Why Can I Not DM on Twitter?

The Twitter direct-message system is like a basic form of email.

Direct messages (DMs) on Twitter are private messages between two users. Such messages can be thought of as a basic form of email. If you are unable to send a direct message on the service, there could be a problem with the Twitter platform or with the user account to which you are trying to connect -- DMs can only be sent to users who are following you on Twitter. In addition, Twitter enforces a limit of 250 direct messages a day.

Twitter Platform Problem

It's possible that a problem with the Twitter platform is preventing you from sending DMs successfully. Try refreshing your Twitter timeline to see if it can be accessed, and check the official Twitter feed at twitter.com/twitter to see if any problems have been reported. If there are issues with the Twitter service, you will need to wait until the problems are resolved before you can send DMs again.

User Isn't Following You

To cut down on spam and unwanted messages, Twitter only allows you to send a direct message to someone who is following you. Visit the contact's main Twitter page in your browser -- if a small envelope icon appears underneath the profile and bio, the user is following your tweets. Click the icon to send a DM. Alternatively, click the "Messages" link at the top of the page, then "New Message" and enter the contact's Twitter name and your message text on the new window that appears.

Exceeding Twitter Limits

Twitter imposes limits on the number of direct messages and tweets you can post in a single day. For DMs, the limit is 250 messages every 24 hours. If you have exceeded this limit, you will have to wait until the next 24-hour slot to begin sending messages again.

Further Help

If you are inside the Twitter DM limits, the user in question is following you and there are no issues with the Twitter platform, then there is no reason why you should be unable to send a DM. Empty the temporary file cache and list of cookies from your default Web browser and try the DM again. Alternatively, you can attempt to send the DM in a different browser altogether. Further help and support is available via the official Twitter support pages at https://support.twitter.com.

References

• Twitter Help Center: What Is a Direct Message? (DM)
• Twitter Help Center: About Twitter Limits

Resources

• Twitter: Help Center