Looking to find your very first Instagram message with someone? Whether it’s for nostalgia or curiosity, sifting through years of chats can be tedious. Thankfully, there are smarter ways to locate that initial conversation without endless scrolling through a sea of “lol,” heart emojis, and “wyd” texts.
In this guide, we’ll share user-tested tips and tricks to help you quickly navigate to the start of a conversation. We’ll outline effective methods, pitfalls to avoid, and time-saving steps, all while keeping it light-hearted. After all, finding your first “hey” shouldn’t feel like a full-time job!
Is It Possible to Just Scroll Back on an Instagram Chat?
Yes, you can scroll all the way back — but unless your chat history is short, you’re in for a frustrating ride. If it’s just a few weeks or months of messages, scrolling might get the job done. But if you’ve been messaging someone daily for years, prepare for a lot of wasted time and probably a few app crashes along the way.
Many users say that once they hit a certain point, Instagram just gives up. The app starts looping messages, freezing, or straight-up crashing. One person even mentioned getting sore fingers from swiping for so long — and they still didn’t make it to the beginning.
For longer conversations, you’re better off trying the tips below on how to see the first message on Instagram without scrolling. These aren’t hacks or gimmicks — just straightforward workarounds that people have actually used to get results.
How to See the First Message on Instagram Without Scrolling
Instagram doesn’t offer a “jump to beginning” button or let you sort messages by date — which is a shame, honestly. But that doesn’t mean you’re stuck scrolling forever. There are a few reliable methods that can help you skip straight to the start of a conversation.
Each method has its own pros and quirks, and we’ve tested them to figure out what works best in different situations. Just a heads up: the chat theme you see now won’t magically change to whatever you had years ago (we agree, that would be a great feature). Still, here’s how you can read the first messages without burning out your thumbs.
Method 1 – Use Instagram’s Keyword Search Feature
Instagram DMs include a basic search bar that can help you jump to certain points in a chat. If you remember a specific word, nickname, phrase, or even something you later unsent from the early days of your conversation, try typing it in. It might land you close to the beginning.
That said, search mode has limits. You can’t scroll backward from a found result. So if you find a message from early 2021 but the conversation started in late 2020, you’re stuck. Some users try replying to that message to re-locate it later, but that only works sometimes. If it fails, your best bet is to keep testing different keywords that might appear earlier in the thread.
Method 2 – Download Your Instagram Data
If you want precision and don’t mind stepping outside the app, this method is your most accurate option. Instagram lets you request your message data:
- Go to your profile and tap the menu.
- Go to Your Activity → Scroll to Download Your Information.
- Go through the steps shown on the screen.
- Choose Messages, set the full time range, and submit the request.
- You’ll get a link via email once the file is ready.
Once downloaded, you can search through the file for early texts, links, or even rewatch old videos inside DMs. You won’t see it inside the app, but it’s the cleanest way to access the full conversation history — without any app lag or bugs.
Method 3 – Use Instagram on Desktop
Opening Instagram DMs on a computer gives you some breathing room. The desktop site has smoother scrolling and you can use browser tools to help.
With the right Chrome extension or a custom script, you can set your browser to auto-scroll upward. Just open the chat and let the script do its thing while you do something else. This works well for long conversations, but it’s not perfect — the scroll may freeze or crash, so check in every now and then.
Method 4 – Use an Auto-Scroll App
If you’re using a phone and want a hands-off approach, auto-scrolling apps can help. These tools are usually designed for accessibility or general automation, but they work fine for Instagram too.
Here’s how they typically work:
- Install an app like Automatic Scroll or a trusted auto-clicker.
- Set your scroll speed and direction (you’ll want fast upward scrolling).
- Open your Instagram chat and activate the scroll.
- Let it run — but keep an eye on it in case it stops or crashes.
It’s not a perfect fix, and results depend on your device, but it definitely beats holding your thumb to the screen for half an hour.
Tips for Saving Important Messages in the Future
After spending time tracking down old messages, you’ll probably want to avoid going through it again. A few small habits can save you a lot of time later.
First, screenshot or copy important chats and save them somewhere secure — like your phone’s Notes app or cloud storage. This is especially helpful for messages that mean something to you personally, or that include info you don’t want to lose.
Second, keep an eye out for new Instagram features. If they eventually let users pin messages or organize chats better, take advantage of that right away.
Finally, consider downloading your Instagram data every few months, especially if you rely on DMs for things like client work, sales, or any kind of business contact. It only takes a minute, and having a full backup gives you peace of mind in case anything disappears.
Why Some Features May Work Differently for You
If a trick works for someone else but not for you, you’re not imagining things. Instagram often tests features on a limited number of accounts, so your version of the app might behave slightly differently — even if you’re on the same phone model as a friend.
For example, some people can swipe through shared Reels in DMs, while others can’t. These inconsistencies usually come down to experimental rollouts, device type (Android vs. iPhone), or which version of the app you’re using.
So if something doesn’t show up for you, don’t panic — it might be temporary. Instagram changes things often, and today’s “missing feature” could roll out to everyone next week. To stay ahead, keep your app updated and check your device’s app store for available updates regularly.
Conclusion
Learning how to see the first message on Instagram without scrolling forever is possible — you just need the right method. For short chats, a quick keyword search might be enough. But for longer threads, downloading your data or using auto-scroll tools on desktop or mobile will save you serious time and frustration.
Manual scrolling only makes sense for short conversations. Anything else is better handled with smarter tools. And once you’ve found what you’re looking for, use the tips above to save those messages so you won’t have to go through all this again.
