talk.
An Instagram message request checklist
| Check | Where | What Instagram says |
|---|---|---|
| Message Requests folder | Messages, then Requests | Accept requests before they join Chats |
| Spam folder | Requests, then Spam | No notifications for spam |
| Hide unwanted message requests | Hidden Words settings | Off by default |
| Who can send requests | Settings, Message requests | You can limit or turn off requests |
| Blocked accounts | Your block list | Blocked accounts can't send requests |
If Instagram message requests still aren't showing
If you've been through every folder and setting and a request still isn't appearing, update the app, restart your phone and try Wi-Fi and mobile data in turn, because those are Instagram's general troubleshooting steps. If something still looks broken, you can report it through Menu, Help and Report a Problem.
And remember, requests from strangers are a favourite route for scams. Don't click links or share codes in a message from someone you don't know, and don't follow instructions from anyone offering to get your account back.
Frequently asked questions
Where are my message requests on Instagram?
On a phone, tap Messages at the bottom, then tap Requests in the top right. Instagram says you need to accept a request before it appears in your Chats list.
Why don't I get notifications for message requests?
Instagram says you won't receive notifications for messages in the Spam folder, which holds requests that may be offensive, unwanted or spam.
Is Hide unwanted message requests on by default?
No. Instagram says the setting is off by default, but you can change it any time.
Can a blocked account send me a message request?
No. Instagram says accounts you've blocked won't be able to send you message requests or add you to groups.
Do business accounts have a different inbox?
Yes. Instagram says professional accounts get an inbox with Primary, General and Requests folders.
