How to Change Privacy Settings on X (Formerly Twitter): View Sensitive Content Automatically

X automatically provides sensitive content warnings, but you can change these settings in a few steps. Here's how to enable or disable NSFW content on your smartphone or desktop.
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Content warnings on X (formerly Twitter) protect users from unexpected exposure to sensitive material, like violence or adult themes. However, you can remove sensitive content warnings. To avoid interruptions while scrolling, learn how to personalize what content you see on X.

On X for iOS, sensitive content won't be displayed at all. If you want to change these settings, you'll have to do it on a desktop.

In this article
How to enable or disable sensitive content on Android
How to enable or disable sensitive content on desktop
X’s new policy on NSFW content
FAQs
Bottom line

How to disable or enable 18+ content on X (Android)

By default, X issues a content warning for any posts that contain graphic violence or adult content. Some users may find this a nuisance, but you can turn off content warnings. Here’s how to enable or disable content warnings on any device.

Here is how to change settings on X to see sensitive content on your Android device:

1. Open the X app.

2. Click on your profile picture in the upper left corner.

3. Under Settings & Support, select Settings and privacy.

X privacy settings step 1

4. Choose Privacy and safety.

X privacy settings step 2

5. Tap on Content you see.

X privacy settings step 3

6. Click on Sensitive media.

X privacy settings step 4

7. Choose Graphic violence, Adult content, or Other sensitive media.

X privacy settings step 5

8. Select to Warn (receive a content warning), Show all, or Never show this type of content. If you're looking to learn how to remove content warnings on X, follow all of these steps and select Show all for each sensitive content type. You will no longer see a content warning before viewing these types of materials.

X privacy settings step 6

How to change X privacy settings to block or see sensitive content (iOS/desktop)

You can adjust your Twitter privacy settings to view sensitive content on a desktop. The steps are slightly different. The biggest difference is that desktop users only have a general setting to turn off sensitive content.

Additionally, if you want to change your privacy settings for iOS, you'll need to do so on a desktop.

Here is the step-by-step guide to changing privacy settings to see sensitive content on a desktop:

1. Open X on your browser.

2. On the left menu, select More and then choose Settings and privacy.

X privacy settings step 1 desktop

3. Click on Privacy and safety.

X privacy settings step 2 desktop

4. Select Content you see.

X privacy settings step 3 desktop

5. Check Display media that may contain sensitive content if you want to see adult content. Uncheck the box if you want to block NSFW content.

X privacy settings step 4 desktop

Unlike Android devices, there is no option to change settings based on graphic violence, adult content, or other sensitive media. You will unblock all sensitive content on Twitter on a desktop.

X’s new policy on NSFW content

In May 2024, X updated its adult content policy. Users can post "...consensually produced and distributed adult nudity or sexual behavior, provided it's properly labeled and not prominently displayed." This also includes AI-generated, photographic, and animated content.

X also updated its violent content policy in 2025 to allow users to share graphic content as long as it's "...not prominently displayed and is not excessively gory or depicting sexual violence." Posts are also not allowed to be explicitly threatening, inciting, glorifying, or expressing a desire for violence.

Users can't have sensitive content in their profile picture or banner, but they can create posts with this subject matter. They must label their content as NSFW (not safe for work), and a content warning will appear. Users must acknowledge the warning before they can view the content.

While you may be tempted to delete Twitter over the new content policies, you can alter the settings of your account so that you never see sensitive materials. Likewise, you can unblock sensitive content on Twitter to always see it.

In May 2025, President Donald Trump signed the Take It Down Act (TIDA) into law. Now, “platforms” have 48 hours to remove nonconsensual intimate imagery, including AI deepfakes. Learn more about why digital rights groups are concerned about the new law.

FAQs

Why won't Twitter let me see sensitive content after changing settings?

Your preferences should automatically save after you adjust your privacy settings. If you are unable to view sensitive content, check the X app and X website to ensure that both have enabled viewing of sensitive content. iPhone users will need to change their settings through the X website, not the app.

How do I change X settings to see NSFW on iPhone?

You can't change X settings to see NSFW on an iPhone. You need to access the X website on a desktop to modify these settings.

Once you've logged in, click More on the left menu. Select Privacy and safety. Go to the section called Content you see. Check the box next to Display media that may contain sensitive content. Your settings will automatically save.

How can private be changed to public in X?

Navigate to the Privacy and safety section in settings. Click on Audience and tagging (on desktop, this is called Audience, media, and tagging). Enable Protect your posts, which will allow only your followers to view your content.

Bottom line

Since X has allowed violent and adult content on its platform, you need to customize your settings for the type of content you want to view. X lets you take control over the sensitive content you may see on the platform. Whether you want to enable or disable content warnings, you can adjust your settings to your preference.

Protecting your privacy is crucial. You need to have a strong toolbox to counter potential safety breaches. Beyond managing social media settings, be sure you are using strong and unique passwords to secure Twitter.

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Author Details
Sara J. Nguyen is a writer specializing in cybersecurity. She aims to help people protect their data while enjoying technology. She has written about online privacy and tech for over 5 years for several organizations. When she's not writing about the latest cybersecurity trends, you can find her on LinkedIn.