Where to find privacy and safety settings on X
Privacy and safety settings on X (formerly Twitter) live in your account settings menu, not scattered across the app. Open X on your phone or computer, tap or click the three-dot menu icon in the top left corner, then select "Settings and privacy." From there, tap "Privacy and safety" to see all the controls in one place.
The settings are organized into sections: who can message you, who can see your posts, who can tag you in photos, and how X handles your data. Each section has toggles and dropdown menus you can adjust without leaving the page. Changes save automatically — you do not have to click a separate "save" button.
If you are on a computer, the layout is the same. Click your profile picture in the top right, select "Settings and privacy," then "Privacy and safety." Mobile and desktop versions show the same options, so your changes sync across devices.
Key Takeaways
- Privacy and safety settings are found in Settings and privacy > Privacy and safety, and changes save automatically without a separate confirmation step.
- You can control who messages you, who sees your posts, and who can tag you in photos — each setting works independently.
- Blocking and muting are separate from privacy settings and give you different levels of control over who interacts with you.
- Your data download option lets you see what information X has collected about you, and you can request deletion of your account and its data.
Controlling who can message you
X lets you choose whether anyone, only people you follow, or no one at all can send you direct messages. In Privacy and safety, find the "Direct messages" section and select your preference from the dropdown menu. If you choose "Only people you follow," strangers can still see your public posts but cannot message you without you following them back first.
You can also allow message requests from people you do not follow — these arrive in a separate folder rather than your main inbox. This way you see them if you want to, but they do not clutter your regular messages. You control this with the "Allow message requests from anyone" toggle in the same section.
Changing your message settings does not affect messages you have already received. Old conversations stay in your inbox unless you delete them yourself. If you turn off messages from strangers and then change your mind later, you can turn the setting back on at any time.
Managing who sees your posts and profile
Your posts are public by default on X, meaning anyone can see them whether they follow you or not. To make your account private, find the "Protect your posts" toggle in Privacy and safety and turn it on. Once your account is private, only people you approve as followers can see your posts, and your old posts become hidden from public view.
Private accounts still show your profile picture, name, and bio to everyone, but the feed itself is locked. People who want to follow you must send a follow request, and you can accept or reject each one. You can also block specific people or mute accounts without making your entire account private — this gives you more control if you want to stay public but avoid certain users.
If you switch from public to private, X does not notify your current followers. They keep following you automatically, but new followers must request access. If you switch back to public later, all your posts become visible again to everyone.
Controlling photo tags and mentions
X allows people to tag you in photos and mention you in posts by default. In Privacy and safety, find "Photo tagging" and choose whether to allow anyone to tag you, only people you follow, or no one. If you select "No one," you will not be tagged in photos, though people can still mention your username in text posts.
Mentions work differently — anyone can type your @username in a post, and you will see a notification. You cannot turn off mentions entirely, but you can mute specific words, accounts, or conversations to reduce notifications you find annoying. Muting is found in the same Privacy and safety section under "Muted words" and "Muted accounts."
If someone tags you in a photo you do not want associated with your account, you can untag yourself. The photo stays on X and remains visible to others, but it no longer appears on your profile or in searches for your name. The person who posted it can tag you again later unless you block them.
Blocking and muting accounts
Blocking and muting are two separate tools that work differently. When you block someone, they cannot see your posts, follow you, or message you. They also cannot find your profile by searching your name — it appears as if your account does not exist to them. You can block from Privacy and safety or directly from someone's profile by clicking the three-dot menu on their post.
When you mute someone, they can still see your posts and follow you, but you will not see their posts, likes, or replies in your feed. Muting is quieter and less confrontational than blocking. You can mute accounts, specific words, or entire conversations. For example, you can mute the word "election" so posts containing it do not appear in your feed, even if people you follow post about it.
Blocked accounts do not receive a notification that you blocked them, but they may figure it out if they try to visit your profile. Muted accounts have no way of knowing you muted them. Both settings can be reversed at any time — unmute or unblock from the same menu where you set them.
Managing data collection and account deletion
X collects data about your activity, location, and the devices you use. In Privacy and safety, find "Data and privacy" to see options for controlling this. You can download a copy of your data, which shows X what information they have stored about you — this includes your posts, followers, and some behavioral data. The download takes a few hours to prepare and arrives as a file you can review.
If you want to delete your account entirely, go to "Account" in Settings and privacy, then scroll to "Deactivate your account." X gives you 30 days to change your mind — if you log back in during that window, your account reactivates. After 30 days, your account and all your posts are permanently deleted. Direct messages are deleted immediately, even during the 30-day window.
Deactivating your account does not immediately remove your posts from search engines or third-party sites that have archived them. Those sites operate independently of X and may keep copies of your public posts. Requesting deletion from those sites requires contacting them directly.
Privacy settings for sensitive content
X allows you to mark your own posts as containing sensitive content, and you can also set a preference for how you want to see sensitive posts from others. In Privacy and safety, find "Sensitive content" and choose whether to see posts marked as sensitive, or have them hidden by default with a warning label.
If you post content that is graphic, violent, or sexually explicit, you can mark it as sensitive before posting. This adds a warning label and hides the content behind a click-through for other users. You can also mark your entire account as sensitive if most of your posts contain this type of content, which applies the label to all your posts automatically.
These settings do not prevent anyone from seeing your posts — they just add a warning label. If someone has chosen to hide sensitive content, they will see a warning before viewing your post, but they can still click through to see it. The setting is about disclosure, not restriction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make my account private and still have some posts be public?
No. When you protect your posts on X, all of them become private to followers only. If you want some posts public and others private, you would need to keep your account public and delete posts you do not want visible, or use a different account for private sharing.
What happens to my messages if I block someone?
Messages you have already exchanged stay in your inbox, but the blocked person cannot see them or send you new ones. If you unblock them later, the old conversation reappears and they can message you again. Blocking only stops future contact, not past messages.
If I mute someone, can they see that I muted them?
No. Muting is invisible to the other person. They can still see your posts and interact with you normally — they just have no way of knowing you are not seeing their posts in your feed. Only you know you muted them.
How long does X keep my data if I delete my account?
X deletes your account and posts permanently after 30 days. However, third-party services and search engines may have cached or archived your public posts before deletion. Removing your content from those sites requires contacting them separately.
Can I change my privacy settings on mobile and desktop separately?
No. Your privacy settings are tied to your account, not your device. If you change a setting on your phone, it changes on your computer too. All devices show the same settings and changes sync automatically.