5 Ways to Master Half Swiping on Instagram DMs

Half swiping on Instagram messages

Have you ever accidentally swiped left or right on an Instagram message and regretted it? Maybe you swiped left to delete it, but then realized it was an important message. Or maybe you swiped right to archive it, but then couldn’t find it later. Half-swiping is a new feature on Instagram that allows you to peek at a message without fully opening it. This can be useful for quickly previewing a message to see if it’s important or not, or for getting a sneak peek at a photo or video without having to fully download it. In this article, we’ll show you how to half-swipe on Instagram messages and how to undo a half-swipe if you accidentally do it.

To half-swipe on an Instagram message, simply place your finger on the message and drag it to the left or right. You don’t need to drag it all the way to the edge of the screen, just far enough to reveal the preview. The message will then pop out slightly, revealing a preview of the message. You can then let go of the message to close the preview, or you can continue dragging it to the left or right to delete it or archive it.

If you accidentally half-swipe on a message, you can undo it by simply dragging the message back to the center of the screen. The message will then snap back into place. You can also undo a half-swipe by tapping on the message. This will open the message in full, and you can then close it by tapping on the back button. Once you understand how to properly half-swipe on Instagram, it can be a useful tool for quickly previewing messages and saving time. However, it is important to be careful not to accidentally swipe left or right too far, as this could delete or archive the message.

Identifying the Half Swipe Feature

The half swipe feature on Instagram messages is a convenient way to preview a message without opening it. This can be useful for quickly catching a glimpse of the message content, or for avoiding notifications for messages you’re not interested in reading. To half swipe, simply drag your finger from the right side of the message towards the left, but do not release your finger. A preview of the message will appear, and you can let go to mark the message as read, or continue dragging to the left to delete it.

The half swipe feature is available for both individual messages and group chats. For individual messages, the preview will show the first few lines of the message, as well as the sender’s name and profile picture. For group chats, the preview will show the sender’s name and profile picture, as well as the first line of the message. The half swipe feature is not available for disappearing messages.

The following table summarizes the different ways to use the half swipe feature:

Action	How to do it
Preview a message	Drag your finger from the right side of the message towards the left, but do not release your finger.
Mark a message as read	Half swipe a message, then let go.
Delete a message	Half swipe a message, then drag your finger all the way to the left.

Half Swiping to Reply to Specific Messages

To reply to a specific message using the half-swipe gesture, follow these steps:

Open the Instagram Direct message thread.
Locate the message you want to respond to and half-swipe it from right to left (or left to right on iOS devices).
This will reveal the “Reply” option. Tap on it to create a direct reply to that specific message.
Type your reply in the text box and hit “Send”.

The half-swipe reply feature in Instagram Direct offers a convenient way to quickly respond to specific messages without having to scroll through the entire conversation. It helps maintain the context of the conversation and makes it easier to address specific points or questions.

**Additional Tips:**

Half-swiping a message will only display the “Reply” option. To access other options such as “Delete” or “Forward”, you need to full-swipe the message.
The half-swipe reply feature is available for both individual and group messages.
You can half-swipe multiple messages at once to create a thread of replies.

Half Swiping to Mark as Seen or Unseen

Instagram’s half swipe feature allows users to preview messages without marking them as seen. This can be useful for quickly checking the content of a message without letting the sender know that you’ve read it.

Mark as Seen

To mark a message as seen using the half swipe feature:

Half swipe the message from right to left.
The message will now appear as seen in the chat list.
You can also tap on the message to open it in a full view.

Unmark as Seen

To unmark a message as seen:

Half swipe the message from left to right.
The message will now appear as unseen in the chat list.
You can also tap on the message to open it in a full view.

Additional Notes

The half swipe feature works on both iOS and Android devices.
You can also use the half swipe feature to delete messages.
If you have multiple messages from the same person, you can half swipe to mark all of them as seen or unseen at once.

Feature	Direction of Swipe
Mark as Seen	Half swipe right to left
Unmark as Seen	Half swipe left to right
Delete Message	Half swipe left to right
Mark/Unmark Multiple Messages from the Same Person	Half swipe right to left/left to right

Half Swiping to Archive Messages

To archive a message, simply half swipe it to the left. A green “Archive” button will appear. Tap the button to archive the message. Archived messages are hidden from your inbox, but you can still access them by going to the “Archived Messages” folder.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to archiving messages on Instagram:

Open the Instagram app on your phone.
Go to your inbox by tapping on the “Direct” Direct” icon in the top right corner of the screen.
Find the message you want to archive and half swipe it to the left.
Tap the “Archive” button that appears.

You can also archive multiple messages at once. To do this, simply select the messages you want to archive and then tap the “Archive” button that appears at the bottom of the screen.

Benefits of archiving messages:

It helps to declutter your inbox.
It keeps your important messages safe and organized.
You can easily access archived messages later by going to the “Archived Messages” folder.

Half Swiping to Delete Messages

Half swiping on Instagram messages allows you to delete or archive them. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Open Instagram and go to your messages

2. Find the message you want to delete

3. Half swipe from right to left on the message (don’t slide all the way)

4. Tap the “Delete” icon

5. Recover Deleted Messages

If you accidentally delete a message, you can recover it within 24 hours by following these steps:

Step	Action
1	Tap the “Undo” button that appears at the bottom of the screen.
2	If you don’t see the “Undo” button, go to the “Settings” menu and tap “Messages.”
3	Scroll down and tap “Recover Deleted Messages.”

Half Swiping to Report or Block Users

Half swiping on Instagram messages allows you to discreetly report or block users without directly confronting them. This feature is particularly useful for dealing with harassing or inappropriate messages.

Reporting a Message

To report a message:

Half swipe the message to the left.
Tap the "Report" option.
Select the appropriate reason for reporting the message.
Tap "Send Report".

Blocking a User

To block a user:

Half swipe the message to the left.
Tap the "Block" option.
Confirm your decision by tapping "Block" again.

Additional Notes:

Half swiping to report or block a user can be done from both individual chat messages and group chats.
When you report a message, it is sent to Instagram for review. Instagram will take appropriate action, such as removing the message or suspending the user’s account.
When you block a user, they will no longer be able to send you messages, view your profile, or see your posts.

Action	Description
Report Message	Sends the reported message to Instagram for review.
Block User	Prevents the blocked user from sending messages, viewing your profile, or seeing your posts.

Customizing Half Swipe Options

To customize the half swipe options, follow these steps:

Open the Instagram app and go to your profile.
Tap the three lines in the top right corner of the screen.
Select “Settings.”
Scroll down and tap “Notifications.”
Under “Message Requests,” tap “Half Swipe Options.”
Select the desired options:

Mark as Read: Marks the message as read when you half swipe it.
Delete: Deletes the message when you half swipe it.
Archive: Archives the message when you half swipe it.

You can also customize the half swipe options for specific conversations. To do this:

Open the Instagram app and go to your Direct Messages.
Tap and hold on the conversation you want to customize.
Select “Notification Settings.”
Under “Half Swipe Options,” select the desired options.

Here is a table summarizing the half swipe options:

Option	Description
Mark as Read	Marks the message as read when you half swipe it.
Delete	Deletes the message when you half swipe it.
Archive	Archives the message when you half swipe it.

Troubleshooting Half Swipe Issues

8. Checking Your Phone’s Settings

Go to your phone’s Settings app.
Tap on Apps & notifications.
Select the Instagram app.
Tap on Permissions.
Ensure that the Storage permission is enabled.
Scroll down to the “Other permissions” section.
Check if the “Display over other apps” permission is enabled.
If it’s not enabled, tap on the toggle switch to turn it on.

After enabling these permissions, restart your phone and try the half swipe gesture again. This should resolve the issue.

Etiquette for Half Swiping

Half swiping has several unspoken rules that help maintain respect and privacy among users:

1. Respect the Sender’s Privacy:

Half swiping should only be done with messages intended for you. Avoid prying into private or sensitive conversations.

2. Be Discreet:

Don’t let others see you half swiping a message. This can be disrespectful or embarrassing for the recipient.

3. Avoid Negative Reactions:

Use half swiping to express interest or curiosity. Avoid using it to express negative emotions like anger or disappointment.

4. Don’t Half Swipe Repeatedly:

Multiple half swipes can be annoying and intrusive. Limit it to a single attempt per message.

5. Ask Permission for Sensitive Content:

If you’re unsure whether the message contains sensitive content, ask permission before half swiping.

6. Respect the Recipient’s Wishes:

If the recipient requests that you stop half swiping, respect their decision.

7. Use Subtlety:

Half swiping should be done discreetly. Don’t make it obvious or intrusive.

8. Avoid Overusing It:

Half swiping should be used sparingly. Overuse can become annoying or overwhelming.

9. Specific Scenarios to Consider:

Scenario	Recommended Approach
Romantic interest	Use half swiping as a playful way to show interest, but avoid being too aggressive.
Important information	Half swipe with caution and ask for permission if necessary.
Secret chats	Avoid half swiping altogether as these chats are highly private.
Group messages	Half swipe only if you’re sure the message is intended for you.

Advanced Half Swipe Techniques

Delayed Half Swipe

Hold your finger on the message and drag it halfway to the right, then pause for a few seconds before swiping all the way to the left. This allows you to preview the message content briefly before deciding whether to open or delete it.

Peek-and-Swipe

Swipe your finger halfway to the right, then quickly return it to the starting position without swiping all the way to the left. This enables you to peek at the message text without marking it as read or deleting it.

Partial Half Swipe

Swipe your finger only a quarter of the way to the right, then hold it there for a moment. This creates a small “peephole” that reveals a snippet of the message text.

Half Swipe with Quick Preview

Swipe your finger halfway to the right, then quickly tap the “Preview” button that appears. This allows you to read the entire message without swiping it all the way to the left or marking it as read.

Quick Half Swipe

Perform a half swipe as quickly as possible. This technique is for experienced users who can swiftly drag the message to the right and back to the left without triggering any actions.

Double Half Swipe

Swipe your finger halfway to the right, then quickly swipe it back to the left and then halfway to the right again. This marks the message as unread without opening it.

Half Swipe and Mark as Unread

Swipe your finger halfway to the right, then tap the “Unread” button that appears. This marks the message as unread without deleting it.

Half Swipe and Archive

Swipe your finger halfway to the right, then tap the “Archive” button that appears. This archives the message without deleting it.

Half Swipe and Mute

Swipe your finger halfway to the right, then tap the “Mute” button that appears. This mutes the message without deleting it.

Quick Half Swipe and Unread

Similar to the Quick Half Swipe, but after swiping back to the left, tap the “Unread” button that appears. This marks the message as unread without deleting it.

How To Half Swipe On Instagram Messages

Instagram has recently introduced a new feature that allows users to "half swipe" on messages. This feature allows users to quickly preview a message without actually opening it. To half swipe on a message, simply swipe it to the right about halfway. The message will then pop out slightly, and you will be able to see a preview of the message. To open the message, simply swipe it the rest of the way to the right.

This feature can be useful for quickly scanning through your messages to see if there are any important messages that you need to respond to. It can also be used to preview messages from people that you don’t know, so that you can decide whether or not you want to open them.