YouTube has announced the return of direct messaging (DM) features after a six-year absence. The platform’s reintroduction of DMs was revealed on Wednesday, following a six-month testing period.
In November 2025, Google classified DMs as a “top feature request.” The new messaging feature will be accessible via a messaging icon in the YouTube app, allowing users to invite friends to share videos. Users will have the option to accept or decline these invitations, aiming to reduce spam.
To utilize direct messaging, users must be over 18 years old, have their age verified, and be logged into a personal YouTube channel associated with a Google Account. This new rollout follows the initial launch of DMs in 2017 and their removal in 2019 as part of Google’s shift in focus toward public interactions such as comments and posts.
The feature will be available in the United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, and Singapore, having been introduced in various European countries since March. The countries that previously had access include Spain, Ireland, Croatia, France, Bulgaria, Italy, Germany, Greece, Austria, and Poland.
YouTube stated that its Community Guidelines will apply to all shared content and messages, with the platform maintaining its moderation policies for direct messages as it does for public content. YouTube will review flagged material, ensuring compliance with its existing standards.
The return of DMs has been noted as overdue, as many competing social media platforms including TikTok and Instagram have long offered similar messaging capabilities.
