To see closed DMs on Discord, start by checking your Message Requests and Spam folders, as messages from non-friends are often filtered there. If that doesn't work, you can request your Discord data package to search through your full message history, though ignored message requests are permanently lost.
How to see closed DMs on Discord by checking message requests
Direct Messages from non-friends may be filtered into a "Message Requests" folder or a "Spam" folder, which can be accessed from the Home tab on desktop/web or within your DMs on mobile. This is the first place to look when you cannot find a closed DM, especially if you never added the other person as a friend or they were removed from your friends list.
- Look for a "Message Requests" section near the top of your direct messages list.
- On mobile, open your DMs list and scroll down to find "Message Requests" or tap the hamburger menu to locate it.
- Click or tap on the request to view the conversation. If the DM is there, you can accept the request to restore it to your active chat list.
Check your Discord spam folder for hidden messages
Messages that Discord's automated filters consider suspicious may be moved to a Spam folder, which can also filter closed DMs. This folder is separate from Message Requests and is worth checking if the DM you are looking for came from someone you do not know well or contained links or attachments.
- On desktop, click the Home icon and look for "Spam" beneath the Message Requests section in your DMs list.
- On mobile, open your DMs and scroll to the bottom of the list to find the Spam folder.
Request your Discord data package to find old messages
If the DM is not in Message Requests or Spam, you can request a copy of all your Discord data, which includes your message history. This method works even for conversations that were closed long ago, as long as the messages were not deleted by either party.
- Under the "Request All My Data" section, click the button to request your data package.
- Wait for Discord to process your request. You will receive an email when the package is ready for download.
- Download the zip file from the link in the email, then extract it on your computer.
- Open the extracted folder and navigate to the "messages" folder. Inside, you will find folders for each DM channel, named with the user's ID. Open the relevant folder to view text files containing the message history.
Why you should avoid third-party recovery tools
You might be tempted to search for software that claims to recover deleted or closed DMs, but these tools are not safe. Third-party tools that require your Discord login credentials can steal your account, install malware on your device, or violate Discord's Terms of Service, leading to a permanent ban. Discord does not provide any official API for recovering closed DMs through external software, so any tool making this promise is deceptive.
What to do if you can't find your closed DMs
Ignored message requests cannot be retrieved, although the sender may be able to resend them depending on your privacy settings. If you have checked Message Requests, Spam, and your data package with no success, the messages are likely gone for good. Your only remaining option is to contact the other person directly and ask them to resend the messages or share a screenshot of the conversation. Discord's support team cannot recover ignored or deleted DMs on your behalf.
