YouTube expands direct messaging feature to 30+ countries in new rollout

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• YouTube expands direct messaging to over 30 new countries
• Users can now share videos privately within YouTube
• Messaging requires users to be 18+ and signed in

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YouTube is expanding its recently revived direct messaging feature to more than two dozen additional countries, giving users new ways to communicate and share videos directly within the platform.

For years, YouTube did not offer a built-in messaging system after the company quietly removed the feature long ago. Many users had almost forgotten that the platform once supported direct conversations. However, the company brought the feature back earlier this year on a limited basis, initially rolling it out only in Poland and Ireland.

Now, YouTube has significantly expanded access to the feature, according to an update shared on its support page. The development was first spotted by PuinikaWeb and Android Authority. With the latest rollout, users in over 30 countries can now try the messaging functionality.

The newly supported regions include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Poland and Ireland continue to remain part of the supported list as well.

The feature allows users to send direct messages within YouTube, making it easier to share videos privately with friends or contacts without leaving the platform. Instead of copying links and sending them through other apps, users can simply share the content through the built-in messaging interface.

To maintain safety and control, YouTube has kept the same rules that applied during the initial rollout. Users must have a YouTube account and be signed in to access the messaging feature. In addition, the platform requires users to be at least 18 years old, and age verification may be required before the feature becomes available.

The messaging system also includes basic controls to help users manage conversations. Recipients can choose whether to accept or decline incoming messages, helping prevent unwanted contact. Users also have the option to unsend a message or delete an entire conversation if they change their mind.

The expansion comes as YouTube continues to experiment with new ways to increase engagement on the platform. Over the past year, the company has introduced several new tools and features aimed at improving how users interact with content and each other.

For users in the newly supported countries, the feature should start appearing in the YouTube app, allowing them to test the platform’s latest attempt at bringing direct conversations back to the video service.