X is preparing to launch its standalone messaging app, XChat, for iPhone and iPad users, with the app currently available for pre-order on the App Store and expected to go live on April 17. X has also indicated that XChat will not include advertisements and will not track user activity, positioning privacy as a key aspect of the new messaging service.
XChat is designed as a standalone platform and is not connected to the earlier IRC based service that shared a similar name. The development follows earlier statements from Elon Musk in 2025 about revamping the platform’s messaging infrastructure with encryption and improved architecture.
Your encrypted chats deserve their own app.
Pre-order now: https://t.co/TM8Lk7AMGV pic.twitter.com/ZJ3yROXK1t
— XChat (@chat) April 10, 2026
The new app marks a shift from X’s existing in-app direct messaging system, which was earlier expected to be upgraded within the main platform. Instead, the company has introduced XChat as a separate messaging product, indicating a move towards building a more dedicated communication experience for its users.
According to the App Store listing, XChat will include features such as end to end encryption, allowing only the sender and receiver to access messages. Users will also have the option to edit or delete messages after sending them, along with enabling disappearing messages that can be set to vanish within a few minutes.
The app is also expected to include a screenshot blocking feature, aimed at preventing users from capturing and sharing conversations without permission. In addition, XChat will support large group chats of up to 481 participants, as well as cross device calling, expanding its functionality beyond text based communication.
The app will be available on devices running iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 or later. Users who pre order the app will have it automatically downloaded once it becomes available.
