Though the feature shipped in beta in May, XChat is now accessible for more users, including those who do not subscribe to X Premium.

Separate from the existing DM inbox, XChat is end-to-end encrypted. The chat system supports media uploads, group chats, pinned messages, and the ability to mark messages as read or unread. Vanishing mode has been rumored to be in the works as well.

Right now, users can only access XChat if they opt into using it. On desktop, XChat is accessible to some users from the messages tab. There, you can navigate to “Chat” from a menu option that appears above “Message requests.” On mobile, “Chat” appears in the main nav bar on the left, just above Communities.

Before using XChat, you have to set a four-digit code to protect your messages, similar to other encrypted platforms like Signal. It is only after setting the code that you can begin messaging other users who have also opted in.

As it stands, XChat is not a complete replacement of the longstanding DM system. Instead, those messages now appear under a tab that says “unencrypted” in the chat menu.