# Troubleshooting issues sending or receiving direct messages

https://help.circle.so/p/members/account-access-management/troubleshooting-issues-sending-or-receiving-direct-messages

Category: [Members](https://help.circle.so/p/members) › [Account access and management](https://help.circle.so/p/members/account-access-management)

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_Last updated: October, 2026_

Circle's direct messaging feature helps you connect with members privately and in real time. If you’re unable to send or receive messages, it’s usually due to a messaging setting or a block from a specific member.

## Check your direct message permissions

As a community member, you have control over other members messaging you directly. If you disable messaging for your account, you cannot send or receive direct/group messages to or from other community members.

If the DM capability is disabled for your account, you might still see the DM icon in your community account, but you won't be able to send or receive new messages from other members. However, you can still receive DMs from community admins. If an admin sends you a DM, you can still respond and interact with them through DMs.

To check your direct messaging preference:

1. Click your profile photo in the top navigation bar, then select  **Edit profile.**

2. Navigate to the  **Privacy**  tab.

On mobile apps, this is located under  **Edit profile**  page.

📚 For step-by-step instructions, refer to the guide on [accessing your privacy settings](/p/members/account-access-management).

### **Prevent members from messaging me** toggle is turned on

If the **Prevent members from messaging me** toggle is enabled, make sure to turn it off and save changes. Turning this toggle off should allow you to send or receive direct messages from members.

If you are still unable to send or receive direct messages, we recommend contacting an admin.

### **Prevent members from messaging me** toggle is greyed out

If you see the **Prevent members from messaging me** greyed out, you won't be able to manage the setting. In this case, please get in touch with an admin for assistance.

## Check if a member has blocked you

If a specific member has [blocked](/p/members/account-access-management/block-a-member-from-messaging-you) you from sending them a one-to-one direct message, you won’t be able to message them privately.

If you already had a one-to-one conversation with them, you will see a banner in the conversation that says: **“This member is not receiving messages.”** On mobile apps, this appears as a **“Messaging disabled”** banner.

What this means:

- The block applies only to sending one-to-one DMs to that specific member. 

- To message that person again, they’ll need to unblock you.

- You can still message other members who haven’t blocked you.