Sending a gift message on Instagram is a thoughtful way to connect with others on the platform. Whether you’re expressing appreciation, celebrating a milestone, or simply spreading cheer, gift messages offer a personalized touch to your interactions. In this guide, we’ll explore what exactly a gift message on Instagram entails, how to send one, and what it looks like. Additionally, we’ll cover troubleshooting tips to ensure your messages are delivered smoothly, enhancing your communication experience on Instagram. Let’s explore!
How To Send An Instagram Gift Message?
- Open the Instagram app and make sure it’s updated.
- Tap the messenger icon in the top right corner to access Direct Messages.
- Open the chat with the person you want to send the gift message.
- Write your message as usual in the chat box.
- Tap the search icon on the left side of the chat box.
- Swipe through the effects until you find the gift box.
- Select the gift box effect.
- Your message will be automatically sent as a gift message.
When The Recipient Receives The Gift Message:
- They’ll get a notification indicating a “Gift Message” from you.
- Tapping the notification will reveal a wrapped gift box animation.
- Tapping the gift box will unveil your message inside.
Keep In Mind:
- You can’t customize the appearance of the gift box, but you can personalize the message inside.
- There’s no option to send a silent message along with the gift effect.
How Does An Instagram Gift Message Look?
Recipient Notification:
Upon receipt, an email notification will be sent to the recipient’s inbox indicating that “[Your Username] sent you a Gift Message.”
Gift Box Animation:
Clicking on the notification will open the chat interface, where a visually appealing gift box animation will be displayed. Typically, the box is pink with a white ribbon design. Its size may adjust slightly based on the length of your message, with longer messages resulting in a wider box.
Unwrapping the Gift:
To reveal the message, the recipient simply needs to tap on the gift box animation. Once unwrapped, your regular text message will be visible within the chat window.
Important Details:
It’s worth noting that the message remains concealed within the gift box icon within the chat until the recipient taps on it again. Consequently, each time they revisit the chat, the message will appear wrapped once more, necessitating another tap to view its contents.
How To Know If A Gift Message Is Delivered?
Instagram doesn’t have a built-in feature to confirm if a gift message has been delivered and seen by the person you sent it to.
However, There Are Some Indicators You Can Rely On:
- Sent Notification: When you send the gift message, Instagram will display a “Sent” notification next to your message in the chat window. It confirms that the message was sent successfully from your end.
- Seeing the Recipient Online: If the recipient has “Show Activity Status” enabled in their settings and you’re following each other, you might notice a “[username] is active now” indicator below their name in the chat window. This could suggest they may have opened the message, but it’s not a guaranteed confirmation.
However, It’s Important To Note:
- The “Sent” notification doesn’t guarantee that the recipient has seen the message. They might have received the notification but haven’t opened the chat or clicked on the gift box yet.
- It also doesn’t indicate if the recipient has read receipts turned on, as this feature isn’t available in Instagram DMs.
Troubleshooting Tips
- App Update: Make sure you’ve installed the latest version of Instagram. Older versions may have bugs that affect features like gift messages. You can update the app from the App Store (for iOS) or Google Play Store (for Android).
- Internet Connection: Having a stable internet connection is important for sending messages. Check your Wi-Fi or mobile data connection to ensure it works properly. If you’re having trouble, try switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data to see if it helps.
- App Restart: Sometimes just restarting the app can fix temporary issues. Close the Instagram app completely and then open it again to see if the gift message feature starts working.
- Device Restart: Like restarting the app, restarting your phone or tablet can sometimes resolve underlying issues. Give your device a restart and try sending a gift message again.
- Gift Box Effect Unavailable: If you can’t see the gift box effect in the search bar (the magnifying glass icon), it could be a temporary problem with Instagram’s servers. You can try waiting for a bit and then checking again later.
- Message Sending Failure: If you get an error message when trying to send a gift message, take note of the specific error code or message. And search online for solutions related to that particular error.
- Recipient’s App Version: While it may not directly cause sending issues, an outdated Instagram app on the recipient’s device could affect how the gift message appears. Kindly suggest them to update their app as well.
- Clear App Cache (Android Only): If you’re using an Android device, you can try clearing the Instagram app’s cache. This might help resolve issues caused by stored data. Please note this option isn’t available for iPhones/iPads.
- Reinstall Instagram: If none of the above steps work, consider uninstalling and then reinstalling the Instagram app. This will remove any corrupted app data that could be causing the problem. Just remember to log back in after reinstalling.
- Report the Issue: If none of these solutions solve the problem, you can report it directly to Instagram. Go to your profile settings, tap “Help,” then “Report a Problem,” and describe the issue you’re having with sending gift messages.
FAQs:
If you’ve got the newest Instagram version, you might already spot the gift message option. It’s set up for most folks with the latest app. If you haven’t caught sight of it yet, it might not be out where you are. Instagram might be slowly introducing it to different places or accounts. So, if your pals have it but you don’t, hang tight, it could be heading your way soon.
Instagram’s gift message feature doesn’t offer anonymity due to how it functions. When you send a gift message, it’s sent through Instagram Direct Messages (DMs), which necessitates both the sender and recipient to have active Instagram accounts. Additionally, your username is linked to the message you send, meaning the recipient will always see your username in the notification and chat window.
No, gift messages do not disappear after a certain period on Instagram. Once sent, your gift message will remain visible to the recipient unless they choose to delete it. So, you can rest assured that your thoughtful message will be there for them to see whenever they open their gift.
Yes, you can edit or delete a gift message after sending it. However, there’s a time limit of 15 minutes for editing the message. After this window, the message becomes permanent and cannot be altered. So, make sure to review your message carefully within that timeframe.
At present, Instagram doesn’t allow sending gift messages to multiple recipients simultaneously via Direct Message. This is to ensure a personalized experience for each recipient, with the animation and hidden message intended to pleasantly surprise individuals. Technical constraints might hinder integration with Instagram’s group messaging, as the animation and message reveal may not function optimally in a group context.
Conclusion
All wrapped up! That’s how easy it is to send a fun gift message on Instagram. Did these steps help you surprise your friend? If you get stuck finding the gift effect, there are tons of quick tutorials online you can check out. Or, you can send in your comments for some assistance.
