Fix Twitter / X DM button missing for many users

The Direct Message (DM) can disappear from some X app profile pages. Users on Android and iOS report the same pattern: the button vanishes in the app, but DMs still work fine on X.com. So start with the Messages tab first. Then check your settings, updates, and account limits.

Why the DM button can go missing

Several things can hide the profile button. They don’t all point to the same fault.

• An app bug or layout change. Some users say the profile-page button vanishes on Android and iOS, while the web version still shows it.
• The other person’s DM settings. If an account only accepts messages from people it follows, X may hide the button for you.
• Blocking or restrictions. If the account blocked you, X won’t let you start a DM.
• Old app data. An outdated app, a stale login session, or leftover Android cache data can leave the Messages screen out of sync.
• Server-side trouble. Some reports point to X’s messaging system itself, so the fix may need to happen on X’s end, not yours.

Workaround: start the DM from Messages

If the profile button has gone missing, use your inbox instead.

1. Open the X app.
2. Tap the Messages tab.
3. Tap the new-message or compose icon.
4. Search for the person by username.
5. Select the account.
6. Continue to the message screen, if X allows it.

As long as the recipient allows your account to message them, X often opens the chat from the inbox even when the profile button won’t.

If that didn’t work

These checks can help when the app has stale data or a bad connection. None are guaranteed, but users report they often fix it.

1. Check your connection first. Open another app or site. Confirm Wi-Fi or mobile data actually works.
2. Update the X app. Open your device’s app store and install any pending update.
3. Log out, then back in. Sign out of X. Sign back in.
4. Restart your phone. A restart clears small app glitches.
5. On Android, clear the X cache. Go to your phone’s app settings for X, then clear the app cache from storage.
6. Reinstall X, but only as a last resort. Some users say a reinstall helps, especially on iOS. Confirm your login details before you remove the app.
7. Check the other account’s DM rules. They may need to follow you back, or allow message requests from more people.
8. Check your own account status. If X shows a warning about account limits, follow that warning.
9. Check for a wider outage. If X messaging has a known service problem, wait and try again later.

About the message-request setting

X’s message-request setting controls who can message you. Turning it on for more people may help other accounts reach your inbox. But it won’t force another account to accept your DMs. So if one profile still won’t open a chat, that account’s own DM rules are likely the block, not yours.

Report the missing button to X

If the button still won’t show after all that, send X a bug report from the app.

1. Open the X app.
2. Tap your profile icon.
3. Open Settings and privacy.
4. Open Help Center or Support, if your app shows either option.
5. Choose Report a problem, if it appears.
6. Select a Messages or Direct Messages category, if X offers one.
7. Write that the envelope icon is missing from profile pages.
8. Add your device type, phone operating system version, and X app version.
9. Submit the report.

After that, keep an eye on X notifications for a reply. And if X.com still lets you send the same DM, just use the web version until the app catches up.

PREVIOUS UPDATES – JUN 20, 2023

Reports of Twitter DM button missing on many iOS and Android profiles

According to users, the DM button has been removed from user profiles in the latest version. There used to be an envelope button to send a message when you went to Twitter and clicked on a user’s profile, but it doesn’t show for a lot of people.

I didn't change my settings and now I don't have a dm button on @Twitter?? If you are trying to dm me go to your messages and type in my name and it'll still work thanks

— Collin Capone (@PokerCapone) January 27, 2023

Messages remain in the DM records, but the change makes it difficult to send instant messages to followers or friends.

Users must first select the messages icon on the bottom bar, then select the button to draft a new message in the new tab, and then and choose who they want to DM from a list of their followers.

This change has not been well received by Twitter’s user base. Many people think the Twitter update on January 23 caused the issue.

A user wrote: “So, @Twitter updates things by removing the DM button from users profile page, meaning you have to go to the DM tab and search for anyone who want to DM that you don’t already have an open conversation with.”

“I didn’t change my settings and now I don’t have a dm button on @Twitter?? If you are trying to dm me go to your messages and type in my name and it’ll still work thanks,” another user reported.

The change has caused a lot of confusion for users.

DM option showing for iOS users after recent update

The iOS version of Twitter got updated recently and it still has the DM button on user profiles. So this problem is limited to the Android Twitter app only for now.

Moreover, the message button is showing for users if they use Twitter on their browsers.

With Twitter’s state constantly changing, it’s difficult to say whether this is an intentional move by Twitter. But it’s definitely something we hope to see fixed.

Meanwhile, you can start a direct message by searching for the account to which you want to send a message in the messages tab.

This article has been updated with latest info on July 15, 2026