How to Enable and Use Direct Messages on TikTok

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posted on 5 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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TikTok, like many social networking platforms, has a feature called direct messaging that allows you to communicate with your friends on the platform. This wikiHow will show you how to send a direct message on the platform. You can only message your friends.

What can you send in a TikTok DM?

Enabling DMs

Tap on your profile icon in the bottom right corner. This will show you your profile page.

Tap on the triple dots in the top right corner. This will open your settings.

Tap on Privacy and Safety.

Tap on Who Can Send Me Messages.

Ensure that Friends is selected. You cannot send messages to people unless they are following you back.

Finding Friends

Tap on your profile icon in the bottom right corner. This will show you your profile page.

Tap on the person in the upper left corner. This will bring up a page of people you may know.

Tap on Follow. This will follow (or request to follow) your friend's account.

Wait for a follow-back. In order to send a message, they need to be following you. Once they follow you, you will be able to message them.

Sending and Receiving

Tap on your notifications page. This icon has a speech bubble.

Tap on the direct message icon. This icon looks like an office tray.

Tap on the friend to message. An automated message will read "I am [Display name], glad to be your friend". If you deleted the chat, then tap on the +, then enter the username of the friend to message, then select it. You can also send messages to your friend by tapping on Message on their profile page.

Tap on the message box at the bottom. This will allow you to type a message. You can also send GIFs courtesy of GIPHY and custom emoji. Tap on the smile button to access them.

Tap on Send. This will send the message to your friend.

Knowing the Limitations

Note that you cannot send messages to non-friends. For everyone's protection, DMs can only be sent to friends.

Know that messages you send cannot be deleted. Sent messages are saved in the phone's memory and are protected with end-to-end encryption. You cannot unsend a message, so be careful what you send. Deleting a message or conversation only deletes it from your phone's memory and does not delete it for your friend.

Remember that only media on the TikTok platform can be sent. You can only send links to TikTok videos, TikTok live streams, TikTok audios, TikTok hashtags, and TikTok accounts. No other content can be sent.