Direct messaging allows you to connect with your friends and followers on TikTok.
The feature allows you to send and receive messages or videos directly on the app.
If you’re trying to send a message to a user, you might get an error message.
The message says that you can’t send messages due to the user’s privacy settings.
Unfortunately, this can only be fixed from the user’s end and not yours.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to fix “Cannot send messages due to this user’s privacy settings” on TikTok (for the other user).
How to Fix “Cannot send messages due to this user’s privacy settings” on TikTok
To fix “Cannot send messages due to this user’s privacy settings” on TikTok, you need to ask your friend to change their privacy settings to “Friends” or “Everyone”.
In addition, to send or receive messages, your friend needs to be 16 years old or above.
Fix 1: Change your privacy settings
- Open the TikTok app and go to your profile.
- Menu > Settings and privacy > Privacy.
- Interactions > Direct messages > Everyone/Friends.
Note: If you can’t send messages to your friend, ask them to follow the steps above to change their privacy settings.
Fix 2: Change your age to 16 and above
- Go to https://www.tiktok.com/legal/report/feedback.
- Select “Change account information” as the topic.
- Select “Other” as the category.
- Enter your email address and TikTok username.
- Say that you’ve set your birthday incorrectly and you want to change it to YYYY-DD-MM (so that you’re above 16 years old).
- Attach a photo of your ID for verification purposes.
- Submit the form and wait for TikTok’s response.
Note: If your friend accidentally set their age to under 16 years old on TikTok, ask them to follow the steps above to change it so that you can send them direct messages.
Further reading
How to Fix “Due to multiple community guideline violations” on TikTok