YouTube is rolling out a new in-app messaging system that allows users to share videos and have one-on-one conversations; the previous messaging function was discontinued in 2019.
YouTube has launched a new messaging feature that allows users to share videos and have one-on-one conversations within the app. It's available to users aged 18 and over and is being rolled out in several regions, including the United States.
Expanding ways to share on YouTube
YouTube explains that 'users like to share videos with friends and family,' and that the messaging feature will allow users to watch, share, and converse about videos all in one place. The newly announced messaging feature allows users to share videos with others while they are still watching them and exchange reactions directly on YouTube.
YouTube previously had an in-app messaging feature, but it was discontinued in 2019. The newly added messaging feature had been tested in Europe since November 2025, and YouTube states that it was 'a highly requested feature at the time of testing.'
When the new messaging feature becomes available, a message icon will appear in the upper right corner of the YouTube app. Users can open the share menu from the screen while watching a video, short video, or live stream, select a recipient, and send the video. Note that links to unlisted videos can be shared, but private videos cannot.
However, this feature does not allow you to freely send messages to an unspecified number of users on YouTube. To start a conversation, you must first send an invitation URL to the other person, who must then select 'Allow messaging' to approve it. Features such as recalling sent messages, blocking users, and reporting conversations are also available.
The invitation link is valid for 7 days, and the link is sent using a third-party chat app or similar application outside of YouTube. YouTube explains that this messaging feature is intended for sharing videos with friends and family you already know, rather than for finding and talking to new people on YouTube.
According to YouTube, community guidelines apply to shared content and messages. While this makes video sharing more convenient, it also means that messaging will be managed by YouTube.
Following a positive response in countries where its messaging feature is already available, YouTube has indicated its intention to further expand its availability in new markets after gathering feedback from those markets.
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