YouTube officially launched a direct messaging (DM) feature for users in the US, UK, and roughly 40 other regions on August 31, 2026 [1, 2]. The feature had been tested experimentally since late 2025 in European countries including Ireland and Poland before expanding to more countries in March 2026 [1, 2].
To use YouTube DMs, users must be 18 or older and signed into their account [1, 2]. They can send chat invitations only to people they add as YouTube friends; recipients then choose to accept or decline those invitations. YouTube said, "You can send the invite to anybody on the platform you want to talk to, and they will have the power to choose whether to Accept or Decline it" [2].
The messaging allows users to share videos along with typed messages to provide context [1, 2]. YouTube applies its community guidelines to DMs, banning spam, misinformation, illegal content, and sensitive material [1].
YouTube previously offered a DM feature from 2017 to 2019 but removed it to encourage discussions in public comments instead [2]. The latest rollout reflects a renewed focus on private messaging after extensive testing.
Currently, the feature is unavailable in India but YouTube plans to extend DM testing to more countries in the future [1, 2]. The staged rollout follows successful trials in Europe and aims to expand the ways users connect on the platform.
