# X shadowban test: how to check if your reach is limited Canonical: https://postmesh.app/blog/x-shadowban-test By PostMesh team. Published 2026-10-31; updated 2026-10-31. X doesn't call it a shadowban, but it does limit reach: it can drop posts from search, recommendations and replies, label them, or put your whole account in a limited state. The most reliable test uses X's own signals: messages when you log in, notices on your posts, a check from a second account, and the Under the Hood report if your account is in X's pilot. If your likes dropped overnight, your replies seem to vanish, or a friend can't find your posts in search, it's easy to assume you've been shadowbanned. Sometimes that's close to the truth. X's own help pages describe several ways it restricts how far a post or account travels. Just as often, though, the cause is a setting, a filter on someone else's account, or ordinary ranking. This guide walks through what X officially says, how to test your own account step by step, and what to do about each result. ## The short answer X uses the phrases restricting reach and limiting visibility. Its page on [how it enforces its rules](https://help.x.com/en/rules-and-policies/enforcement-options) lists what that can mean for a post: left out of search results, trends and recommended notifications, removed from the For you and Following timelines, only discoverable on your profile, ranked lower in replies, or blocked from likes, replies and reposts. At the account level, X can make you read-only, lock you until you verify a phone number or email, or limit your features so only your followers see your activity. Most of these leave a trace you can find yourself. X says posts it limits for breaking the rules get a label that both you and viewers can see, account limits come with a message when you log in, and its newer Under the Hood report shows aggregate statistics about visibility labels on your account. Start with the figure below to work out which case you're in. **What are you seeing on your X account?** - A message when you log in, or you can't post, like or repost → Your account is locked or limited. Follow the on-screen steps, then wait out the countdown or appeal. - A label or notice on one of your posts → That post's visibility is limited. Read the label, appeal it if you think it's wrong, or remove the post. - Posts missing from search, but no message or label → Check protected posts, email confirmation, sensitive media settings and duplicate posting, then retest from a second account. - Just fewer views than usual → Likely ranking, not a penalty. Check Under the Hood if you can, and review what changed in your posting. *Start with what you can see. Each branch has its own section below.* | What you notice | Most likely cause | Where X tells you | First thing to do | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | You can browse but can't post, repost or like | Account limited for a possible rule violation | A message when you log in | Select Start and complete the requested steps | | Only followers seem to see your activity | Temporary limited state | A message when you log in | Choose to wait out the countdown or verify | | You must enter a phone number or solve a challenge | Account locked for suspicious or automated activity | A Your account has been locked message | Verify by phone, email or reCAPTCHA | | A notice or label sits on one post | Post-level visibility limit or required removal | The post itself | Read the label, then appeal or delete | | Your posts don't appear in search | Search quality filters, protected posts, unconfirmed email or sensitive media | Usually nowhere | Run the search checks in this guide | | Your replies sit behind Show probable spam | Reply ranked as lower quality | Under a busy post, viewed from another account | Stop repeated or off-topic replies | | Posts can't be seen in one country | Country withholding after a legal request | Email or in-app notice, plus a visual indicator | Appeal through the email or Help Center | ## What does X officially say about shadowbanning? X's help center doesn't use the word shadowban. What it does describe, in detail, is reach restriction. Its page [about when a post's reach may be limited](https://help.x.com/en/rules-and-policies/x-reach-limited) opens by saying X doesn't block, limit or remove content based on a person's views or opinions, then lists five situations where a post may not be seen by everyone: 1. The post breaks the X Rules, so X makes it less discoverable. 2. Other people's tools: blocking, muting and notification filters let viewers hide content from themselves. 3. Quality and safety ranking in timelines, conversations and search, including safe search and collapsing replies that look abusive or low quality. 4. Experiments X runs that may limit the reach of certain posts. 5. Legal, quality and technical issues, including posts identified as spam and current technical problems with the service. That list matters for testing. Only the first and fifth are about something you did. The second is entirely on the viewer's side, the third is ranking that applies to everyone, and the fourth is X testing features. A drop in reach can come from any of them, which is why a single test can't prove a penalty. ### Labels on limited posts X's enforcement page says that starting in April 2023, posts identified as breaking its rules began receiving labels that tell both the author and viewers that X limited the post's visibility. Authors can appeal the label if they think X got it wrong. So if a post was limited for a rule violation, you should be able to see that on the post. A limit you can't see anywhere is more likely to be one of the other four causes. ### How X decides at the code level X has published core code for its For you feed in the [xai-org/x-algorithm repository](https://github.com/xai-org/x-algorithm). Its README describes a visibility filtering system that reads labels on a post along with whether the viewer blocks, mutes or follows the author, and returns one of four answers: allow the post, show it with a notice, put it behind an interstitial, or drop it. That's a useful mental model: the same post can be fully visible to one person and hidden from another, depending on labels and on that viewer's own choices. **Post-level limits** - Left out of search, trends and recommended notifications - Removed from For you and Following - Only discoverable on your profile - Ranked lower in replies - Likes, replies or reposts restricted **Account-level limits** - Read-only: no posting, reposting or liking - Locked until you verify a phone, email or reCAPTCHA - Limited: only followers see your activity - Filtered out of search and notifications - Suspension, temporary or permanent **Not a penalty** - Sensitive media behind a warning - Age-restricted content for under-18s - Withheld in one country by legal request - Hidden by a viewer's mutes, blocks or filters - Normal ranking of replies and search *From X's help pages on enforcement options, notices and locked or limited accounts.* ## What kinds of reduced visibility can X apply? Here is each type X documents, what it looks like from your side, and what it looks like to everyone else. Knowing the difference tells you what to test. ### Limits on a single post When one post breaks the rules, X's enforcement page says it may limit that post's visibility, require you to remove it, label it, or leave it up behind a notice if X decides it's in the public interest. If removal is required, you can't post again until you delete it or appeal, and the post is hidden behind a notice while that happens. X's [notices page](https://help.x.com/en/rules-and-policies/notices-on-x) adds that the account stays locked until the post is removed, and that once you remove it, a notice acknowledging the removal stays available for 14 days. That removal notice only appears on the post's detail page and on your profile page. X says it isn't shown in the Home timeline, notifications or search. So a friend scrolling their timeline won't see it, but anyone who opens your profile will. ### Read-only mode X can temporarily limit an account's ability to post, repost or like. In this state you can still read your timelines, and you can only send Direct Messages to your followers. This one is impossible to miss, because the buttons stop working for you. ### Locked until you verify X may require you to verify ownership with a phone number or email address, or pass a reCAPTCHA. The enforcement page notes something people often misread as a shadowban: while an account is locked pending a challenge, it's removed from follower counts, reposts and likes. If your follower count suddenly dropped and some likes disappeared, an account you're counting on may be locked rather than unfollowing you. If your own account is locked, X says visitors to your profile may see a message that the account has shown unusual activity, asking whether they still want to view it. ### Temporarily limited features This is the closest thing to what people mean by shadowban. X's page on [locked and limited accounts](https://help.x.com/en/managing-your-account/locked-and-limited-accounts) says that when it detects behavior that may break the rules, it may temporarily limit features so that only your followers can see your activity, including posts, likes and reposts. During a limited state, your account and posts may be filtered out of search results and notifications. You'll get a message about it when you log in, so check there first. ### Filtered from search X's [search rules](https://help.x.com/en/rules-and-policies/x-search-policies) say it filters search results for quality and may automatically remove accounts from search for behavior like posting duplicate content or abusing hashtags. The same page reassures that if you're filtered from search, your followers still receive your updates, and a reply or mention to a specific person is still delivered to that person. ### Notices, interstitials and age restrictions Sensitive media like adult content or graphic violence may be placed behind a warning that viewers click through. X notes that on X for iOS you can't click through these at all. Adult content is also restricted for viewers under 18 and for viewers with no birth date on their profile. None of these is a penalty, but they do shrink who sees a post. ### Withheld in a country X's page on [country withheld content](https://help.x.com/en/rules-and-policies/post-withheld-by-country) explains that it may withhold a post or a whole account in one country after a valid legal demand or a finding that it breaks local law. The withholding applies only in that jurisdiction. X says it notifies affected users by email or in the app unless it's legally prevented, and shows a clear visual indicator on the withheld content. ### Suspension A suspended account shows Account suspended on its profile, and X says its posts are hidden behind a notice. Permanent suspension is X's most severe action. Suspension isn't a shadowban, because it's visible to everyone, but it's the end point of the same enforcement ladder. ## How do I test my X account for a shadowban? Work through these checks in order. The first three use X's own signals and are the most reliable. The rest help you rule out filters and settings. Give yourself 20 minutes and a second account or a friend who doesn't follow you. 1. Log in and look for any lock, limit or verify message 2. Open your recent posts and check for labels or notices 3. Open the Under the Hood report if your account has it 4. Search for your posts from an account that doesn't follow you 5. Look for your replies under a busy post, including Show probable spam 6. Check your media settings and Apps and sessions *Steps 1 to 3 use X's own signals. Steps 4 to 6 rule out filters and settings.* ### 1. Look for a message when you log in Sign out and back in on x.com or the app. X's locked and limited accounts page describes the messages you'd see: Please verify your account, Your account has been locked, or We've temporarily limited some of your account features. If you see one, you've found your answer, and the message tells you what to do next. If you see nothing and you can post, like and repost normally, your account isn't in a locked, limited or read-only state. ### 2. Check your posts for labels or notices Open the detail page of your last 10 to 20 posts, especially any that got unusually low reach. Look for a label saying visibility was limited, a manipulated media label, a sensitive content warning, or a notice that the post broke the rules. Because X says rule-based visibility limits carry a label visible to the author, a clean set of posts is good news. ### 3. Open the Under the Hood report If your account is part of X's pilot, open [x.com/i/jf/under_the_hood](https://x.com/i/jf/under_the_hood) while signed in. It shows aggregate statistics about labels that affect visibility on your account and posts. The next section explains what it does and doesn't show. If the page isn't available to you, skip this step: X says it's expanding availability over time. ### 4. Search from an account that doesn't follow you Use a second account you own or ask a friend. X's rules allow up to 10 accounts for different, non-duplicative purposes, so a separate test account is fine as long as you don't use it to boost your main one. From that account: - Search your exact @username and check that your account appears under People or Accounts. - Search a distinctive phrase from a recent post, in quotes, and look under Latest rather than Top. - Open your profile and confirm your recent posts and replies load. - Note the searcher's safe search settings. If Hide sensitive content is on and your media is marked sensitive, your posts may be filtered for them for that reason alone. If your account shows up in People search but one post doesn't appear in Latest, that post may be filtered for quality. If your account doesn't appear in People search at all, check the reasons in the search section below before assuming a penalty. ### 5. Look for your replies under a busy post Reply to a large account's post, then open that post from your second account. X's page [about replies and mentions](https://help.x.com/en/using-x/mentions-and-replies) explains that replies aren't shown in chronological order, and that a Show probable spam button may reveal replies identified as lower quality based on the author's previous behavior and the reply's content. If your replies consistently sit behind that button, X's systems are treating them as likely spam. ### 6. Check your media settings and connected apps Open your media settings (the path is in the sensitive media section below) and confirm whether Mark media you post as containing material that may be sensitive is on, and whether X has added a label to your account. Then go to Apps and sessions in Settings and privacy and review every connected app. X's automation rules say you're responsible for what apps do with your account, and that automated activity breaking the rules can get your posts filtered from search. > One test is never proof. X says it doesn't show every post in search and ranks replies by relevance. Run the same check on two or three posts over a couple of days before you conclude anything. ## What is X's Under the Hood report? Under the Hood is the closest thing to an official shadowban checker that X offers. It's described in the README of X's open-source algorithm repository rather than in the help center, so here is what that README says about it, and nothing more. - It's a transparency tool that shows aggregate statistics about the visibility-impacting labels on your account and your posts. - It lets you see whether labels were applied manually, outside X's automated systems. - Since an update on September 18, 2026, reports include whether your account or posts had visibility limited to comply with a law, and which country required it. - The report can be exported as JSON. - It's a pilot. X says it will shape the tool from feedback and expand availability over time. - April 2023: X starts labeling posts whose visibility it limited for rule violations, visible to authors and viewers - August 13, 2026: X publishes visibility filtering code and launches the Under the Hood transparency tool - September 18, 2026: Under the Hood reports add legal limits by country, such as posts withheld after a legal demand *Dates from X's enforcement options page and the x-algorithm README.* ### How to read the report Because the statistics are aggregate, treat the report as a pattern finder. If a large share of last month's posts carry a label that limits visibility, look at what those posts have in common: many links with no commentary, repeated text, trending hashtags that don't fit, or a burst of replies to strangers. If manual labels appear, a person at X reviewed something on your account, which is worth keeping in mind before you appeal. If the report shows no visibility labels, a drop in reach is far more likely to be ranking or audience behavior than a penalty. ### What the report doesn't tell you The README describes aggregate statistics, so don't expect a full post-by-post list. It also covers labels, not ranking. A post with no labels can still get fewer views because fewer people engaged with it. And since the tool is a pilot, not having access says nothing about your account's status. ## Why are my posts not showing up in X search? This is the most common reason people go looking for a shadowban test. X's page [help with X search](https://help.x.com/en/using-x/x-search-not-working) says it may not show every post in search, and gives these reasons yours might be missing: | Reason | What X says | How to fix it | | --- | --- | --- | | Protected posts | Only approved followers can see protected posts in search | Make your account public if you want strangers to find you | | No confirmed email | Complete account setup with a confirmed email address | Confirm your email in account settings | | Sensitive content | Safe search automatically filters posts with potentially sensitive content | Mark only what's truly sensitive, and check your media settings | | Low relevance | Search aims to show the most relevant, credible and safe content | Write posts that add something to the conversation | | Duplicate or spammy posting | Accounts that post duplicates, abuse hashtags or automate replies may be removed from search | Stop the behavior; filters respond to activity | If your account is protected and you want to change that, our guide on [how to make your X account public](/blog/how-to-make-your-x-account-public) covers the setting and what happens to old posts and pending follower requests. ### Why doesn't my account appear in People search? X says account search prefers profiles with a complete name, username and bio, and that changes to your profile can take a few days to show up in search. It also says posting, reposting and mentioning regularly keeps your account's results up to date. If your bio is empty, fill it in. Our free [X bio generator](/tools/x-bio-generator) can draft one, and the [X bio character counter](/tools/x-bio-character-counter) checks it fits before you paste it in. ### Does the searcher's safe search hide my posts? It can. X's [search guide](https://help.x.com/en/using-x/x-search) explains that safe search excludes potentially sensitive content and accounts the searcher has muted or blocked. On x.com, the searcher can open the more icon on the results page, choose Search settings, and uncheck Hide sensitive content or Remove blocked and muted accounts. X says the change can take several minutes and applies on the web, iOS and Android. When you test with a friend, ask them to check these settings first so you're comparing like with like. ### Can a third-party app get me filtered from search? Yes. X's search rules say an account may be filtered from search if it's logged into a third-party app that updates many accounts with similar or duplicate content. If you use any tool that posts for several accounts at once, make sure each account gets genuinely different posts. ## Why are my replies hidden or not showing up? Replies have their own ranking, and several things can keep yours out of sight without any penalty on your account. ### Reply ranking X says that when it ranks a reply higher it considers whether the original author replied, whether the reply is from someone the viewer follows, and whether the replier subscribes to X Premium or certain X subscription plans. So on a busy post, a reply from a non-subscriber the viewer doesn't follow will usually sit lower. That's ranking working as designed. ### Show probable spam Replies X identifies as potentially lower quality or spam move behind a Show probable spam button, based on the author's previous behavior and the reply's content. X's reach page adds that collapsed replies are still accessible to people who look for them. If this keeps happening to you, look at your recent replies: identical replies on many posts, links with no comment, or replies that don't relate to the post are all named as spam in X's [authenticity policy](https://help.x.com/en/rules-and-policies/authenticity). ### The author hid your reply Post authors can hide replies. X says hidden replies stay available through the hidden reply icon on the original post, and that the person who wrote the reply isn't notified. If one reply vanished from one thread, check that icon before assuming anything about your account. ### The other person's notification filters Sometimes your reply is visible in the thread but the person you replied to never sees a notification. X's page [about the Notifications timeline](https://help.x.com/en/managing-your-account/understanding-the-notifications-timeline) explains that the quality filter, which is on by default for new accounts and reinstalled apps, filters lower-quality content such as duplicate posts or content that looks automated. Advanced filters let people turn off notifications from these types of accounts they don't follow: | Their filter | Accounts it hides | What you can do | | --- | --- | --- | | New accounts | Accounts that are new | Nothing to change; time fixes it | | Accounts that don't follow you | You, if you don't follow them | Nothing, unless they follow you back | | Accounts you don't follow | Anyone they don't follow | Nothing; it's their choice | | Default profile photo | Accounts with no profile photo | Add a profile photo | | No confirmed email | Accounts without a confirmed email address | Confirm your email | | No confirmed phone | Accounts without a confirmed phone number | Add and confirm a phone number | Three of those six are fixed in a few minutes on your side: add a profile photo, confirm your email and confirm a phone number. If you need a header to go with the new photo, the [X header resizer](/tools/x-header-resizer) crops an image to the right shape. X for iOS: Notifications › Gear icon › Advanced filters *Where people set the notification filters that can hide your replies from them. On iOS, the quality filter is on the screen behind the gear icon.* ## What does temporarily limited or read-only mean on X? These states are spelled out on X's locked and limited accounts page. They differ in what triggered them and what you can do about them. ### Limited for suspicious activity If your account looks like it did aggressive following or aggressive engagement, such as many likes, reposts or quotes in a short time, X says you'll see a message that your features are limited for a specified time, which varies with the violation. You get two options: use X in a temporary limited state for that time, or verify your phone number or email address to restore features sooner. > Choose carefully. X says that if you pick the limited state, your account stays limited for the full time and you won't see the option to verify again. Accounts with repeated violations may not be offered phone verification at all. ### Limited for a possible rule violation Here you can still browse, but you can only send Direct Messages to your followers, you can't post, repost or like, and only your followers can see your past posts. Visitors to your profile may see a message that the account may have broken the X Rules. To restore it, log in, find the message saying X temporarily limited some of your features, select Start and follow the instructions. X may ask you to verify your email, add a phone number or delete posts that break the rules before the countdown starts. Repeat violations can lead to permanent suspension. ### Locked for security If X detects suspicious behavior that suggests your account was compromised, you'll see a message that it's locked for security, with instructions to secure it by changing your password. This isn't a punishment for what you posted. It's X stopping someone else from using your account. ### Why can I post from a browser but not the app? X says that in a limited state you may only have access to certain features, including posting from a desktop platform but not the app. If posting works on x.com and fails in the app, that's a sign of a limited state rather than a bug. 1. Log in and read the lock or limit message 2. Select Start 3. Verify your phone, email or reCAPTCHA if asked 4. Delete any posts X asks you to remove 5. Wait out the countdown without repeating the behavior 6. Appeal through support if you think it was a mistake *From X's help page on locked and limited accounts.* ## Can a sensitive media setting make my account look shadowbanned? Yes, and it's one of the most overlooked causes. X's [media settings page](https://help.x.com/en/rules-and-policies/media-settings) explains that every account has a setting called Mark media you post as containing material that may be sensitive. When it's on, people visiting your profile may see a message that your account may include sensitive content, asking them to confirm they want to view it. People who opted in to see sensitive content see your account without that message. Combined with safe search filtering sensitive posts, this can make you look invisible to a large share of people. X for iOS: Profile icon › Settings and privacy › Privacy and safety › Your posts › Mark media as sensitive *The last item is the toggle X labels Mark media you post as containing material that may be sensitive.* ### Can X turn the setting on for me? It can. X says that if a post with media is reported as sensitive and wasn't marked when you uploaded it, X may label the media and change your account setting so future posts are marked, and you'll see a label showing that action. You can switch the setting back off, but media already labeled stays marked. If you repeatedly upload mislabeled media, X may label your whole account and permanently turn the setting on. X also says it may use automated techniques to detect and label sensitive media and the accounts that post it often. ### Mark single posts instead If only some of your posts are sensitive, X lets you add a one-time warning instead. After attaching a photo or video, tap the flag icon while editing it and choose Nudity, Violence or Sensitive. That keeps the rest of your account free of the profile warning. ## Do third-party shadowban tester sites work? Sites that promise an X shadowban test in one click are popular, and they can be a quick first look. But it helps to understand what they're able to see before you trust the result. ### What a tester can check A tool outside your account sees roughly what a stranger sees. It can check whether your profile loads, whether your posts turn up in a search it runs, and whether your replies appear in a thread. Those are the same checks you can do yourself from a second account in step 4 and step 5 above. ### What it can't see It can't see the labels X applies to your account and posts. X's own README describes Under the Hood as the way it shows those to you, and that report is available only to you while signed in. A tester also can't see messages X shows only to you at login, such as a limited state. And because X says it doesn't show every post in search and ranks replies by relevance, a post missing from a tester's search isn't proof of a limit. A clean result isn't proof of the opposite either, because the tester's own settings and account history shape what it sees. **Third-party tester** - Sees what an outside viewer sees - Can't see visibility labels - Can't see login messages - Results depend on its own settings - May ask for account access **X's own signals** - Login messages for locks and limits - Labels on limited posts - Under the Hood label statistics - Notices on withheld or removed posts - Appeal routes attached to each *Use outside tools as a rough check. Use X's signals to decide what to do.* ### Is it safe to connect a tester to my account? Be careful. X's page [about third-party apps](https://help.x.com/en/managing-your-account/connect-or-revoke-access-to-third-party-apps) says a connected app may be able to read your posts, see who you follow, mute and block, post for you, and with extra permission read your Direct Messages. It recommends only connecting through X's OAuth sign-in, which never gives the app your password, and checking that a login page starts with https://x.com before you type anything. It specifically warns never to give your username and password to sites promising more followers fast. If you already connected a tester you're unsure about, go to Apps and sessions in your settings, choose Revoke access next to the app, and change your password if you ever typed it into that site. X also notes it can't troubleshoot third-party apps for you, so problems with the tool itself go to its developer. ## What gets an X account's reach limited? X's rules are specific about the behaviors it treats as spam or manipulation. These come from its authenticity policy, its [automation rules](https://help.x.com/en/rules-and-policies/x-automation) and its search rules. If your reach dropped, read this list against your last few weeks of activity. | Behavior | Where X names it | Possible result | | --- | --- | --- | | Posting identical or nearly identical posts repeatedly | Authenticity policy, search rules | Filtered from search, reach restricted | | Posting and deleting the same content repeatedly | Authenticity policy | Reach restricted | | Excessive or unrelated hashtags, or hijacking trends | Authenticity policy, best practices | Filtered from search, possible suspension | | Bulk, unsolicited replies or mentions | Authenticity policy, automation rules | Removed from search, replies downranked | | Mostly links with no commentary | Authenticity policy | Reach restricted | | Aggressive following and unfollowing | Authenticity policy, search rules | Limited state, filtered from search | | Trading or buying likes, follows or reposts | Authenticity policy | Reach restricted, suspension | | Same posts across several accounts you run | Authenticity policy, automation rules | Filtered from search, accounts suspended | | Scripting the X website instead of using the API | Automation rules | May lead to permanent suspension | ### Running several X accounts X allows up to 10 accounts for different, non-duplicative purposes, such as a personal account and a business account, or brand accounts in different languages. What it doesn't allow is posting substantially similar or identical content across those accounts. The authenticity policy makes one exception: content cross-posted but localized into another language is permitted. If you manage a few X accounts, write each one its own posts. ### Cross-posting to other networks is different Those rules are about multiple X accounts. Sharing the same idea on X, LinkedIn and Threads from one account each isn't what X's policy describes. If you post the same message across networks, our guide on [how to cross-post to multiple platforms](/blog/how-to-cross-post-to-multiple-platforms) covers how to adapt it, and [does cross-posting hurt engagement](/blog/does-cross-posting-hurt-engagement) looks at whether it costs you reach. ### Automation and scheduling tools X's automation rules say you're responsible for what apps do with your account, that scripting the X website rather than using the API may result in permanent suspension, and that apps claiming to get you more followers are prohibited. Scheduling posts through an app built on X's official API is a normal use. [PostMesh publishes to X through the official API](/platform/twitter), with text or one image per post, but it still sends whatever you write, so the duplicate-content rules above apply to your posts just the same. ## How do I fix a shadowban or limited account on X? What works depends on which case you're in. Match your result from the test to one of these. ### If a post has a label Read what the label says. If you think X limited the post by mistake, X's enforcement page says authors can submit an appeal on the label. If the post did break a rule, deleting it takes it out of circulation. If X requires removal, you won't be able to post until you delete it or appeal. ### If your account is locked or limited Complete the steps in the login message: verify your phone or email, pass the reCAPTCHA, or delete the posts X lists. Then stop whatever triggered it, especially fast following, bursts of likes or reposts, and repeated replies. X says the limit lasts for a specified time that varies with the violation. If you believe it's an error, X says you can appeal by contacting its support team. ### If your account is suspended X's page [about suspended accounts](https://help.x.com/en/managing-your-account/suspended-x-accounts) says to first follow any prompts to confirm your phone or email, which may unsuspend you on their own. If that doesn't work and you think X made a mistake, log in to the suspended account, open a new browser tab, and file an appeal. X notes that most suspensions are for spam or fake accounts, and that when a real person is suspended by mistake it works with them to restore the account. ### If content is withheld in a country X says you can appeal by replying to the email it sent about the withholding when it was based on a legal demand, or by contacting it through the Help Center when it was based on local law. You can also leave the content up, remove it, or deactivate the account. It's your decision whether to challenge the underlying request. ### If you found nothing at all If there's no message, no label, no search problem from a second account and nothing in Under the Hood, your account is very likely not restricted. X's reach page points to experiments and technical issues as other causes, and says X posts technical updates from its @Support account. If posts still aren't appearing, X asks you to let it know by reporting the issue. > Don't try to get around a limit by making a new account. X's authenticity policy treats creating or repurposing accounts to evade enforcement as ban evasion, and X says it may suspend other accounts it believes the same person runs. ## How long does a shadowban on X last? X doesn't publish fixed durations, so be wary of any site that gives you an exact number of days. Here is what X does say: | Situation | How long, per X | What can shorten it | | --- | --- | --- | | Limited for aggressive following or engagement | A specified time that varies with the violation | Verifying your phone or email, if offered | | Limited for a possible rule violation | A countdown that starts after you complete requested actions | Completing the actions promptly | | Locked pending verification | Until you complete the challenge | Verifying right away | | Required post removal | Until you delete the post or appeal | Deleting or appealing | | Removal notice on a deleted post | 14 days after removal | Nothing; it expires | | Filtered from search | Not stated | Stopping the behavior that triggered it | For search filtering and labels, there's no published timer. The practical approach is to stop the behavior, wait, then retest with the same checks from a second account. If you have Under the Hood, compare one month's report with the next. ## How do I keep my reach healthy on X? Prevention is mostly about staying clear of the behaviors X names and keeping your account complete. These habits come straight from X's rules and help pages. **X account health checklist** - [ ] Profile photo, name and bio filled in - [ ] Email and phone number confirmed - [ ] Sensitive media marked per post, not by default - [ ] No identical posts, on one account or several - [ ] Hashtags only when they fit the post - [ ] Replies that respond to the post, not to its audience - [ ] No follow and unfollow bursts - [ ] Only apps you trust in Apps and sessions *Each item maps to a rule or filter on X's help pages.* ### Write each post for X Posts that fit the format do better than ones cut off or reformatted. Check length with our [X character counter](/tools/twitter-character-counter) before you post, and keep the [social media character limits](/blog/social-media-character-limits) guide handy if you write for several networks. For images, the [social media image sizes](/blog/social-media-image-sizes) guide lists the dimensions that display without awkward crops. ### Space your posts instead of bursting Several of the triggers X names are about volume in a short time: aggressive engagement, bursts of following, bulk replies. Spreading posts across the day keeps your activity looking like a person's. Our guide on [how to schedule tweets](/blog/how-to-schedule-tweets) shows how to queue posts with X's own tools and with a scheduler. If you post to several networks, [PostMesh](/pricing) checks each post against X's 280-character limit and schedules it up to 30 days ahead, and the free [post checker](/tools/post-checker) shows the same counts for every network before you commit. ### Review your account monthly Once a month, open Apps and sessions and revoke anything you no longer use, glance at your media settings, and check Under the Hood if you have it. It takes five minutes and catches most problems before they cost you reach. If you're comparing tools to help with the posting side, see our roundup of [the best free social media schedulers](/blog/best-free-social-media-schedulers) and the difference between a [scheduler and a management platform](/blog/social-media-scheduler-vs-management-platform). ## Questions ### Does X admit to shadowbanning? X doesn't use the word. Its help center does describe restricting the reach of posts and limiting account features, and says it labels posts it limits for rule violations. ### Is there an official X shadowban checker? The closest is Under the Hood, a pilot report at x.com/i/jf/under_the_hood that shows aggregate statistics about visibility labels on your account and posts. Not every account has access yet. ### Can I see if a specific post was limited? Open the post's detail page. X says posts it limits for breaking the rules carry a label visible to you and to viewers, and you can appeal that label. ### Will deleting posts lift a shadowban? Deleting a post X asked you to remove is required before you can post again. X doesn't say that deleting other posts shortens a limit, so delete what breaks the rules and then wait it out. ### Does X Premium remove a shadowban? X doesn't say that. It does list Premium and some X subscription plans as one factor in ranking replies higher, which is ranking, not an exemption from enforcement. ### Why did my follower count drop suddenly? X says accounts locked pending a challenge, like confirming a phone number, are removed from follower counts, reposts and likes until they complete it. Some of those followers may come back. ### Can my followers still see my posts if I'm filtered from search? Yes. X's search rules say followers still receive your updates, and replies or mentions to a specific person are still delivered to them. ### Is it safe to use a shadowban checker that asks for my password? No. X advises connecting apps only through its OAuth sign-in, which never shares your password, and warns against giving your login to sites promising more followers. ### Can I make a new account to get around a limit? No. X treats that as ban evasion and says it may suspend other accounts it believes belong to the same person. ### How do I appeal a limit on my X account? Appeal a post label from the label itself, contact X support if your account was limited in error, or log in to a suspended account and file an appeal in a new browser tab. ## Sources - [X Help: How we enforce our rules](https://help.x.com/en/rules-and-policies/enforcement-options) - [X Help: Notices on X and what they mean](https://help.x.com/en/rules-and-policies/notices-on-x) - [X Help: About specific instances when a post's reach may be limited](https://help.x.com/en/rules-and-policies/x-reach-limited) - [X Help: Help with locked or limited account](https://help.x.com/en/managing-your-account/locked-and-limited-accounts) - [X Help: Your media settings](https://help.x.com/en/rules-and-policies/media-settings) - [X Help: About search rules and restrictions](https://help.x.com/en/rules-and-policies/x-search-policies) - [X Help: Help with X search](https://help.x.com/en/using-x/x-search-not-working) - [X Help: How to use X search](https://help.x.com/en/using-x/x-search) - [X Help: About replies and mentions](https://help.x.com/en/using-x/mentions-and-replies) - [X Help: About the Notifications timeline](https://help.x.com/en/managing-your-account/understanding-the-notifications-timeline) - [X Help: About your For you timeline](https://help.x.com/en/using-x/x-timeline) - [X Help: About country withheld content](https://help.x.com/en/rules-and-policies/post-withheld-by-country) - [X Help: Authenticity policy](https://help.x.com/en/rules-and-policies/authenticity) - [X Help: Automation rules](https://help.x.com/en/rules-and-policies/x-automation) - [X Help: About rules and best practices with account behaviors](https://help.x.com/en/rules-and-policies/x-rules-and-best-practices) - [X Help: About third-party apps and log in sessions](https://help.x.com/en/managing-your-account/connect-or-revoke-access-to-third-party-apps) - [X Help: About suspended accounts](https://help.x.com/en/managing-your-account/suspended-x-accounts) - [X open-source algorithm README (xai-org/x-algorithm), including Under the Hood](https://github.com/xai-org/x-algorithm)