Elon Musk's X rolls out Chat with disappearing messages, encryption and calls

X has unveiled Chat, its most significant messaging overhaul since the platform rebranded. Rolling out on iOS and the web — with Android coming soon — the new system replaces traditional DMs with an encrypted, feature-packed inbox designed to feel more like a modern secure chat app. It brings end-to-end encryption, disappearing messages, voice and video calls, and a stack of new privacy tools that shift X’s messaging experience into far more serious territory. Your old DMs still carry over, but everything else has essentially been rebuilt.

Chat marks X’s first major attempt at turning its messaging product into something genuinely private and more capable. The platform says the new system supports end-to-end encryption for both messages and files, meaning only the sender and receiver can view the contents. However, as X openly notes, the protection does not extend to metadata — things like who you messaged or when — and there is currently no safeguard against man-in-the-middle attacks. In fact, X admits that if a “malicious insider or X itself” compromised a conversation, users wouldn’t be able to detect it. Authentication tools for verifying device identity and message integrity are “coming soon.”

Chat: Key features

Privacy controls are a big part of the new experience. Users can send disappearing messages that auto-delete after a set duration. There are also options to block screenshots entirely or receive a notification if someone attempts one. Messages can be edited or deleted, giving you more control over what stays in a conversation.