What is Direct Instagram, where is it located, how to write in Direct and use it?

Instagram allows not only to share your life with other users, but also to conduct commercial and advertising activities. In this article, we will talk about the messaging feature, which allows you to communicate with other subscribers, create groups and exchange digital content – Instagram Direct.

What is Direct?

The social network Instagram has many built-in graphic elements, filters, and tools that can turn your photo or video into high-quality content. So, what is Instagram Direct and how to use it?

This service is a simple and convenient personal chat. It allows you to perform the following functions:

Sending and receiving text messages in a private channel between users.
Exchange of digital materials – images, videos, and links.
Reposting content from another subscriber or community.
Creating and communicating in a group chat. Up to 32 people can be in one group at the same time.
The ability to have a video call.

How to send a message

Finding the Direct tab is very easy, it is located on the main page in the news feed on the top panel. The icon looks like a paper airplane, by clicking on it, you will enter a personal chat. Here you can select the desired user and send them a text message or attached digital content.

It should be noted that Instagram Direct has an important limitation. The social network has set a strict limit on the number of messages sent. According to the requirements, you can write no more than 50 messages to non-subscribed persons, while conversations between friends and subscribers have a limit of 100. Such measures were introduced by the service to prevent spam and the use of advertising mailings.

For violating these norms, Instagram has the full right to restrict access and ban the profile.

Below we will look in detail at how to start communication on mobile devices with different operating systems.

From Android

If you are using a mobile application on an Android smartphone, the procedure for sending a personal message will look like this:

Launch the utility on your phone.
Login to your account, enter your personal password and login.
After that, you will be on the main page of the service with a news feed.
The personal chat section is located on the top panel of the workspace. The icon is depicted as a paper airplane.
Clicking on it will bring up a new window with a list of all your subscribers.
Select the person you need.
A chat with an input field will be displayed on the screen.
Write a personal message and send it to the recipient by clicking the corresponding button.

To write a letter to a third-party account that you are not subscribed to, follow this procedure:

Find the necessary account in the social network.
Under the profile name, select the section – write.
Enter the message text.
Send the request.

After that, the recipient must confirm and allow the receipt of the message, otherwise the message will be blocked.

If you receive a new message, you will receive a notification, and the direct indicator will show the number of new messages.

From iPhone

The procedure for writing a personal message from an iPhone is carried out according to the instructions presented above. The only difference is in the placement of the main control elements on the workspace. To send a message, follow the algorithm:

On the main page of the social network, find the icon in the form of a paper airplane and click on it, it is located in the upper corner of the screen.
A list of all users you are subscribed to and who are subscribed to you will open.
Select the desired contact and write a text message.
Click on the send button, done.

An Instagram group chat can include up to 32 people, to create it, follow these steps:

Log in to the social network under your account.
In the main menu, go to direct – the indicator in the form of a paper airplane.
On the top panel, find the button to create a new chat and click on it.
On the next page, all users you are subscribed to will be shown.
Checkmark all those who will be included in the group chat.
After that, a chat window will open. Type your message and send it to the recipients.

You can like each message in the chat by clicking on the heart indicator.

Sending photos and videos

The direct function allows you to send not only text messages but also attach additional digital content from the internal memory of your mobile device or from your personal Instagram account gallery. Here’s how to send photos and videos in direct:

Log in to your account in the app.
In the main menu of the service, go to the direct section.
Select the user you want to communicate with or create a group chat.
On the text input page, click the add materials button. It is located on the bottom panel next to the input field, with an indicator in the form of a plane.
Clicking on the icon will open an additional menu where you can choose a photo or video from your smartphone gallery. In addition to this, content can be attached from your social media page. To do this, simply click on the arrow and select the upload source.
Check the box next to the desired image or video and send it to the recipient.

There is an even easier way. In your feed, find the post you want and click on the airplane button below it. Select the user you want and send it.

In addition to sending personal content, you can share materials from someone else’s story or feed with your friends. To do this:

Find the post you like.
Click on the airplane button below the post.
Select the recipient of the repost from your list of subscribers.
Send it.

It should be noted that in some cases, your interlocutor may not see the message. The content will be blocked if the recipient is not subscribed to the account or community that posted the material. The problem is easily solved by subscribing to the author, after which the publication will be available for viewing.

In addition to attaching digital materials such as videos and photos, the direct service allows you to perform the following functions:

Take a video or photo using the device’s built-in camera in real-time mode and forward it to the interlocutor. To do this, click on the camera button on the chat page.
Create a voice alert using the built-in microphone. In the chat menu, click on the microphone icon and hold it down to record a message.
Attach additional stickers, GIFs, and emojis from a wide range of built-in tools to emphasize emotions to the text content.
Make a video call. To do this, open the direct chat page and find the camera icon. Clicking on it will initiate a connection with another user with a split screen.

Here you can also configure notifications. You can set your own notification mode for each contact. On the chat page, click on the settings button located on the top panel of the workspace. On the next page, you can turn off sound notifications for received SMS, as well as block or report a user for spam.

Problems and their solutions

If there are problems with sending or reading received messages, or if the function is not working at all, the reasons can vary from malfunctions of the mobile device to access rights limitations. Below are some common errors and their solutions:

Unable to send a message or see new messages from the recipient. The incorrect display and operation of the service may be due to the lack of a constant internet connection or low connection speed.
The direct function is completely missing. Try updating the mobile application and operating system of your mobile phone. Always use up-to-date software versions. If necessary, uninstall and reinstall the utility.
The attachment received in the email, such as a video or photo, does not open. You won’t be able to view digital materials if you are not subscribed to the content author (applies to blocked profiles). You can solve the problem by subscribing to the account.
Notifications are not coming through. The automatic notification function for received messages may be turned off. Go to the chat settings and activate sound notifications.
You have exceeded the set limit of communication for the current day, it is recommended to wait until the block is lifted.
System errors. The cause may be a malfunction of the service itself. Try writing in the chat after some time and restart the mobile application.
If the correspondence has been erased, it is impossible to restore messages in Instagram after deletion using standard tools. In this case, you need to contact the interlocutor or support service and request the necessary information.

If the problem is not resolved, contact the technical support service of the social network.

The article discusses where the direct function is located in Instagram. As a result, the social network becomes a unique service with a wide range of functional capabilities, from publishing photos and videos to communicating in a private chat.