Meta preparing to add direct messaging to Threads web version

Meta is preparing to add direct messaging functionality to the web version of Threads, closing a nearly year-long feature gap between mobile and desktop users of the social media platform. Threads executive Connor Hayes shared an image showing a redesigned web interface that includes a direct message inbox in the left sidebar. The messaging feature has been available in the Threads mobile app since June 2025, but web users have been without the capability since the platform's launch. The redesign represents a substantial update to Threads' web interface, introducing multiple new elements to the left sidebar including easier switching between different feeds. While Hayes didn't provide a specific launch date for the changes, he indicated users could expect to see the updates "in the coming weeks." The feature disparity between mobile and web versions of Threads reflects the platform's user distribution, with Threads achieving greater popularity on mobile devices while X remains the dominant microblogging service on desktop browsers. The upcoming web messaging capability addresses one of the most requested features from Threads users who primarily access the platform through browsers. The addition comes as Meta continues to develop Threads as a competitor to X, with the platform having gained significant traction on mobile devices over the past year. The redesign signals Meta's ongoing investment in Threads' web presence, ensuring desktop users receive feature parity with their mobile counterparts after nearly a year of waiting for core messaging functionality.