X/Twitter is preparing to replace its current direct messages (DMs) feature with a brand-new messaging service called XChat. A hint about this change came from Zack Warunek, a software engineer at X.
When a user complained about not being able to access message data, Warunek responded that the page would be “deleted soon,” suggesting that the DM section would soon be removed entirely.
He confirmed that it wasn’t just message requests disappearing, but the entire DMs system was being phased out.
This change points to the upcoming launch of XChat, a more advanced messaging platform being built to replace the existing DMs. XChat is expected to offer several new features and improved privacy options.
According to a tech analyst at MacRumors, it will allow users to send files like PDFs, delete messages for everyone in a conversation (not just themselves), and activate a “vanishing mode” where messages disappear after being read, similar to a feature found on Instagram.
Another big improvement is encryption, meaning that messages will be secure and private—only the people involved in the chat will be able to read them.
Screenshots shared online also show that users will be able to lock XChat with a PIN code for extra security, preventing anyone else from opening their chats.
Elon Musk had already hinted at something like this in the past.
Last year, he mentioned plans to delete his phone number and use X exclusively to text and call people, suggesting he wanted X to compete with messaging apps like WhatsApp.
An X employee clarified that the company isn’t completely getting rid of DMs, but instead transforming and rebuilding them as XChat.
While an exact launch date hasn’t been confirmed, leaks suggest the new messaging system will roll out very soon. We expect to learn more about this change in the coming days.