In February 2020, I first discovered—from a helpful tweet by @nonprofWHIT—that Twitter lets you mute not just conversations or accounts, but specific words or phrases right from a tweet. Twitter has since expanded this feature, so muted words now also stay out of your Explore tab and event-based notifications.
Here's a step-by-step guide based on years of using these tools to curate a cleaner feed.
Mute Words or Phrases on iPhone
On the Twitter iOS app, it's incredibly straightforward:
- Long-press the word or phrase in a tweet.
- Select "Mute" from the menu.
- Customize: Choose scopes (Home timeline or notifications), sources (from anyone or only non-followed accounts), and duration (forever, 24 hours, 7 days, or 30 days).
Mute Words or Phrases on Android
Android users can mute via app settings—nearly as quick and fully effective.
- Tap your profile icon (top left).
- Go to Settings & Privacy > Privacy and safety > Mute and block.
- Select "Muted words".
- Tap the + icon, enter the word/phrase, and set your preferences (scope, sources, duration).
To edit or remove: Return to Muted words, tap the entry, and select "Delete" or "Edit" duration.
Mute Words or Phrases on Desktop
On twitter.com, access it through settings:
- Click More (left sidebar) > Settings and privacy > Privacy and safety > Mute and block.
- Select "Muted words" (right panel), then the + icon.
- Enter the word/phrase and configure options.
- Click Save.
To unmute: Click the speaker icon next to the word and select Unmute.
Additional Tips for Muting on Twitter
Twitter offers flexible muting options:
- Mute specific mentions with @username (without muting the full account).
- Muting a word auto-mutes its hashtag.
- Case-insensitive; supports phrases with punctuation (e.g., "Hey, you!").
- Now excludes muted content from Explore and events too.
We'll update this guide as features evolve.
Updated January 12, 2022, 10:00 AM ET: Originally published February 19, 2020; refreshed for UI changes and expansions.
