Instagram message requests are the messages from people you do not follow that wait in a separate folder until you decide. This guide shows how to find them, what accept, delete, block and report do, where hidden requests are, how to control who can message you and how businesses avoid losing leads in the Requests folder.
Quick answer: open your inbox with the paper-plane icon and tap Requests. Messages there are from accounts you do not follow, and they are not marked as seen until you accept. Accept or reply to move the chat to your inbox, delete or block to get rid of it, and check Hidden Requests for filtered messages.
Key Takeaways
- Message requests are DMs from accounts you do not follow, held in a Requests folder.
- Per Instagram, request messages are not marked as seen until you accept them, and replying or accepting moves the chat to Primary.
- Hidden Requests holds messages filtered as possibly offensive or spam.
- You can change who can message you and filter offensive words in privacy settings.
- Businesses should check Requests daily because new leads often start there.
Table of Contents
What Are Instagram Message Requests?
Instagram message requests are DMs from accounts you do not follow. Instead of landing in your main inbox, they wait in a separate Requests area until you decide what to do. This protects you from spam and lets you screen a message before the conversation starts.
Figure 1. Where a message from a non-follower goes and what you can do with it.
How to Find Instagram Message Requests
- Open Instagram and tap the messages icon (the paper plane) to open your inbox.
- Look for Requests near the top of the inbox and tap it.
- Open a request to read it. Scroll to the bottom to look for a Hidden Requests folder.
Layouts change between app versions, and professional accounts show Requests alongside the Primary and General tabs. See primary vs general DMs for how those tabs work.
What You Can Do With Instagram Message Requests
| Action | What it does | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Accept or reply | Moves the chat to your main inbox and lets the conversation continue | Instagram says request messages are not marked as seen until you accept |
| Delete | Removes the request | The person can try again |
| Block | Stops them from contacting you from that account | See what blocking does to messages |
| Report | Flags spam, scams or harassment to Instagram | Use it for abusive messages |
| Ignore | Leaves it in Requests | It stays there until you act |
Reading a request without accepting it does not mark it as seen, per Instagram’s Help Center, but check each message before you tap links. Blocking is covered in does blocking on Instagram delete messages.
Hidden Requests
Messages that look offensive or spammy can be filtered into a Hidden Requests folder. You can open it to check for a message that was filtered by mistake. How strict the filter is depends on your Hidden Words settings and can be adjusted in your privacy controls.
Control Who Can Message You
- Open Settings and privacy and look for message controls or messages and story replies.
- Choose who can start a conversation with you, such as followers only or no one.
- Turn on filters for offensive words to keep abusive messages out of your main inbox.
- Use restrict or block for accounts that keep trying. See how to stop receiving messages.
Instagram Message Requests for Businesses
If you run a business account, requests are where new leads can hide. People who found you through a Reel or ad often are not followers yet, so their first message arrives as a request.
- Check Requests every day, not just the main inbox.
- Reply with a useful first message. Replying accepts the request and moves the chat forward.
- Use saved replies for common questions. See Instagram quick replies.
- Be careful with links in unsolicited requests, which are a common scam route.
- Track leads once volume grows. See Instagram CRM.
If you are the one sending a request, expect that a person who does not follow you may not see it for a while. Our sent vs delivered guide explains why a message can stay on Sent.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
What are message requests on Instagram?
Messages from accounts you do not follow. They wait in a separate Requests folder until you accept, delete, block or report them.
How do I see message requests on Instagram?
Open your inbox with the paper-plane icon and tap Requests. Check the Hidden Requests folder at the bottom of that list too.
Does the sender know I read their request?
Instagram says request messages are not marked as seen until you accept them.
What happens when I accept a message request?
The conversation moves to your main inbox and the person can message you normally. Per Instagram, accepting or replying moves it to Primary.
Where are hidden message requests on Instagram?
At the bottom of the Requests list, in a Hidden Requests folder for messages filtered as possibly offensive or spam.
Can I stop message requests from strangers?
You can change who can message you in your privacy settings, and filter offensive words. Restrict or block specific accounts.
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