--- title: "Deco My Tree: What It Is & How to Use It (2026 Guide)" description: "What is Deco My Tree? How to make your tree, share the link, leave messages for friends, when messages open — and what to do when it isn’t working." url: https://decomytree.link/deco-my-tree language: en last_updated: 2026-10-18 --- Guide · Christmas 2026 # Deco My Tree 2026: what it is and how to use it Everything about the virtual Christmas tree trend: how to make your tree, share the link, leave messages for friends and open them on Christmas Day. ## What is Deco My Tree? **Deco My Tree** — short for *“decorate my tree”* — is a holiday trend where you create a virtual Christmas tree, share its link, and your friends decorate it with ornaments or gifts that hide a message. The twist: you can’t read the messages until Christmas. The idea went viral in South Korea and spread worldwide through Instagram stories and TikTok, and today several apps and websites offer it. **My Tree** is our free take on it: you make your tree and collect messages right in your browser, and nobody has to install anything. My Tree is independent and isn’t affiliated with the original Deco My Tree or its developers. In one sentence You make the tree, your friends fill it with messages, and everything opens on December 25. ## How Deco My Tree works 1. Create your tree Go to [decomytree.link/create-tree](https://decomytree.link/create-tree), pick one of 6 trees and a topper, and give your tree a name of up to 30 characters. Last, choose an email and password: they open your tree on any phone or computer. 2. Share your link Every tree has its own link and an 8-character tree code. Share them in your Instagram story, WhatsApp status, TikTok bio or group chats. 3. Friends decorate it They open your link, pick one of 61 gifts, write a message of up to 500 characters and sign it. 4. Open everything on Christmas Gifts pile up on your tree, but the messages stay wrapped until **December 25**. Then you can read them all. ## How to share your tree link - **Instagram story:** add a *Link* sticker with your tree link — the classic way to ask friends to deco your tree ([step by step](https://decomytree.link/deco-my-tree-instagram)). - **WhatsApp:** post the link as your status or drop it in the family group. - **TikTok, X or Threads:** put the link in your bio and ask followers to “deco my tree”. - **No link handy?** Friends can type your 8-character tree code at [decomytree.link/send-message](https://decomytree.link/send-message). ## How to leave a message on someone’s tree 1. Open your friend’s tree link — or go to [decomytree.link/send-message](https://decomytree.link/send-message) and enter their tree code. 2. Choose a gift: teddy bears, a snow globe, a plane ticket, a new phone and more. 3. Write your message (up to 500 characters). Stuck? Borrow one of our [message ideas](https://decomytree.link/deco-my-tree-message-ideas). 4. Type your name and choose whether everyone who opens the tree sees it, or only your friend. 5. Send it. Your gift appears on their tree right away and waits there, wrapped, until Christmas. Nothing to install Making a tree and leaving a message both work in any browser on iPhone, Android or a computer, and every gift is free to send. ## When can you open your messages? On My Tree, messages unlock on **Christmas Day, December 25**. Until then you can watch gifts arrive on your tree, but the notes inside stay locked. Check the [Christmas countdown](https://decomytree.link/christmas-countdown) to see exactly how long you have to wait. **Can you see the messages early?** Not on My Tree — waiting for Christmas morning is what makes opening them special. ## Not just Christmas: birthday and Valentine’s trees My Tree also has a [birthday tree](https://decomytree.link/birthday-tree) that opens on the birthday you pick and a [Valentine’s tree](https://decomytree.link/valentines-tree) that opens on February 14. They work the same way, with their own gifts: party crowns and birthday bears, or chocolate hearts and roses. ## Names, privacy and safety - Every message is signed, and **the tree owner always sees the sender’s name**. - Senders choose whether **everyone or only the owner** sees their name on the tree. Only the owner can read the messages. - You can **report, delete or block** any message or sender on your tree. - Friends need **no account**: they only need your link or tree code. You open your own tree with your email and password, and we never send you emails. ## Deco My Tree not working? Quick fixes Searches like *“deco my tree not working”*, *“service unavailable”* or *“empty token”* spike every December, when huge numbers of people open their trees at the same time. If a tree won’t load: 1. **Check the link.** Copy the whole link again — a cut-off link is the most common problem. 2. **Check the tree code.** My Tree codes have 8 characters and never use 0, 1, I or O, so they can’t be mixed up. 3. **Open it in your browser.** If it fails inside Instagram or TikTok, open the link in Safari or Chrome instead. 4. **Refresh the page** and make sure you’re online. 5. **Give it a few minutes.** Busy evenings close to Christmas can slow down any service. Forgot your password? Write to us from your tree’s email address and we’ll send you a link to choose a new one. “Service unavailable” or “empty token” in another app? See [Deco My Tree not working](https://decomytree.link/deco-my-tree-not-working) for what the errors mean and what to try. ## Is Deco My Tree free? My Tree is free: creating a tree, sharing it and receiving messages costs nothing, and every gift is free to send. ## Is there an iPhone version? Yes: My Tree runs in the browser, so it works the same on iPhone, Android and computers. Open [decomytree.link/create-tree](https://decomytree.link/create-tree) in Safari to make your tree, or any tree link to leave a message. Ready to deco your tree? Create your tree in under a minute and share the link with your friends today. - [Create your tree](https://decomytree.link/create-tree) - [Send a message](https://decomytree.link/send-message) ## Questions ### What does “Deco My Tree” mean? “Deco” is short for “decorate”, so “deco my tree” means “decorate my tree” — an invitation for friends to leave messages on your virtual Christmas tree. ### Do I need an account to use My Tree? Only the tree owner does: at the end of creating a tree you choose an email and password, which open it on any device. Senders only need your link or tree code. ### How do I find my tree link again? Open [decomytree.link/create-tree](https://decomytree.link/create-tree) and sign in with your email and password. You’ll see your link and your 8-character tree code. ### Can I delete a message? Yes. You can delete or report any message, and block a sender so they can’t write on your tree again. ### What can I write on someone’s tree? Anything kind, up to 500 characters: a memory, a compliment, an inside joke or a wish for the new year. Browse our [message ideas](https://decomytree.link/deco-my-tree-message-ideas) for inspiration. ## More pages - [Deco My Tree message ideas](https://decomytree.link/deco-my-tree-message-ideas): 120+ sweet, funny and flirty messages to copy - [Deco My Tree not working?](https://decomytree.link/deco-my-tree-not-working): Service unavailable, empty token or a blank page: what to do - [Deco My Tree alternative](https://decomytree.link/deco-my-tree-alternative): A free tree-message site: friends need no login - [Christmas countdown](https://decomytree.link/christmas-countdown): Live countdown to December 25