New functionality may anchor a standalone XChat app.
The next big upgrade on X arrives — drama free. No flashy trailer. No countdown clock. Just a quiet rollout that changes the app’s messaging experience in a real way. Encrypted chat. File sharing. Message controls. And possibly — a standalone messaging app sits in the wings?
Users testing indicates quick replies, smoother performance, and a cleaner feel. The new tools bring X’s messaging closer to WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram. Elon Musk has spent a year talking about turning X into a full “everything app.” This update brings that idea closer to fruition.
What’s Happening & Why This Matters
New messaging tools change how users communicate on X
X’s new encrypted chat feature — simply called Chat — introduces file sharing, disappearing messages, editing tools, deletion tools, and screenshot blocking. Users can send documents, images, and PDFs directly. They can edit or wipe messages without hassle. Further, they set messages to vanish after custom time limits. And the app notifies them when someone attempts a screenshot.
X also lets users block screenshots entirely. The control creates a stronger privacy layer. Legacy DMs sit in the same inbox, so nothing is missing or relocated.
A member of the X engineering team confirms the release timing in a post on X. The rollout hits iOS and the web first. Android receives the update next.
EMusk, through his account and interviews, describes the system as “peer-to-peer encrypted,” similar to Bitcoin’s model. Musk says Chat is designed to be the “least insecure” messaging tool available. He also says a standalone messaging app named XChat is in development. The company has not formally announced a release window.
Executives inside X talk openly about a standalone chat app that behaves comparably to Signal or WhatsApp. Musk reinforced this idea during an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, where he discussed the encryption model and the long-term plan.
These moves support X’s ambition to mirror WeChat’s ecosystem model. Musk wants messaging, content, media, payments, voice calls, and commerce in one place.
TF Summary: What’s Next
X is attacking the established messaging experience with encryption and more tools that users expect from modern apps. The platform feels more aligned with a super-app vision, where communication, media, and privacy sit under one roof. More upgrades seem likely as X wants deeper encryption features, a dedicated messaging app, and stronger control for everyday users.
MY FORECAST: XChat gains momentum as a standalone encrypted messenger. Users gravitate to deeper privacy tools. Messaging on X is a critical pillar of the platform’s “everything app” strategy.
— Text-to-Speech (TTS) provided by gspeech