The X Chat app will launch on April 17, according to its App Store listing, which now accepts pre-orders from iPhone and iPad users. X is introducing the new app exclusively for its users as a standalone messaging platform rather than a simple update to its existing direct messaging feature.
This version of X Chat has no connection to the IRC app from the early 2000s. Instead, X is positioning it as a dedicated communication tool within its ecosystem, offering messaging, calling and privacy-focused features.
Elon Musk first announced plans for the revamped messaging experience in mid-2025. At the time, he said the service would run on a new architecture built with Rust and use what he described as “Bitcoin-style” encryption. Although Musk had earlier suggested a broader launch last June, the feature remained mostly in limited beta testing for paid subscribers. The April 17 release now points to a wider public rollout, at least for Apple users.
The app is designed as a separate environment for X users. It lets people chat with anyone on X and make audio or video calls across devices without linking a phone number.
XChat is end-to-end encrypted and allows users to edit or delete messages for all participants. It also includes a screenshot block and a disappearing message mode, with sensitive content set to vanish within five minutes.
X Chat also supports large group chats with up to 481 members. The App Store listing says the app will remain ad-free and will not track users, which may appeal to users focused on privacy and a cleaner messaging experience.
However, security researchers have not yet seen third-party audits confirming those privacy claims. That means some of the app’s security promises may continue to face scrutiny after launch.
Users can already pre-order XChat on the App Store for iPhone and iPad. The app requires iOS 16.0 or later and will automatically download to eligible devices when it officially launches next Friday. That setup suggests X is preparing for a broader push into private messaging with a product that aims to stand apart from the main app experience.
