How to Find My Messages on the Craigslist Site

i Goodshoot/Goodshoot/Getty Images

There are two types of Craigslist messages that you may want to find on the Craigslist site: your private messages and your posted ads.

Check Craigslist Private Messages

Craigslist private messages are messages that have been sent from other users in response to your Craigslist posting. These messages are visible only to you and the sender. Access your Craigslist private messages by logging into your Craigslist account with the username and password that you used to initially make the Craigslist post. Click the “Inbox” link and then click on a message to read it. Reply to it on Craigslist by clicking the “Reply” button and then clicking “Send.”

Note that if you did not post to Craigslist using a Craigslist account, then you will not have access to private messages on the site. Replies to your Craigslist post will instead be sent to the email address included in your posting.

Find Craigslist Posted Messages from Email

When you create a Craigslist post, you are sent an email to confirm, edit or delete the posting. Use this email to locate your Craigslist post. If you do not see the email in your inbox, check your spam folder as Craigslist posts are frequently flagged as spam by email providers. Click the link in the email to access your Craigslist posting.

You can also find private message replies to your Craigslist postings in your email inbox. You can reply to these messages from your email inbox, but remember that the recipient of your message will see your actual email address, so you will lose the anonymity that you have when replying through Craigslist's private message inbox.

Find Craigslist Postings on the Site

Use the Craigslist search feature to find your Craigslist posts even if you do not have a Craigslist login or cannot find the original email in your inbox. Go to the Craigslist home page for your city or location and enter the title of your Craigslist post. If you cannot remember the entire title, just type in what you remember. Click “Search craigslist.”

Click the drop-down next to your city or location on the top of the next page and select the section of the site in which you originally posted the message to narrow the results. You can refine the results further by selecting options on the sidebar such as your ZIP code, sub-category for the posting, price (if applicable) and then by clicking “update search.” Scroll down the page until you see your post and then click on it to view it.