Guides · Updated 27 October 2026

X's sensitive media settings, explained

X has several settings that control sensitive media, and they're easy to mix up. Here's what each one does, where to find it, and which ones you should actually change.

The settings at a glance

Menu names on X change from time to time and can differ slightly between the iPhone app, Android app and x.com. If you can't find something, use the search box at the top of the Settings page.

"Display media that may contain sensitive content"

This is the viewer setting. X's Help Center tells you to check this box under Privacy and safety → Content you see to view sensitive media without a warning (X Help). It's off by default for many accounts. X's policies say viewers under 18, or anyone without a birth date on their profile, can't open marked content, so this option may be missing or locked for those accounts. Turning it on doesn't make your own posts sensitive, and it doesn't hurt your reach.

"Mark media you post as having material that may be sensitive"

This is the poster setting, and it has the biggest effect on reach. With it on, every photo and video you share is blurred for anyone who hasn't opted in, including all your followers who haven't changed their viewer setting.

Who should keep it on: X's Adult Content Policy and Violent Content Policy both say that if you regularly post adult or graphic media, you should adjust your media settings so all of it goes behind a warning. They also say X may change the setting for you if you keep posting unmarked media.

Who should turn it off: everyone else. If you post sports, food, selfies, memes, product shots or art that isn't sexual, there's no reason to blur all of it.

One-time content warnings

For the occasional post that needs a warning, use the one-time option instead of the account-wide setting. After attaching media, open the media editor (tap the photo in the app, or choose Edit on x.com) and select the flag icon. X offers a few categories (adult content, violence, and a general sensitive option), and you can pick more than one. X's policies specifically mention this: "You can also add a one-time content warning on individual posts." Labeling a borderline post yourself is often better than risking X's systems labeling it, or labeling your account.

What the settings don't do

• They don't stop X's own checks. Even with every setting off, X's automated systems and reviewers can still add a label to media they consider sensitive.
• They don't make banned content OK. Some content isn't allowed at all, label or not, such as gratuitous gore, intimate images shared without consent, or anything sexualizing minors.
• They don't apply to your profile photo or header. X's policies say adult and violent media isn't allowed in highly visible places, so you can't use a warning to make that kind of image acceptable there.

Which settings should you use?

• Most people: keep "Mark media you post…" off, and use a one-time warning on the rare post that needs it.
• Artists, photographers and news accounts: use one-time warnings for graphic or nude work, and check borderline images before posting so you can decide whether to label them.
• Accounts that mainly post adult or graphic media: keep the account-wide setting on, as X's policies require.

Will It Flag? is an independent tool and is not affiliated with X Corp. X's rules and app menus change from time to time; this guide reflects X's published Help Center policies as of 27 October 2026. When in doubt, X's own Adult Content and Violent Content policies are the source of truth.

Frequently asked questions