How to Report a Post, List or DM on X (Twitter), and What Happens Next

Does this match what you see?

• Someone posted something abusive, spammy or impersonating you.
• A DM you reported has vanished from your inbox.
• A post you reported now shows a notice instead of its content.
• A DM shows a “suspicious content” warning.

iPhone & iPadAndroidComputer (browser)

Based on X Help Center “Report a Post, List, or Direct Message”, supplied by the site owner, October 31, 2026. DM steps from its iPhone, Android and Desktop tabs.

Why this happens: the possible causes

What you can report, from X’s page.

• Rule-breaking contentCheck this first

  X says you can report content that’s abusive or harmful, spam, impersonation, or a copyright or trademark violation.

How to fix it, step by step

Work through these in order. They start with the quickest, safest checks and only move to steps that sign you out or remove data later.

What happens after you report

• Posts: X says the post’s content is replaced with a notice that you reported it; you can click through to view it if you want.
• Messages: reported messages and conversations disappear from your inbox and can’t be recovered.
• The account: X says reporting a post or List doesn’t automatically suspend the account.
• Hearing back: depending on the issue, you may or may not get an outcome from X.
• Reported a DM? In a one-to-one chat, X says the person you reported can no longer message you, and the conversation leaves your inbox, but it restarts if you message them again. In group chats, X says a message that breaks its rules may be hidden behind a notice so others can’t see it.
• Why wasn’t it removed? X says context matters: for some abuse it needs a report from the person targeted (or someone authorized to act for them), not a bystander, and in rare cases it may leave up content it judges to be in the public interest, behind a notice.

“Suspicious content” warning in your DMs

X says it hides messages that might be suspicious or contain suspicious links (for example spam). To deal with one:

• Tap the “suspicious content” warning to see the message.
• If it looks like spam, tap This is Spam to report it.
• If it’s fine, tap Message OK to keep it in your inbox.

Report a whole profile

• Open the profile, select the overflow (more) icon, then Report, and choose the type of issue.
• If you pick They’re being abusive or harmful, X asks for more details and may ask you to select more posts from the account for context.
• X says it includes the text of reported posts in its follow-up emails and notifications to you. To opt out, uncheck Updates about this report can show these posts.

X says you can report spam, abusive or harmful content, inappropriate ads, self-harm and impersonation directly from a post, List or profile.

Someone posted your private information

If someone posted your personal information, such as a private phone number, home address or credit card details, X says:

• Check it against X’s private information policy (external site, opens in a new tab).
• If the account is breaking that policy, file a private information report (external site, opens in a new tab) and X will investigate.
• If the account is in violation, X says it temporarily suspends it until the information is removed.
• If it’s a friend or connection who posted it, X suggests contacting them and asking them to take it down.

Our advice: screenshot the post first. If credit card details were shared, contact your card issuer right away. If you feel unsafe, contact local police.

Report a Space or someone in a Space

X says both speakers and listeners can report a Space and any account in it.

• The Space: in the Space, tap the overflow icon > Report this Space, and choose the issue.
• A person: in the Space, tap their profile photo > Report, and choose the issue.
• After reporting, X lets you choose to leave or stay in the Space.

Report a product from a shop

X says you can report a merchant’s product that breaks its Shopping Policies from the iOS or Android app:

• Shop Spotlight: on the merchant’s profile, find the Shop Spotlight, select the more icon on the product > Report product.
• X Shop: go to the product and long-press its tile until Report product appears.
• Then choose Intellectual property violation (you’ll need the product ID) or Other violation.

Violations you report through X’s Help Center forms

X lists violations you can report through forms in its Help Center. These include:

• Trademark misuse, copyright (unauthorized use of copyrighted material) and counterfeit goods.
• Private information posted on X.
• Abusive behavior and violent threats, and spam or malware affecting your use of X.
• Impersonation of a person or brand (see below).
• Pornographic profile or header photos: X says follow its instructions for reporting sensitive media.
• Child sexual exploitation: X has a dedicated policy and report form.
• A child under 13 gave X personal information without a parent’s consent: X says its services aren’t for under-13s, and parents can contact it through its privacy form.
• Ads: X explains how to recognize X Ads and lets you report an ad that may break its policies.

X says when you report through the Help Center, you may be asked to let it share parts of your report with third parties, such as the affected account.

How long X takes to respond, and reporting for someone else

• X says it acknowledges properly submitted reports within 24 hours. Reports are typically resolved within a few days, but resolution times vary and can take 30 days, depending on factors often outside X’s control, such as needing input from a user or an appeal.
• X says you can report violations on behalf of another person, from a post or profile or through its Help Center forms.

Report an account pretending to be you (impersonation)

X says accounts that pose as another person, group or organization in a confusing or deceptive way break the X Rules and may be permanently suspended.

• Pretending to be you or your brand: X says you or your authorized representative can file a report with its impersonation form (external site, opens in a new tab). X says you don’t need an X account to report impersonation.
• Pretending to be someone else: X says you can flag it as a bystander by reporting directly from the account’s profile.
• Is it a parody or fan account? X allows parody, commentary and fan (PCF) accounts only if they meet all of these: a PCF label, not the same avatar as the real entity, and words like “parody”, “fake”, “fan” or “commentary” at the start of the account name and in the bio. If not, X may require profile changes and suspend repeat offenders.
• Your company’s trademark or brand misused: X says file a complaint under its trademark policy (external site, opens in a new tab), and read that page first because it needs specific information.

X says it investigates each report. Accounts that break its misleading and deceptive identities policy are either suspended or asked to change the account so it no longer breaks the rules. X says reporting impersonation is separate from verification (the checkmark).

• Want the impersonator’s username? X says it generally doesn’t accept requests for inactive or suspended usernames. See change your username.
• Someone used your email to sign up? If X says your email or phone is already in use when you create an account, see email already in use.

Report the post, or report the account?

X says reporting a post or List points to the specific content you think breaks its rules. If an account is breaking the rules without posting anything, for example mass following large numbers of accounts, report the account as spam instead.

How to know it worked

• Our check: you saw a confirmation after reporting, and the post shows a “you reported this” notice or the message has left your inbox.

Still not working? Your next steps

1. Someone got into your account? See can’t log in to X.

Frequently asked questions