Just recently, Instagram integrated a handy feature on its platform that enables users to send direct messages on their computers. This means that you can now send anything from gifts, photos, direct messages, and other media kinds right from your desktop. On top of all these, you may also unsend messages, start group chats, and use reactions to reply to conversations without having to go back and forth between your phone and PC. The sad news is that not all direct message functions are available in the desktop version (i.e., you can only send video chats through the mobile app). Nonetheless, it’s still a handy option you could use. We give you useful tips and ways to send direct messages on Instagram on your computer right below!
What Direct Messages on Instagram is all about
For the time being, only a small percentage of Instagram users are able to access the Direct Messages function from the platform. According to Instagram developers and CEOs, this not only helps to round up the app’s experience across a wide range of devices but also provides a handy tool to those sending a lot of direct messages (i.e., influencers, businesses, etc.). More details on the possibility of rolling out the app on a larger scale are expected to be announced soon.
That being said, your direct messaging adventures on the browser won’t differ from the ones you have on mobile. So, you can:
- See how many unread messages you have.
- Share photos from the desktop.
- Double-tap to like a message.
- Start a chat with another user from a profile page.
- Start a conversation with another user from the direct messaging screen.
- Create new groups.
Remember to enable notification for the Instagram site in your browser to receive desktop direct message notifications.
How to send direct messages on Instagram from a desktop computer
Here is a step-by-step guide to help you utilize the newly-added function:
- Open the internet browser of your preferences on your computer.
- Log in to the Instagram desktop site.
- Click on the paper plane icon (look for it in the top right-hand corner of the site).
- You should now have access to Direct Messages (you can tell by the list of active conversations you will be able to see).
- Click on any conversation you wish to open or choose “Send Message” to start a new chat. Alternatively, you can select the icon that shows a pencil and paper.
- Enter the username or name of the user you want to message (if you wish to start a new conversation). Or you may choose any user from the “Suggested” users’ list that will be provided to you.
- Type in your message (look at the bottom of the page for the text box).
- Select “Send”.
Notes:
- To take a message back, simply click the three dots next to the message you wish to delete and then choose “Unsend”. It should be deleted now, regardless of whether the recipient has read it or not.
- Clicking the “i” icon will enable you to delete an entire chat conversation. You will find it on the top right-hand side of the screen. Choose “Delete chat”. Note that the recipient will still be able to access the conversation – it will be deleted on your end only.
Alternative ways to send direct messages on Instagram on a computer
For those not being able to access Instagram’s Direct Messages feature just yet, we have other solutions to get the job done. For instance, you can download software to your computer such as Direct Message for Instagram or Instagram for Windows 10 to send DM on Instagram on a desktop PC. Search through your browser’s extensions to find the one that suits your needs the most. Then, you can send and delete messages, open videos and photos you view in a new tab of your browser, send images from any web browser, add emojis, receive notifications about new Instagram messages, and access your Instagram DM with a single click.
