Open Notifications → its settings gear → Muted → Muted words → Add. Enter one word or phrase, select Home timeline, Notifications or both, choose the duration and save. Muted words are not a universal block: X says they can still appear in search.
Set the scope before saving
X's advanced muting instructions cover iOS, Android and desktop. If the layout differs, locate Muted words within the account's settings.
- Add the specific word, phrase, hashtag or @mention you want to filter.
- Enable Home timeline if that is where the unwanted post appears.
- For notifications, choose the audience scope offered: anyone, or people you do not follow.
- Choose a duration: Forever, 24 hours, 7 days or 30 days.
- Save, then reopen the entry to check the selected scope and expiry.
Do not assume an older entry covers your timeline. X notes that entries created when muting applied only to notifications can retain that narrower setting.
Use precise entries
| Illustrative need | Entry to consider | Why check it |
|---|---|---|
| Avoid spoilers for a fictional show | Harbor Finale | A title is more precise than a common word such as finale |
| Filter a particular event hashtag | HarborCon | Muting a word also covers its hashtag; you do not need a duplicate just for # |
| Filter posts that mention an account | @example_handle | An @mention entry is different from muting that account's own posts |
| A topic has two spellings or languages | Separate specific entries | Check the text that actually appears instead of assuming translation or semantic matching |
These are planning examples, not observed test results. Muting is case-insensitive, so adding capitalized and lowercase duplicates is unnecessary. Avoid importing a large generic list before reviewing what each term might hide.
Match the duration to the task
For a match you plan to watch tomorrow, choose a temporary duration and record when you want the filter to end. For an ongoing unwanted phrase, choose Forever and revisit it if your needs change. A broad term can also hide useful posts; inspect your entries before concluding an account stopped posting.
Edit or remove an entry
Return to Muted words and open the entry. Change the timeline/notification scope or duration, then save. Use the delete-word control to stop muting it. Check each relevant account if you switch between personal and work profiles.
Why the muted term still appears
| Where you saw it | Likely distinction to check | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Search results | Word mute does not apply there | Refine the search; do not treat search as a failed mute test |
| Your Home timeline | Entry may be notifications-only or expired | Inspect its exact text, scope and expiry |
| A push alert from an account you explicitly enabled alerts for | X documents an exception for these account notifications | Review that account's notification subscription |
| Words inside a picture or video | A text entry is not a guaranteed image/audio filter | Consider the account, media preference or post feedback instead |
| A related word or another spelling | Your entry may not match the visible text | Add the specific variant only if you want to hide it too |
For a reproducible support report, note the muted entry, its settings, the post URL, and whether you found it in Home, search or a notification. Avoid changing several filters at once; otherwise you cannot tell which change helped.
Use the control that matches the problem
Use word muting for text. Use account mute when the problem is an account's posts; it does not unfollow that account. Mute a conversation when the problem is ongoing alerts from one discussion. For media warnings, check sensitive-content settings. For a focused source group, use Lists. None of these should be described as hiding every unwanted item everywhere on X.