how to find message requests on instagram

So, you're casually using your iPhone and you see a message that says, "So & So wants to send you a message".

You then check Instagram to look for the message. It's either you see the message request but after a few days it disappears, or you don't know where to find the message in the first place.

How to See Message Requests on Instagram

Instagram direct message requests

If you've seen this message request notification pop up on your phone, you won't be able to access this message like any other message.

Instagram places direct messages in a different area of the DM section because these people don't follow you. Since your account is private, it means that you have to accept people's message requests as well as their follow requests.

To view the message requests on Instagram:

1. Click on the Home button in the bottom left

2. Click on Airplane/Messages icon in Upper Right

3. Look just below the search bar on the right

4. You will see Requests with a number to the left.

Accept decline Instagram DM

5. Click on the number of requests, view message and Accept or Decline

If you view the direct message request, the sender won't see that you viewed it unless you accept their message request.

Once you've accepted it, they can see that you've seen the message and you can send a message back. If you decline the direct message request, they'll have to send one again.

Do Message Requests Disappear Instagram?

Instagram message requests disappear all the time and it's common for it to happen. They usually disappear not because of Instagram having some disappearing feature or a time limit for how long you have to accept or decline but because the user has done something for it to disappear. The only reason why a message request will disappear because of Instagram is due to a glitch. Apart from that, the message request has gone because of something the person who sent it has done.

Do Instagram DM Requests Expire?

Instagram dm requests do not expire because there's no time limit on how long a DM request stays in the requested section. The message request will be available for you to accept or decline permanently until you make a decision to accept or decline. As long as the user doesn't do anything to their account, or unsend or block you, their dm request won't expire.

Why Do My DM Requests Disappear?

Disappeared Due to Glitch

The first reason why your Instagram message request disappeared is due to a bug. There can be glitches within Instagram that cause your message request to disappear and there's nothing you can do to get them back. Once a message request has gone, you won't be able to find the request again until the person decides to message you again.

The User Unsent the Message Request

The second reason why your message requests have disappeared is that the account that sent it has unsent the message. If all the messages sent by the user have been unsent, you're not going to see the direct message request anymore. That's why it's best to accept or decline a message request as soon as possible so that you don't give them the chance to unsend the message.

You Declined Their Request

The third reason why you won't able to see your dm request anymore is that you declined the message request. This means that you rejected that account from sending you messages so you won't see the request from them again unless you accept their next request.

They Have Temporarily Disabled Their Account

Another reason why your message request has gone is that the owner of the account has temporarily disabled their account.

When an account has been disabled, it's taken off Instagram's database temporarily, so others won't be able to view message requests from this account to be able to accept or decline them.

Since the account is no longer in their database, you won't be able to find the message request that they sent you when you check the Requests section.

Their Account Has Been Banned/Suspended

If an Instagram message request has gone, there could be a chance that the person's account has been deleted or suspended by Instagram. On very rare occasions, Instagram bans people's accounts when they haven't been following their guidelines – they've been posting content that's explicit for example.

If someone has sent you a message request and it's gone, you wouldn't be able to see their message request anymore since their account no longer exists temporarily. If they do manage to get their account back in a reasonable time frame, then you'll be able to see the message request.

They Have Deleted Their Account

Similar to them disabling and their account being suspended by Instagram, they could have also deleted their account. If a message request has gone, the person might have deleted their account meaning that you won't be able to see the message request again. To check this, you can try to remember their username and search it up to see if you're able to find it. If you're no longer able to find the account, then they may have deleted it.

They Have Blocked You

When a message request is not showing, it could mean that the person who sent it has blocked you. If someone blocks you have sent you a message you haven't accepted, you'll no longer be able to see it in your message requests. When someone blocks you, you'll no longer be able to see anything about their account again.

You've Followed Them

If you follow an Instagram account that sent you a message request, their request is going to be accepted straight away and go into your normal DMs. For people you follow, they don't have to send you a message request just for them to message you. As soon as you accept their follow request, their message request gets accepted automatically.

Accidentally Declined Message Request Instagram

If you've accidentally declined someone's message request on instagram, then there's no way you'll be able to see their message request again until they make another one. If you want them to message you, you'll have to message them first to open a conversation with them. If you've declined the request, then their message will disappear and you won't be able to see it again.

There's no way to recover the declined message request. Once it's been declined, it won't be available for you to view anymore.