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ToggleOkay so when we usually send a message, we see a small writing under the message that says “Delivered”. That means the person we texted has received our message and all we have to do is wait for an answer. But on Instagram, this phrase has changed to “sent”. What are the differences between Instagram sent vs Delivered?
If you don’t know you better stay with me through this blog cause I’m about to spill the beans.
The difference between Instagram sent vs delivered
The words “sent” and “delivered” on Instagram have specific meanings when it comes to sending messages directly to someone.
When your message is marked as “sent,” it tells you that the message has left your phone and is on its way to Instagram’s servers.
It’s like putting your message in an envelope and sending it off, but it doesn’t mean the person you’re sending it to has opened it yet.
Now, when your message shows “delivered,” it means your message has safely reached the other person’s device and is waiting for them in their inbox.
It’s like the message has been delivered to their mailbox, and they can decide if they want to open it.
To put it simply, “sent” means your message is on its journey, and “delivered” means your message has reached its destination.
Let’s break it down into an easy-to-understand table:
| Status | meaning |
|---|---|
| Sent | The message has left your device and is on its way to Instagram’s servers. |
| Delivered | The message has been safely delivered to the recipient’s device and is waiting in their inbox for them. |
Read more: What Happens When You Unsend a Message on Instagram?
How do you know if an Instagram message has been delivered?
There are two main way to know if your message has been delivered:
Look for the “Seen” indicator
When you send a message on Instagram, you’ll see a little gray label beneath it in the chat window that reads “sent.”
This lets you know the message is on its way to the person you sent it to. Once the message has safely reached their device and they’ve read it, that gray label transforms into the word “Seen” .
This is your cue. It means your message has been received and read by the person you messaged.
Check the timestamp of the message
If you send a message and the timestamp immediately changes to reflect the current time, then the message has been delivered.
This is because Instagram updates the timestamp of a message as soon as it is delivered. If the timestamp remains unchanged, then the message has not been delivered yet.
To see the timestamp, open the chat and then swipe your screen to the left.
Here’s a trick: if you want to read a direct message without the person knowing, you can half swipe on Instagram DM to read it.
FAQs on instagram sent vs delivered
Now let’s answer some frequently asked questions on this subject:
Why is my Instagram message sent but never seen?
First, it’s possible that the recipient has not yet opened the app or checked their messages. Second, if the recipient has turned off read receipts, you will not be able to see whether they have seen your message or not. Third, it’s possible that there is a technical issue with Instagram’s servers and the message has not been delivered.
What is the difference between seen and sent on Instagram?
On Instagram, “seen” means that the recipient has opened and viewed your message. “Sent” means that the message has been successfully transmitted from your device to Instagram’s servers, but it may not have been delivered to the recipient’s device yet.
Read more: How to Read Instagram Messages Without Being Seen
What does sending a message on Instagram mean?
Sending a message on Instagram means that you have successfully transmitted the message from your device to Instagram’s servers. Once the message has been sent, it will be placed in the recipient’s inbox and they will be able to see it when they open the app.
Final Thoughts
In the end, sent and delivered kinda mean the same thing, the only difference is in technical details.
In closing, knowing the dissimilarity between sent and delivered messages on Instagram is useful for handling your chats and keeping things clear with your friends.
When you know the status of your messages, it can prevent you from feeling worried or annoyed and lets you concentrate on having good talks with people on Instagram.



