Yep, you can view your friend’s Instagram stories, or even search and follow a hashtag. You can even post images from the web version. However, you can’t check or send a message. And if you’re an avid Instagrammer like me (who has to stare at a desktop the majority of the day), it can turn out to be a huge bummer. Thankfully, all is not yet lost. There are many workarounds in the form of apps and Chrome extensions which can help you view and reply to Instagram DMs from the comforts of your PC. Yep, you read that right, no need to open the Instagram app on your smartphones.
Method 1: How to View Instagram DMs on PC
Viewing Instagram messages on PC is not rocket science, and there are many apps and tools which makes it possible. In our case, the tool that came to our rescue was IG:dm and well, the name says it all. IG:dm not only displays all your Instagram messages but also lets you reply to the incoming messages, similar to Facebook Messenger. Download IG:dm All you need to do is download and install the app. Once done, login with your username and password, and that’s it. Once the verification is complete, you’ll see all the messages on the left with the messages pane on the right. Just click on one, and start chatting. Though IG:dm lets you chat with your followers, it doesn’t have all the features of Instagram such as GIFs, Like, and the option to send voice messages. For now, you can only exchange pictures and emojis, apart from the standard text. Plus, double-tapping on a message will ‘like’ it, similar to the phone feature. Apart from the above, IG:dm does come with a fair bit of features. For no, you can search for messages and accounts using the Search box, or you can toggle the size of the DM window. However, a good part of these features is for pro users. Upon upgrading, you can login to multiple accounts, use Slack-type emoji search or quote chat messages directly. Overall, IG:dm is a nice tool to have on your PC. It’s simple to use and the fact that it directly replicates the interface of Instagram is the cherry on top. However, note that at times this tool can be a little slow to respond. Plus, you can’t see the the Messages Request with this tool.
Method 2: How to View Instagram DMs on Chrome
On Google Chrome, it’s much easier to view the messages. And the best thing is that you do not need any other setup. A simple extension does the trick. The advantage that these extensions have over dedicated apps and tools is that they act as emulators. And due to that, you get the same experience as the DM section on your phone but on a larger screen. The extension which I found to be the most useful was the aptly named Direct Message for Instagram. As we mentioned above, it nearly replicates the look and feel of the Instagram app. Visit Get Direct Message for Instagram Once you add the extension to Chrome, it doesn’t need any separate login. If you are logged in to your profile, the extension picks up the login credentials from your browser. Once done, click on the little DM-shaped icon on your browser and bam! Hello, Instagram. Now, all you have to do is click on the DM icon and you are all set to start chatting. Apart from that, you can send hearts, images as well as emojis. Plus, you can also like older messages. Sadly, the option to send GIFs and stickers is absent. Plus, you can also block or report and account from within the little window, or create a group chat. Unlike IG:dm, you can also see the Messages Requests. And not only that, Direct Message for Instagram also lets you Allow or to Decline the request. What I loved about Direct Message for Instagram extension is that it’s clean and straightforward. There are no ads and you don’t need to install any third-party tools for sending emojis. Just click on the icon when you need to check your DMs, and click outside the window when you are done with your work. Yep, it’s that simple.
Are There Any Alternatives?
Of course, these two aren’t the only two tools in the market to view Instagram DMs. There are other tools as well, such as Web for Instagram Plus DM. Visit Web for Instagram Plus DM. It’s almost similar in function as the one above. However, there are a few ads in between. Plus, you’d need a third-party plugin to send emojis. On the bright side, you can see the number of new followers or messages by just hovering over the icon on your status bar.
Chat like a Boss!
So, this was how you could view Instagram DMs from the comforts of your PC and browser. Which method will you go for? The stand-alone app or the nifty Chrome extension? Let us know what you think of both the methods in the comment section below. Next up: Need to find the first Instagram message on your thread? Read the following post to see how to do just that.
