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XChat Release Date & April 2026 Delay: What to Expect

XChat release date confirmed for April 23, 2026 after delay from April 17. Here's what's launching, what's not, and what to expect.

By Alex Chen ·

XChat, the new encrypted messaging app from X Corp, launches on April 23, 2026.

If you’ve been waiting for April 17 — that was the original date. X pushed it back by about a week. The new date is confirmed on the Apple App Store listing.

Here’s everything we know as of today.

The confirmed release date

April 23, 2026. iOS only at launch.

This applies to iPhone and iPad users worldwide (in regions where the App Store supports XChat). The release date comes directly from Apple’s App Store listing, which is now taking pre-orders.

If you pre-order from the App Store, XChat will auto-install on your device when it goes live.

Why the delay from April 17

X Corp originally announced April 17 as the launch date. The XChat official account on X confirmed the date on April 10.

Then, without a public statement, the App Store listing quietly updated to April 23. No official reason has been given.

Best guess: last-minute testing, App Store review adjustments, or a small technical issue. Launch delays of a few days are common for major apps. Neither X Corp nor Apple has flagged anything serious.

Users who pre-ordered on the App Store will get the updated launch date automatically.

What launches on April 23

Based on public information and the App Store preview, here’s what XChat will ship with at launch:

Confirmed features at launch
  • End-to-end encrypted text messaging
  • Encrypted voice calls
  • Encrypted video calls
  • Group chats up to 481 members
  • File sharing
  • Edit and delete sent messages
  • Disappearing messages (5-minute timer)
  • Screenshot blocking
  • Built-in Grok AI assistant
  • 46 language support at launch
  • No ads, no tracking
  • Login with X account (no phone number)

The app is about 175.8 MB and needs iOS 26.0 or later. It works on iPhone and iPad.

What’s NOT launching on April 23

Equally important is what won’t be there:

  • No Android version. X Corp has not announced a date for Android. Do not download any app called “XChat” on Google Play — it’s not official and may be malware.
  • No web version. You cannot use XChat in a browser at launch.
  • No desktop apps. No Mac, Windows, or Linux clients.
  • Existing X DMs stay in the X app. XChat is separate from X’s built-in direct messaging. Your current X DMs will not move over automatically.
  • No payments or “super app” features. Musk has talked about payments and a WeChat-style super app. Those aren’t part of the April 23 launch.

If any of these things matter to you, you’ll need to wait.

Pre-order: should you?

Yes, if you plan to use XChat. Pre-ordering is free and just flags the app to auto-install on launch day. No commitment, no cost.

How to pre-order:

  1. Open the App Store on iPhone or iPad
  2. Search for XChat (make sure the developer is X Corp)
  3. Tap Pre-Order
  4. The app will download automatically on April 23

Warning: Multiple fake “XChat” apps have appeared on the App Store. One even climbed to #3 on the Social charts. Always verify the developer is listed as X Corp before downloading. Fake apps may steal your X login credentials.

See our full XChat download guide for step-by-step instructions.

What we expect in the first week

Based on past major app launches, here’s our best guess at how launch week will go.

Day 1 (April 23):

  • Heavy server load — expect slow or failed logins for the first few hours
  • Early bugs and crashes on some devices
  • Trending on social media as people post screenshots

Days 2-3:

  • First round of security researchers and journalists will start testing
  • Expected hot-fix updates for crash bugs
  • Initial reviews start appearing

Days 4-7:

  • Clearer picture of real-world performance
  • First audits of the encryption protocol may be attempted
  • User numbers start showing up (X Corp may or may not share them)

End of week:

  • If XChat succeeds, expect Android and web dates to be announced
  • If it struggles, expect quiet delays

We’ll be updating our coverage throughout launch week with actual findings, not guesses.

What to watch for after launch

Several key questions will get answered in the weeks after April 23:

Security questions

  • Will X Corp publish the encryption protocol for review?
  • Will independent researchers get to audit the implementation?
  • How does XChat handle multiple-device logins?

Feature questions

  • When will Android arrive?
  • When will a web or desktop version land?
  • Will existing X DMs migrate over?
  • When do payments arrive?

User adoption

  • Will XChat attract new users or just existing X users?
  • Will it pull users away from WhatsApp or iMessage?
  • Will journalists and creators adopt it?

We’ll cover all of these as real information comes in.

How XChat stacks up against competitors

If you’re deciding whether to switch from WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, or iMessage, we’ve written detailed comparisons:

If you’re not sure whether XChat is right for your security needs, read our full security review.

The bottom line

XChat launches April 23, 2026 on iOS. iPhone and iPad only. Free. Requires an X account to sign in.

If you already use X, pre-order today. The app will install itself on launch day.

If you use Android or don’t have an X account, you’ll need to wait — and that wait may be a while.

We’ll update this page on launch day with real hands-on coverage.

Sources

This article draws on public reporting and the Apple App Store listing. Key sources:

All claims about launch features and dates come from public sources at the time of writing. This article will be updated on April 23, 2026 with real launch-day coverage.