# Unable to access PMs

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unable-to-access-pms/680658>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [February 6, 2014, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unable-to-access-pms/680658 "2014-02-06T13:50:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unable-to-access-pms/680658/1 "2014-02-06T13:50:09Z")

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Any time today I try to go to [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/private.php](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/private.php) to read my PMs, it redirects to [Straight Dope Message Board - Your direct line to thousands of the smartest, hippest people on the planet, plus a few total dipsticks.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/)

(a) Is this just me and (b) little help in stopping it? ta!

It didn’t do this yesterday, and I’ve not installed or updated anything since.

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**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unable-to-access-pms/680658/2 "2014-02-06T13:55:54Z")

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FWIW, I was able to access my PMs.

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**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unable-to-access-pms/680658/3 "2014-02-06T14:09:15Z")

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Works fine for me.

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**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unable-to-access-pms/680658/4 "2014-02-06T14:30:51Z")

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and me.

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**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unable-to-access-pms/680658/5 "2014-02-06T15:47:15Z")

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Usually if that happens it means that you have exceeded the number oif PMs total in your mailbox. You need to archive or download the existing ones you have – or delete as necessary – to get under the limit.

Please go to UserCP/Private Messages/List Messages to look at your PM inbox.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page to download if you want to archive your PMs. Then delete.

If you only want to delete, click on the ones you want to remove.

You’ll need to do this for both the inbox and the outgoing PM box as well.

Hope this helps.