X launches Chat, its new encrypted direct messaging

X has unveiled Chat, a crypto upgrade to the platform’s direct messaging service. It also includes support for video calls, voice calls, disappearing messages, and file sharing.

Company Announce chat on Friday, and is available now on iOS and web, with an Android version coming “soon.” It replaces X’s current messaging system, although your old messages will have to be transferred over.

X says that Chat supports end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for both messages and files, although a Support page Note that this does not cover the message’s metadata — such as who received it or when it was sent. There’s also no protection against man-in-the-middle attacks, with the company admitting that if “a malicious insider or

Other privacy features include disappearing messages, which can be set to automatically delete after a set period of time, and options to either receive a notification when a chat screenshot is taken or block screenshots altogether. Messages can be edited and deleted, and voice and video calls are supported, with voice notes to come.