How to Send Messages on Reddit

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: January 24, 2023

On the Mobile Website

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On the Desktop Website

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On a Reddit App

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Q&A

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Tips

Anyone with a Reddit account can send private messages to another user, although these are limited to text only. Mobile users may need to try some workarounds due to Reddit's incomplete mobile website and frequently changing apps.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

On the Mobile Website

1
Visit the compact site (recommended). There are two versions of the Reddit mobile site: reddit.com/.compact and m.reddit.com. You can reply to messages on either one, but you can only compose a new message on the compact site.
2
Visit your inbox. On the compact site, just click the envelope in the top right. On the regular mobile site, touch the "hamburger" menu icon in the top right (three horizontal lines). In the drop down menu that appears, select the Inbox button, with an envelope symbol.

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3
Reply to a message. Select the "messages" tab to read messages other users have sent you. To reply to a message, follow these instructions:
- Compact site: touch the gear icon to the right of a message, then touch "reply." Type your message and hit "send."
- Basic site: touch the blue "reply" button underneath a message. Type your message into the text field and hit "send."
4
Compose a new message. Touch the "send a private message" button at the top of the inbox screen. Fill out every field, including the "are you human?" Captcha, then hit send.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

On the Desktop Website

1
Check your inbox. Visit reddit.com and log in to your account. Click the envelope symbol next to your username near the top right corner of the screen.
- Alternatively, go straight to reddit.com/message/inbox while you are logged in.
2
Send a message. Once you're in your inbox, the tabs at the top of the screen change. Click the "send a private message" tab to go to the message writing screen. Fill out the "to," "subject," and "message" fields, and click send.
- You can also go straight to reddit.com/message/compose.
3
Reply to messages. Once a conversation has started, you don't need to fill out the form again. Just go to your inbox (the envelope) to see your received messages. Click the grey "reply" link underneath a message to write a reply.
4
Find the send link on a user page. Whenever you see a username (usually below a submission or comment that user wrote), you can click it to visit the user page. On that page, look for a small "send a private message" link near the top right corner, underneath the karma amounts.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

On a Reddit App

1
Look for an envelope in the top right. The official Reddit app is in active development with regular updates, and many users still use one of several unofficial apps. On some versions of the Android apps, you can reach the messaging inbox by touching the envelope icon in the top right.
2
Swipe for a navigation drawer. If you do not see an envelope icon on Android, swipe left to open the navigation drawer. Select the envelope icon on the list.
3
Tap the inbox tab at the bottom of the iOS app. The official Reddit app for iOS places the envelope icon at the bottom edge of the screen.
4
Send a message via a user page instead. Instead of browsing through inbox options, you can send a message from someone's Reddit name instead. The layout varies with each app, but this is the general process:
- Select the username written in small letters just underneath or above a post. If you don't see one, tap the post or the "..." expansion button first.
- Tap the envelope icon or the "send a message" button.
- Type your message and hit "send" to deliver the message to the username you selected.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I send a picture as a reply to a private message. I'm trying to sell something.

Community Answer

You can add a link to a Imgur post to show a picture or use a similar photo-sharing website.