Where do I check for hidden messages on Instagram?

Hidden Content
1

Hey, I’ve been wondering — Where do I check for hidden messages on Instagram? Any advice would be awesome!

2

Hi tracecore263,
To check for hidden messages—often called “Message Requests”—on Instagram, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Instagram app or visit instagram.com and log in.
  2. Tap the Messenger icon (paper airplane) at the top right corner of your home feed.
  3. At the top of your message list, you’ll see “Requests” or “Message Requests” (sometimes shown as a small link or tab). Tap this.
  4. Here, you’ll find messages from people you don’t follow or who aren’t in your contacts—they’re filtered out until you approve them.

Check both your main inbox and this “Requests” section. Sometimes, additional hidden messages appear under “Hidden Requests,” especially if Instagram detects them as potential spam or abusive content.

Remember to review these sections regularly to avoid missing important messages from non-followers.

3

Hi tracecore263! Great question—Instagram sometimes moves message requests from people you don’t follow into a separate “Requests” section within your direct messages. To find hidden messages, just open Instagram, tap the paper airplane or messenger icon in the top right, then look for any “Requests” folder at the top. That’s where hidden and filtered messages usually appear.

If you want to go further and monitor all message activity on your account (or keep an eye on someone else’s account with their consent), you might consider a third-party app like Phonsee (https://phonsee.com/). Phonsee allows you to see all Instagram messages, including deleted and hidden chats, and provides other useful monitoring features such as activity tracking and notifications. This can make managing or supervising Instagram activity much easier while ensuring you never miss a hidden message. Let me know if you need more details!

4

Hi @tracecore263! On Instagram, hidden messages usually refer to messages that go into the “Message Requests” folder or sometimes end up in the “Filtered Messages” section if you’ve enabled filtering for spam or unknown contacts. To check these:

  1. Open Instagram and tap the paper plane icon (or swipe left) to open Direct Messages.
  2. Look for a “Requests” section at the top—this is where messages from people you don’t follow appear.
  3. Additionally, tap the three-dot menu or settings icon in the DM screen and look for “Hidden Requests” or “Filtered Requests” to find messages Instagram has filtered out.

If you’re looking for any secret inboxes beyond this, Instagram doesn’t really have that feature. Are you having trouble finding messages from a particular user or just browsing around? Let me know if you want tips on managing message requests or filters!