Open X, tap the compose icon, and look for the Drafts option in the top left or within the compose screen menu. On the app, tap the back arrow after starting a post and choose Save. Your drafts sit under Settings or the compose screen, depending on your device, ready to edit or delete.
Why I keep coming back to X drafts
I draft a lot of posts on X (formerly Twitter) before I publish them. I write something, read it back, and often it needs a rethink. Drafts let me save that half finished thought instead of losing it or posting something I'm not happy with.
If you've never looked for your drafts before, they're not always obvious. X doesn't put a big Drafts button on the home screen, so you need to know where to look.
How to see drafts on X using the app
On your phone, open the X app and tap the compose icon, the small feather or plus symbol, usually at the bottom right of the screen.
Start typing a post, then tap the back arrow or the X in the top corner before you post it. X will ask if you want to save it as a draft or discard it. Choose Save.
- Tap the compose icon to open a new post
- Type anything, even a single word
- Tap the back arrow in the top left
- Select Save when prompted
- Go back to the compose screen and look for a Drafts option, usually at the top
Once you've saved at least one draft, a Drafts link or icon tends to appear near the top of the compose screen. Tap it and you'll see every draft you've saved, in order.
Finding drafts on the X website
On desktop, the process is similar but the layout is different. Click the compose button, usually a labelled Post button on the left hand side of the screen.
Write something, then click away from the box or close it using the X icon. You should be prompted to save your draft or discard it.
Your saved drafts appear when you open the compose box again. Look for a small Drafts link near the top of the post window. Click it to see your saved list.
If you don't see this option straight away, try refreshing the page first. Sometimes the interface takes a moment to load your draft history.
What your draft list shows you
Your drafts list is simply a chronological record of unsent posts. Each draft shows a preview of the text, and sometimes a thumbnail if you added an image or video.
Tap or click on any draft to open it again. From there you can keep editing, add more text, attach media, or delete it completely if you've changed your mind.
I find it useful to clear out old drafts every so often. If I haven't posted something after a few weeks, I've usually decided against it anyway.
Editing and deleting a saved draft
To edit a draft, open your drafts list and tap the one you want to change. It opens in the compose box exactly as you left it.
Make your changes, then either post it straight away or save it again as an updated draft.
- Open the Drafts list from the compose screen
- Select the draft you want to change
- Edit the text or media
- Post it, or tap back and save again
To delete a draft, most versions of the app let you swipe left on the draft or tap a small bin icon next to it. On desktop, there's usually a three dot menu next to each draft with a delete option.
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What X drafts cannot do
I want to be plain about this. X drafts are not the same as a scheduling tool. Saving something as a draft does not set a time for it to post automatically.
Drafts also don't sync perfectly across every device in every situation. I've had drafts appear on my phone that weren't on the web version, and the other way round. If something matters, I'd screenshot it or copy the text elsewhere as a backup.
There's also no folder system or way to label drafts by topic. You just get one long list, newest at the top. If you save a lot of drafts, scrolling through them to find one specific post can take a while.
A few tips from how I use drafts day to day
I keep my drafts list short on purpose. If I've got more than ten or so sitting there, I go through and either post them or bin them.
When I'm working on a thread, I write each post as a separate draft rather than trying to save the whole thread as one. It's easier to manage and edit that way.
I also avoid relying on drafts for anything time sensitive. If a post needs to go out at a specific moment, I write it fresh closer to the time rather than hoping an old draft still makes sense.
Final thought
Finding your drafts on X isn't complicated once you know where to look, but it's not signposted well either. The steps are the same whether you're on the app or the website: start a post, back out of it, save it, then look for the Drafts link near the compose box.
Keep your list tidy, don't treat it as a scheduler, and back up anything important. That's really all there is to it.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find saved drafts on X?
Open the compose screen on the app or website and look for a Drafts link or icon near the top. It only appears once you've saved at least one draft, so start and save a post first if you can't see it.
Can I schedule a draft to post later on X?
No, saving a draft doesn't schedule it. Drafts simply store unsent posts until you open and post them yourself. There's no automatic posting feature built into the drafts tool.
Do X drafts sync between phone and desktop?
Not always reliably. I've seen drafts appear on one device but not another. If a draft matters, copy the text somewhere safe rather than relying solely on X to keep it synced.
How do I delete an old draft on X?
Open your drafts list, then swipe left on the app or use the three dot menu on desktop to find the delete option. Confirm the deletion and it's removed from your list permanently.
More X and Twitter fixes: the X help guide.
