Go to Settings and privacy, then Privacy and safety, then Mute and block, then Muted words. Tap the plus icon, type the word or phrase, choose whether it applies to your home timeline or notifications, set a duration, and save. You can add as many muted words as you like and remove them anytime from the same screen.
What muting words on X does
Muting a word on X (formerly Twitter) hides posts containing that word from your timeline, notifications, or both. The word or phrase stays visible to everyone else. Nothing gets deleted or reported. It simply stops showing up for you.
This is different to blocking someone. Blocking stops a specific account from interacting with you. Muting words works across the whole platform, regardless of who posts them.
I use this mainly during big news events or when I want a break from a topic that keeps flooding my feed. It is a quiet way to control what you see without unfollowing anyone.
Where to find the muted words settings
The muted words tool sits inside your privacy settings. It is not hidden, but it is a few taps away from the main app screen, so most people never find it unless they go looking.
On both the mobile app and the desktop site, the path is the same in structure, though the menu layout looks slightly different depending on which version you are using.
How to mute a word step by step
Here is the process from start to finish. It takes under a minute once you know where to go.
- Open X and tap your profile icon or the More menu on desktop.
- Select Settings and privacy.
- Tap Privacy and safety.
- Choose Mute and block.
- Select Muted words.
- Tap the plus icon to add a new word or phrase.
- Type the word, phrase, or hashtag you want muted.
- Choose where it applies: Home timeline, Notifications, or both.
- Set how long the mute lasts, from 24 hours up to forever.
- Tap Save.
Repeat this for each word you want to add. There is no limit mentioned by X on how many muted words you can have, so add as many as you need.
Choosing the right duration
When you add a muted word, X asks how long you want it active for. Options typically include 24 hours, 7 days, 30 days, or indefinitely.
If you are muting something tied to a short-term event, like a match score or a show spoiler, a short duration makes sense. Once it expires, the word unmutes itself automatically and you will start seeing related posts again.
For ongoing annoyances, such as a recurring spam phrase or a topic you never want to see, choose the indefinite option. You can always remove it later from the Muted words list.
Muting phrases, hashtags, and emojis
You are not limited to single words. You can mute entire phrases, hashtags, and even emojis if they keep appearing in posts you want to avoid.
When adding a hashtag, include the hash symbol so X treats it correctly. For phrases, type them exactly as they tend to appear, keeping in mind that muting is not always case sensitive and may catch variations.
This flexibility means you can be quite specific. Instead of muting a broad term that might hide useful content, you can target the exact phrase causing the problem.
How to remove or edit a muted word
Go back to Settings and privacy, then Privacy and safety, then Mute and block, then Muted words. You will see your full list there.
Tap the word you want to change. You can edit the duration or where it applies, or delete it completely by tapping the bin or remove icon next to it.
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Check this list every so often. It is easy to forget what you have muted, and old entries can quietly affect what you see for months without you realising why certain topics never appear.
Muted words versus other filtering tools on X
X also gives you other ways to filter content, such as blocking accounts, filtering notifications from people you do not follow, and hiding replies. Muted words sits alongside these, rather than replacing them.
If someone is targeting you directly, blocking that account is usually more effective than muting a word, since a determined user can rephrase things to get around a mute.
Muted words works best for broad topics, spoilers, or spam phrases rather than for dealing with a single person being difficult. For that, blocking or reporting is the better tool.
A few practical tips
Keep your muted list tidy. A long list of outdated entries makes it harder to find and edit specific words when you need to.
If a muted word does not seem to be working, double check the spelling and whether you selected both timeline and notifications. A common mistake is muting it for notifications only and then wondering why it still appears in the timeline.
I cannot confirm that muting words affects what appears in search results on X, so if you are trying to avoid a topic entirely, check your search behaviour separately rather than assuming muting covers it.
Frequently asked questions
Does muting a word on X notify the other person?
No. Muting a word is private. Nobody is told you have muted a word, phrase, or hashtag, and your activity on the platform continues as normal for everyone else.
Can I mute a word only from notifications but still see it in my timeline?
Yes. When you add a muted word, X lets you choose whether it applies to your home timeline, your notifications, or both, so you can be specific about where it is hidden.
How long does a muted word last on X?
You choose the duration when you add it, typically from 24 hours up to indefinitely. Once the time runs out, the word automatically unmutes unless you set it to forever.
Will muting a word stop me seeing it in search results on X?
I cannot confirm that muted words affect search results, since muting is designed for your timeline and notifications. Treat search as a separate area that may still show muted terms.
More X and Twitter fixes: the X help guide.
