How to Mute Words on Twitter (X) to Clean Up Your Feed
Twitter (now called X) is one of the most dynamic social media platforms, offering real-time updates on everything from global news to celebrity gossip. But sometimes, your feed gets cluttered with content you’d rather not see — spoilers, political rants, or overhyped trends. Thankfully, there’s a solution: muting keywords. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to mute keywords on Twitter so you can enjoy a cleaner, more personalized feed.
Why Mute Words on Twitter?
Muting words on Twitter isn’t just about avoiding spoilers from your favorite show. It’s about creating a better, stress-free experience. Here are a few common reasons people choose to mute keywords on Twitter:
Avoid spoilers for TV shows, movies, or sports events
Filter out political or controversial topics
Reduce exposure to triggering or distressing content
Remove repetitive or trending phrases you’re not interested in
Whatever your reason, Twitter’s mute feature gives you more control over what appears in your timeline and notifications.
How Does Muting Work on Twitter?
When you mute a word, phrase, hashtag, or even an emoji on Twitter, the platform hides tweets that include them from your notifications, timeline, and replies — depending on your settings.
Muting is different from blocking. When you mute a keyword, you’re not stopping a person from seeing your tweets — you’re just filtering out content that contains specific terms.
How to Mute Keywords on Twitter (Step-by-Step Guide)
Here’s a simple guide on how to mute keywords on Twitter using both the mobile app and desktop version:
✅ On the Twitter (X) Mobile App:
Open the Twitter app and log into your account.
Tap your profile icon in the top-left corner.
Select “Settings and Support” > “Settings and privacy”.
Tap “Privacy and safety”, then “Mute and block”.
Tap “Muted words”, then the “+” icon to add a new word or phrase.
Enter the keyword, phrase, or hashtag you want to mute.
Choose where to mute it:
Home timeline
Notifications (from anyone or just people you don’t follow)
Select how long you want it muted:
Forever
24 hours
7 days
30 days
Tap “Save”.
Done! The selected keyword is now muted.
✅ On Twitter.com (Desktop):
Go to Twitter.com and log into your account.
Click “More” in the left-hand menu.
Select “Settings and Support” > “Settings and privacy”.
Click “Privacy and safety”, then “Mute and block”.
Click “Muted words”, then select “Add”.
Enter the word or phrase you want to mute.
Customize the mute settings (timeline, notifications, duration).
Click “Save”.
Best Practices for Muting Keywords
When learning how to mute keywords on Twitter, keep these tips in mind to make the most of the feature:
✅ Use Multiple Variations
Twitter doesn’t automatically mute similar words or misspellings. For example, if you’re avoiding Marvel spoilers, mute:
“#Avengers”
“Marvel”
“Avengers: Endgame”
Character names like “Iron Man”, “Thor”, “Loki”
✅ Include Hashtags and Emojis
Don’t forget that tweets often include hashtags or emojis. If you want to avoid a trending meme or symbol, mute the relevant emoji too.
✅ Regularly Update Your List
Your interests and needs will change over time. Revisit your muted words list regularly to remove outdated entries or add new ones.
What Happens After You Mute Keywords?
Once you’ve muted a keyword:
You won’t see tweets with that word in your Home timeline.
You won’t get notifications about tweets containing that word.
Replies or comments with muted words will be hidden from view (unless you click “Show”).
This applies across Twitter — including on mobile, web, and desktop apps. However, it doesn’t delete existing tweets that contain the word from your timeline; it only prevents new ones from showing up.
Limitations to Keep in Mind
Although Twitter’s muting feature is powerful, it’s not perfect:
It doesn’t filter content from search results or third-party apps.
It’s case-insensitive, but it won’t catch clever workarounds like intentional misspellings.
Media (like images or videos) with the keyword in text overlay might still show up.
Still, it’s one of the best tools Twitter offers for curating your online experience.
Final Thoughts
Knowing how to mute keywords on Twitter can dramatically improve how you engage with content on the platform. Whether you’re avoiding spoilers, drama, or just need a break from certain topics, muting gives you the power to focus on what matters most to you.
Take a few minutes to explore the mute settings and customize them to your liking — your peace of mind is worth it.