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Instagram DM Requests, Explained (and How to Find Hidden Ones)

Updated June 2026

Ever heard "I sent you a DM!" and found nothing in your inbox? It probably landed in Requests — Instagram's holding area for messages from people you don't follow. Plenty of real messages get filtered there, so it's worth knowing how to check.

What a DM request is

When someone you don't follow messages you, it doesn't ring your main inbox. Instead it waits in Requests until you accept, decline, or block. The sender can't tell whether you've seen it — there's no read receipt until you accept.

Where to find requests

1. Open your DMs (inbox).
2. Tap Requests at the top right.
3. Review each — Accept, Delete, or Block.

The hidden layer most people miss

Inside Requests there's often a "Hidden Requests" folder — messages Instagram flagged as potential spam or offensive. Real messages sometimes get caught here, so check it occasionally: Requests → Hidden Requests.

Why messages land in requests

• The sender doesn't follow you / you don't follow them.
• The account is new or low-activity.
• The content tripped Instagram's spam filters.
• You restricted the person (their DMs auto-route here — see restrict vs block).

Tip: accept = they can see your activity

Once you accept a request, the normal rules apply — read receipts, your green dot, etc. If you're privacy-minded, decline rather than accept.

Knowing who's actually connected

Requests come from people outside your circle. To see who's genuinely connected — who follows you back — UnfollowScan compares your followers and following from your own export, no login, in your browser.