When a person who is not on your contact list or whom you do not follow sends you an Instagram message, it goes to the Requests section by default. The latest Facebook Messenger and Instagram integration released many features, of which one is the ability to turn off message requests on Instagram.
It allows you to not only block message requests from strangers but also those spam bots. Let us get straight in and learn to enable the ‘Don’t receive requests’ feature.
How to disable Instagram message requests on iPhone and Android
- Open the Instagram app, tap your profile picture from the bottom right.
- Tap the hamburger icon (three lines) at the top right.
- Now, tap Settings → Privacy.
- From here, tap Messages.
- Tap Others on Instagram.
- Finally, select Don’t Receive Requests.
Tip: If you do not want to get notifications from other people from Facebook, tap Others on Facebook in step 5 and choose Don’t Receive Requests.
Note: In an unlikely situation, if you do not see these options, update the Instagram app from iPhone App Store.
If it’s the notification and not the actual messages that’s irking you, you can simply turn off request notifications.
How to turn off Instagram message requests notifications
- Go to your Instagram profile and tap the hamburger icon.
- Choose Settings → Notifications.
- Tap Messages.
- Select Off for Message Requests.
This is how you can turn off message requests on Instagram. As mentioned earlier, once you turn off message requests on Instagram, people you do not follow won’t be able to send you a message. They will still see a Message button if they visit your profile (maybe Instagram will gray it out in the future). But when they try to send you a message, it will show ‘[username] can’t receive your message. They don’t allow new message requests from everyone.’
If you need any other help related to this, please reach me via the comments section below.
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Is there a way to turn off the feature and receive DMs from everyone?
Unfortunately, no. When a non-followed person messages you, they’ll need your approval. You can turn the message request feature on/off, but you can’t totally get rid of the setting.