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X has officially launched Chat, the revamped messaging experience that replaces the platform's old DM system with richer, privacy-forward features. The update brings voice and video calling, file sharing, editable messages, disappearing content and end-to-end encryption to iOS and the web, with Android support coming soon.
What Chat brings to your conversations
Think of Chat as X's answer to modern messaging apps: you can start one-on-one or group conversations, make voice and video calls, share files, edit or delete messages, and enable disappearing messages. X also says it will add voice memos so users can exchange short audio clips.
- End-to-end encrypted chats and file sharing
- Voice and video calling built into the chat experience
- Edit, delete, or make messages disappear
- Screenshot blocking and notifications for attempts
- No ads or tracking inside Chat, per X
Privacy upgrades — and their limits
Encryption is the headline: unlike an earlier, more limited test, X now says group messages and media can be encrypted. That closes one of the bigger gaps in the platform's earlier rollout. But the company is also explicit about limits — certain metadata, such as recipient information, remains unencrypted.
X warns that Chat doesn’t currently protect against man-in-the-middle attacks. In practice, that means if an attacker, a compromised insider or a compelled disclosure were to undermine an encrypted conversation, the sender and recipient might not be alerted. X says it is developing tools to let users verify the authenticity of encrypted chats.
Screenshot protection and disappearing messages
For users who value ephemeral content, Chat supports disappearing messages and will notify you if someone attempts to take a screenshot. These features mirror options popularized by other messaging apps, but now sit inside X’s social network, making it easier to switch between public posts and private exchanges.
Rollout timeline and platform support
Chat is rolling out now on iOS and the web. Android users are told to expect the feature “soon.” The platform previously paused an encrypted messaging test in May to address unspecified issues, and this broader release suggests those problems have been resolved or mitigated.
How Chat positions X against rivals
By adding end-to-end encryption, video calling and file sharing, X narrows the gap with apps like WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram. Its pitch — no ads, no tracking inside Chat — leans into privacy-conscious messaging while tying the functionality directly to the social network's existing user base.
Still, savvy users will weigh the practical limits: metadata exposure and the lack of protection against certain attack vectors. If X follows through on verification tools and ongoing security improvements, Chat could become a stronger alternative for users who want private conversations without leaving the X ecosystem.
What to watch next
Expect the company to deliver Android support, voice memos and the promised verification features. Observers will also be watching how X handles legal requests and whether additional transparency or technical safeguards are added to shore up user trust.
Source: engadget
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