Voice Notes return to X Chat as messaging features expand

Posting Voice Notes publicly on X may no longer be an option, but users can once again send audio messages via X Chat, its private messaging service. The platform confirmed late Wednesday that Voice Notes support has been reintroduced within direct messages.

The feature works across both one-on-one conversations and group chats. Users can activate it by pressing the voice input icon located to the right of the chat's text field. At launch, recording requires holding down the button, although users can also press and hold, then swipe upward to continue recording without keeping their finger on the screen.

This addition brings X Chat closer to other messaging platforms, where voice messaging has long been a standard feature. The update is particularly relevant as the company continues positioning X Chat as a more competitive standalone messaging experience.

The return of Voice Notes may also address frustration among users who were unhappy when the feature was removed during earlier updates to the chat system.

The update follows recent beta testing of a dedicated X Chat app on iOS, which provides access to the platform's upgraded messaging capabilities. While the company claims that messages are end-to-end encrypted, some security experts have raised concerns, noting that the system may not offer the same level of protection as apps like Signal.

The development reflects a broader shift in the platform's strategy under Elon Musk, who has previously described X as an "everything app." Instead of keeping all features within a single interface, the company now appears to be separating certain services into standalone experiences. For example, X Money, the platform's payments feature, is also being tested as its own independent app.

Voice Notes had been expected to return for some time. When X first introduced its updated chat system in November, the company indicated that the feature would return soon after its temporary removal.

Alongside Voice Notes, X Chat currently includes a range of messaging features, including message editing and deletion, screenshot notifications, file sharing, voice and video calls, and disappearing messages.