By default, Twitter doesn’t allow users to send direct messages to other users if those users don’t follow them on the social networking platform. However, users 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.

Step 2: Tap “Settings and Support.”

Step 3: Tap “Settings and privacy.”

Step 4: Tap “Privacy and safety.”

Step 5: Tap “Direct messages.”

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

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