Why X's muted words are not working

Check these first, they are free

• The mute ran out. X lets you mute for 24 hours, 7 days, 30 days or forever. A timed mute ends quietly.
• It only covers people you don't follow. The “From people you don't follow” option leaves everyone you follow untouched.
• The word is spelled another way. A hashtag, a plural or an abbreviation is a different word to the filter. Mute each one.
• Home timeline is unticked. Each muted word has its own Home timeline and Notifications boxes. Open the word in Muted words and check both.
• The word is in a picture. Mute reads the text of a post, not text inside an image or video. No keyword filter can catch that, Muffle's included.

If all five are right and you still see the posts, it is one of the gaps below.

Where built-in mute stops

The box. A muted post can leave a “this post is muted” line with a button to show it. You know something is there, so you press it. Muffle removes the post before X draws it, so there is nothing to press and no sign it existed.

The person, not the post. Muting crypto hides posts that say crypto. A bio rule in Muffle hides everyone whose bio says it, whatever they post about today, which is usually what you actually wanted.

Where X mute is the better tool

• It works everywhere. Phone, tablet and every browser, synced to your account. Muffle works only in the desktop browser it is installed in.
• It can expire. Mute a spoiler for a week and it lifts itself. Muffle rules stay until you delete them.
• It is free. Muffle's filters need the $19-a-year licence.

Which to use

Both, most likely. Keep your muted words on X, so the phone app stays quieter. Add Muffle's filters on the computer you spend hours on, for reposts, bios and the leftover boxes. If it is politics you are muting, there is a guide to hiding politics on X.

X's mute options checked 4 November 2026. X changes them from time to time.