Why Did Twitter Change to X?

If you’ve recently opened your favorite social media app and thought, “Wait, why did Twitter change to X?”, you’re not alone. In mid-2023, the familiar blue bird logo disappeared, and in its place came a bold, minimalist “X.” The platform that helped define modern online conversation now has a new name, a new look, and a new direction.

But why the sudden transformation? Was it just a design refresh, or is there a bigger strategy behind the switch? In this article, we’ll explain why Twitter changed to X, when it happened, who made the decision, and what it means for everyday users like you.

One of the most common questions people ask is, when did Twitter change to X — and how quickly did it happen?

The shift was abrupt. On July 23, 2023, Elon Musk tweeted that the Twitter brand would soon become “X.” Just a day later, the iconic blue bird was removed from the site and replaced with a new black-and-white “X” logo. Shortly after, the domain x.com began redirecting to twitter.com.

Although some backend elements still refer to “Twitter,” and many people still use the old name, the rebranding became official across apps and branding assets within days. So if you’ve been wondering when Twitter changed its name to X or when Twitter turned to X, the answer is: late July 2023 — with rollout nearly immediate.

This wasn't a slow transition. It was a radical, top-down rebranding of one of the most recognizable tech names in the world.

If you’re wondering who changed Twitter to X, the answer is simple: Elon Musk. After purchasing Twitter for $44 billion in late 2022, Musk quickly began reshaping the company’s future. But this wasn’t just a typical corporate rebrand.

Musk has a deep personal connection to the letter “X.” Back in the early 2000s, he founded an online banking company called x.com, which later merged into what became PayPal. He also owns SpaceX, and even named one of Tesla’s models the Model X. So when Musk took control of Twitter, renaming it “X” was part of a larger branding vision he’s been building for years.

But it goes deeper than personal preference. Musk envisions X as an “everything app” – a single platform for social networking, video, payments, news, and communication. If that sounds like China’s WeChat, that’s because it’s the model Musk frequently references.

So, why did Elon Musk change Twitter to X? It wasn’t just about a new logo. It was about turning a social media site into a broader digital ecosystem with endless possibilities.

For more context on the company’s evolution, you can also check out our breakdown of how much is Twitter worth post-acquisition and rebrand.

So, beyond the personal branding, why was Twitter changed to X from a business standpoint?

The Twitter brand, while iconic, was tied to a specific identity: short posts (“tweets”), viral conversations, and public discourse. Musk believed the name limited the platform’s potential. In his own words, “Twitter was acquired by X Corp to ensure freedom of speech and as an accelerant for X, the everything app.”

By rebranding to “X,” Musk aimed to:

Of course, the move hasn’t been without controversy. Many users felt confused or alienated by the abrupt change. Others saw it as a bold move with uncertain results. Even Musk himself occasionally refers to the app as “Twitter” – as seen in our news piece Elon Musk Calls X "Twitter".

But whether you’re ready to embrace the new brand or not, one thing is clear: Twitter changed to X because its owner believes it can become much more than just a platform for tweets.

For many, the change from Twitter to X raised a deeper question: why is Twitter now X, and what does the new name actually represent?

Elon Musk has a long-standing fascination with the letter “X.” To him, it symbolizes the unknown, the future, and limitless possibility. Where “Twitter” evoked birds chirping and bite-sized thoughts, “X” is a blank canvas – a platform that can evolve into anything.

Musk described the rebrand as a necessary break from the past. Twitter’s brand identity was deeply tied to short text posts, or tweets. But with ambitions to support payments, long-form content, video, and creator monetization, the brand needed room to grow.

So, why is Twitter called X now? Because, in Musk’s words, it represents the future of “interactivity — centered in audio, video, messaging, payments/banking.” It's not just a name; it’s a signal that the platform’s future will go far beyond microblogging.

With all this change, another question quickly followed: what are tweets called now?

Interestingly, there has been no official replacement for the word “tweet.” While some users have suggested alternatives like “posts” or “x’s,” and some parts of the interface have shifted to generic terms, the word “tweet” is still widely used – even by Elon Musk himself.

So if you’re wondering, what is a tweet called now, the answer is... still a tweet, at least for now. The platform may look different, but the language around posting hasn't fully caught up to the new brand. In fact, many users continue to refer to it as “Twitter” out of habit.

While the logo and name grabbed headlines, many users ask a more practical question: what has actually changed?

Here’s a quick overview of what’s new since Twitter changed to X:

What hasn’t changed?

If you’ve been on Twitter for years, now is the perfect time to review your tweet history. Many users are using this transition as an opportunity to clean up their accounts. Tools like TweetDeleter make it easy to delete tweets in just a few clicks – especially if you want a fresh start on X.

So, why did Twitter change to X? At the core, it’s about transformation. Elon Musk didn’t just want to own Twitter — he wanted to reinvent it. The rebrand to X reflects a larger ambition: to turn a social media company into a global digital utility for messaging, payments, video, and more.

Love it or hate it, the shift is here — and it’s likely just the beginning. While users adjust to the new name, the real focus should be on how the platform functions and where it’s headed next.

One thing that hasn’t changed? The importance of controlling your online history. Whether it’s called Twitter or X, your old posts still exist — and tools like TweetDeleter help you stay in control. Whether you want to clean up your timeline or delete all tweets, now’s the perfect time to do it.