Locked messages
Updated October 22, 2026
Locked messages also known as PPV (Pay-per-view) are a way to share content with your members directly. Locked messages are a part of our Direct Messages feature within Fourthwall membership and are a great way to engage customers while making additional revenue.
Locked messages give you plenty of opportunities:
- Increased engagement - sending private messages to your members (including locked ones) can be a great way to increase engagement and lead to great conversations with your closest fans!
- Upsell higher tiers - you can send exclusive higher-level tier content to lower tiers as an incentive for members to unlock them on a one-off basis
- New revenue stream - earn additional income by sending your members additional, exclusive, locked content in a more private way!
- Sell custom creations & commissions - offer custom work (e.g., artwork, music, personalized videos, more professional images), allowing members to commission exclusive creations directly through pay-per-view messages, where you can also easily discuss details with your members
- Utilize content that you may not want for your feed - if you have some extra content you don’t feel like adding as a completely separate feed post but also don’t want to offer it for free, you can send it over in a different, more private channel in the form of locked messages
What are Locked messages?
Locked messages (or PPV) are messages containing text, photos, audio, or video content that are locked behind a one-time payment and are sent directly to your customers via DMs. You set the unlock price, and your fans need to pay the specific price to gain access to the locked content.
With Fourthwall, you can send both individual & mass PPV messages!
To sell a single post instead of a message, choose Sell post under Who can access this post? in the post editor. People can then unlock that post for a one-time price between $3 and $500 (USD only). Learn more in Memberships: Posts.
How do I send Locked messages?
Sending locked messages is almost the same as sending regular DMs - if you haven’t done so before or don’t have DMs enabled on your site, please follow this help article: Direct messages & tips
To send a locked message, navigate to your Memberships → Messages tab, create a new message, and click the lock icon (Lock message behind paywall) next to the message content input. If the icon is greyed out, check that Messages is enabled and that no other mass message is still sending. When you click the icon, additional inputs appear below your message (on smaller screens, in a Set message price window) where you can set:
- Price - the one-time price your fans need to pay to unlock the message (up to $500)
- Message teaser (required) - text your fans see before they unlock the message
You can also include attachments to your message: either one video, one audio, or images. Once you’re done composing your message, click Send, and you’re done!
Note: Audio & video attachments can take a moment to process (up to an hour). For faster processing times, we recommend uploading videos in a maximum resolution of 1080p.
How can my members unlock my message?
Whenever you send a new locked message, your members will receive both email & push notifications alerting them of the new DM from you. They will also see a new unread message badge when visiting your membership site. When in the Messages window, they’ll be presented with your message in a locked state: only the teaser text is presented, a blurred version of the image (if images are added) or blurred thumbnail in case of a video attachment, number of images (in case of image attachment) or media length (for audio & video).
On top of the message, a special CTA (call-to-action) button will be presented: “Unlock for $X.XX”; once clicked, your members will be taken to the purchase flow, and after payment, they’ll get access to the locked content!
Members whose membership is billed through the App Store, Google Play or Roku can't unlock locked messages yet, even on the web. They'll see a notice that locked messages aren't supported for their subscription.
How can I see Locked messages revenue?
On your Fourthwall dashboard, go to Analytics > Memberships, click Full report on the Memberships profit card, and select “Memberships paid message” in the “Type” filter:
Locked messages FAQs:
How should I price my Locked messages?
Pricing depends on you, your fanbase, and the type of content you’re sending out. We recommend starting between $5 and $20, seeing how your fans respond, and adjusting from there.
What type of content can I include with locked messages?
You can send a pure text message and choose an optional attachment category: photos (one or multiple), one video, or one audio.
What are the restrictions around locked messages?
Just like with your membership, we give you the freedom to post the content that works for you as long as it complies with our AUP.
What’s the maximum price for a locked message?
The maximum price for a locked message is $500. Prices are set and charged in USD, and members may also pay applicable sales tax on top of your price.
Can former/expired members unlock locked messages?
Yes! By default they won’t be able to send you a message back (they’ll be prompted to sign up). If you want to hear from them, go to Memberships > Settings > Messages and select For both members and free accounts under Enable messages. This lets free accounts and former members message you.
Why can't some members unlock my locked messages?
Members whose membership is billed through the App Store, Google Play or Roku can't unlock locked messages yet, even on the web. They'll see a notice that locked messages aren't supported for their subscription.
Can I see how many members unlocked particular locked messages?
There's no total unlock count yet, but each conversation shows whether that member has paid. Under the message's timestamp, you'll see $X.XX paid or $X.XX not paid yet. Please see the “How can I see Locked messages revenue?” section of this article to learn how to see locked messages related profit!
Can I delete or edit my Locked message after sending it?
You can delete a Locked message you've sent. Editing a sent message isn't available. Deleting a locked message also removes it for members who already unlocked it, and they don't get an automatic refund. A mass message goes to each recipient as a separate copy, so deleting it from one conversation doesn't remove the other copies.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at support@fourthwall.com