Twitter: How to Receive Direct Messages From All Users 

Users can control whether or not strangers can send them content

By default, Twitter doesn’t allow users to send direct messages to other people if those users don’t follow them on the social networking platform. However, people have the option to turn on a setting that will allow all users to send them direct messages, even if they don’t follow them.

Our guide will show you how to receive direct message requests from everyone on Twitter, whether you follow them or not.

Note: These screenshots were captured in the Twitter application on iOS.

Step 1: Tap your profile picture in the top-left corner of the screen.


Screenshot of Twitter's home feed with a red arrow pointing at the user's profile picture in the top-left corner of the screen

Step 2: Tap “Settings and Support.”


Screenshot of Twitter's side menu with a red arrow pointing at "Settings and Support"

Step 3: Tap “Settings and privacy.”


Screenshot of Twitter's side menu with a red arrow pointing at "Settings and privacy"

Step 4: Tap “Privacy and safety.”


Screenshot of Twitter's "Settings" menu with a red arrow pointing at "Privacy and safety"

Step 5: Tap “Direct messages.”


Screenshot of Twitter's "Privacy and safety" menu with a red arrow pointing at "Direct messages"

Step 6: Tap the gray toggle to the right of “Allow message requests from everyone” to turn this setting on.


Screenshot of Twitter's "Direct messages" menu with a red arrow pointing at the gray toggle to the right of "Allow message requests from everyone"

This guide was first published in May 2017 and was updated in November 2022.

Headshot of Brandy Shaul

Brandy Shaul

Brandy is a freelance writer for Adweek covering augmented reality.