Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) is making its encrypted messaging tool, XChat, available to everyone. What was once a Premium-only beta feature is now being rolled out more broadly, giving all users the option to send secure, end-to-end encrypted messages.
Unlike the existing inbox, XChat functions separately and comes with a set of new tools. Users can send media, start group chats, pin conversations, and even mark messages as read or unread. Reports also suggest that a disappearing messages option could arrive later, making XChat more competitive with popular messaging apps.
To get started, users need to manually opt in. On desktop, the feature shows up in the Messages section with a new “Chat” tab above message requests. On mobile, it appears in the navigation panel just above Communities. For added security, people must set a four-digit code before they can begin chatting with others who are also using XChat. Messages sent on the old system remain, but are now grouped under an “Unencrypted” section.
This wider rollout comes at a time when X is experimenting with other ways to increase user engagement. Recently, the platform began testing a system that highlights posts attracting likes from people with differing viewpoints. The goal, the company says, is to push back against echo chambers and expose users to perspectives they might not normally see.
In this experiment, Community Notes contributors are shown posts flagged by early engagement patterns. They can then rate whether the post is interesting, disagreeable, or useful, helping X refine an algorithm that surfaces content resonating across divides.
“People often feel the world is divided, yet Community Notes shows people can agree – even on contentious topics,” the company said. This new feature aims to highlight posts that bridge perspectives and spark broader conversations.
With encrypted messaging now open to everyone and experiments underway to diversify content exposure, X is signalling that it wants to do more than just host conversations – it wants to shape how people have them.
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