X DM Limits in 2026 for Daily Messages, Groups and Requests
An X account can send up to 500 direct messages a day, counted across the website, the apps and the API. Group conversations can include up to 256 people, and someone you do not follow can reach you only through a message request, if your settings allow it.
Last checked November 2026. X now calls its messaging feature Chat; every figure below links to its source.
X DM limits at a glance
| Item | Limit | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Messages sent per day | 500 | X limits |
| People in a group conversation | Up to 256 | About Direct Messages |
| Messages from people you do not follow | Arrive as message requests, only if your settings allow them | About Chat |
| DM sends through the X API | 1,440 requests per user per 24 hours | X API rate limits |
X does not publish a per-message character limit on its current help pages, so we leave it out rather than repeat an old figure.
Who can message you
From About Chat:
- People you follow and people you have messaged before can message you directly.
- Everyone else lands in message requests, and only if you accept requests from everyone, or from verified users when the sender is verified.
- Requests stay separate until you accept, ignore or block the sender. Grok sorts them into "Priority" and "Hidden".
- Closed inbox: nobody new can reach you unless you follow them, you already share a Chat, or they enter your X Number, an optional private code you can share.
Encryption
X's Chat is end-to-end encrypted, including group messages and media, once both people have registered for Chat, per About Chat. Message requests stay unencrypted until you accept them.
By account type
Free accounts
- 500 messages a day.
- Messages to people who do not follow you only reach them if they accept requests from everyone.
X Premium
- The verified checkmark lets your message reach people who accept requests from verified users.
- X does not publish a separate daily DM number for Premium. Third-party blogs quote 1,000 or more, without a source, so we do not list it.
Common mistakes
- Copy and paste cold DMs. X's automation rules ban automated and bulk unsolicited messages, and people report them.
- Messaging before engaging. A DM from someone who has replied thoughtfully to a person's posts is far more welcome. Build that through replies first.
- Sending the whole pitch at once. Start with one specific, useful line and let them ask for more.
- Ignoring requests. Check your message requests; good opportunities land there.
Frequently asked questions
How many DMs can I send a day on X?
500 messages a day, across the website, the apps and the API.
Can anyone DM me on X?
Only if you accept message requests from everyone. Otherwise people you do not follow cannot start a new conversation, apart from verified users when you accept requests from verified accounts, or people who have your X Number.
How many people can be in an X group chat?
Up to 256.
Are X DMs encrypted?
Chat messages are end-to-end encrypted between people who have both registered for Chat. Message requests stay unencrypted until accepted.
Start conversations the right way
The best DMs follow a good reply. Draft thoughtful replies with the free reply generator, and see every other X limit on the X specs hub.