X is preparing a big shift in how messaging works on the platform. Instead of keeping direct messages inside the main app, the company is moving them into a separate app called XChat, which is expected to launch soon for iPhone and iPad users.
The idea is to move messages into their own space instead of keeping them inside the main feed. You open the app, and it’s just your conversations, without the timeline or everything else in the way.
Your encrypted chats deserve their own app.
— XChat (@chat) April 10, 2026
Pre-order now: https://t.co/TM8Lk7AMGV pic.twitter.com/ZJ3yROXK1t
XChat aims to deliver a focused messaging experience
XChat feels more like a regular messaging app. It keeps things simple, with just your chats and contacts on screen, so you’re not dealing with trending topics or random posts getting in the way.
The app also brings features that are now standard in most messaging platforms. This includes end-to-end encrypted chats, along with support for audio and video calls. Users can share high-resolution photos and larger video files without the usual limitations found in social apps.
Another key part of this setup is how everything carries over. You sign in with your existing X account; there’s nothing new to set up. Your chats and contacts are already there when you open it, which means you’re not starting from scratch or moving anything over.
It also shows where X is heading with this. Messaging isn’t just sitting inside the app anymore; it’s getting its own space, more like how other chat apps work.
The main app may still support basic messaging for a while, though the long-term plan seems clear. X wants users to shift their conversations into XChat over time.
How likely are you to switch to a separate app just for messaging on X? Let us know in the comments.
