To reply to a specific Instagram message, you need to open your settings and tap on “Update Messaging”.
After you’ve updated messaging, tap and hold the message, tap on “Reply”, and reply to the DM.
In September 2020, Instagram announced the release of new messaging features like “Replies”, “Vanish Mode”, and more.
With “Replies”, you can respond to a specific direct message (DM) on Instagram.
If you’ve been using the direct message feature on Instagram, you might have noticed that some people are replying to your messages.
However, when you try to reply to a message, you’re unable to because you haven’t updated the messaging feature yet.
If you didn’t update messaging, tapping and holding a message will not show the “Reply” option.
Instead, you’ll only see the “Copy”, “Report”, and “Save” options.
Here are 6 steps to reply to a specific Instagram message:
- Go to your Instagram profile & open the menu
- Tap on “Settings”
- Tap on “Update Messaging”
- Update Messaging
- Tap & hold the message, then tap on “Reply”
- Reply to the message
1. Go to your Instagram profile & open the menu
- Open the Instagram app.
- Tap on your profile picture on the bottom navigation bar.
- Tap on the menu icon on your profile.
Tip #1: Before you can reply to a message on Instagram, you need to update messaging on the app.
Tip #2: When the new messaging features on Instagram was just released, you’ll be prompted to update messaging.
Tip #3: However, you won’t be prompted to do so in the present, so you need to update messaging manually.
2. Tap on “Settings”
- After you’ve tapped on the menu icon, you’ll land on the menu.
- Select “Settings” on the menu.
Note #1: You need to go to your settings to update the messaging feature.
3. Tap on “Update Messaging”
- After you’ve selected “Settings”, you’ll see multiple options.
- Select “Update Messaging” to start updating the messaging feature.
Tip #1: If you haven’t updated messaging yet, you’ll see an “Update Messaging” option at the top of your settings.
Tip #2: If you don’t see the “Update Messaging” option, you need to update the Instagram app.
Tip #3: Unfortunately, the feature is not available in some countries in Europe.
4. Update Messaging
- After you’ve tapped on “Update Messaging”, you’ll see the list of new messaging features on Instagram.
- Tap on the “Update” button to update messaging on the app.
Tip #1: Updating messaging will allow you to reply to specific messages on Instagram.
Tip #2: If you don’t update messaging, tapping and holding a message will not reveal the “Reply” option.
5. Tap & hold the message, then tap on “Reply”
- After you’ve tapped on “Update”, a “Your messaging has been updated” message will show up.
- Go to the homepage of Instagram and tap on the “Messenger” icon.
- Open the conversation that you want to reply to.
- Tap and hold the message.
- Select the “Reply” option to reply to the message.
Tip #1: Instead of tapping and holding a message, you can swipe left on it and select “Reply” to reply to it.
6. Reply to the message
- After you’ve tapped on “Reply”, the message will be quoted.
- Type your message on the chat bar and tap on “Send” to send it.
Tip #1: After you’ve sent the message, the person will be able to see that you’ve replied to them.
Tip#2: Above the chatbox, there’ll be a phrase that says, “You replied”.
You’ve successfully learned how to reply to a message on Instagram!
Conclusion
Many Instagram users are unable to reply to messages because they haven’t updated the messaging feature.
If you haven’t updated the messaging feature on Instagram, you won’t have the option to reply to messages.
Instead, you’ll only have 3 options including “Copy”, “Report”, and “Save”.
Once you’ve updated the feature, you’ll have a lot more messaging options.
Simply tap and hold a message or swipe left on it to bring up those options (Reply, Report, and More).
You can react to a message using an emoji, or reply to it directly by tapping on “Reply”.
Replying to an Instagram message will quote it, and you’ll be able to see a “You replied” phrase above it.
If you don’t see the messaging update, you need to update the Instagram app.
Further reading
How to Recover Your Instagram Account Without Email or Phone Number
