Nitter and XCancel, two services that allow users to view posts on X without having an X account, are once again unavailable after the most recent set of legal disputes with X.
The XCancel website is now showing a message stating that it has to suspend the service ‘because of a new development in the ongoing legal proceedings’, while Nitter’s website is currently down, and its code repository was archived on September 11, 2026.
These services enable users to view X posts without an account, adverts, or trackers. The shutdown came after X’s lawyers had sent a cease-and-desist letter in August.
Why Nitter and XCancel Went Offline Again
In August X’s lawyers sent a cease-and-desist letter to the services, which enabled users to view posts on X without needing to have an account or put up with advertisements and accept trackers. The services then complied by going offline while the implications were considered.
A few weeks later they came back again. At that time Zedeus, who was the maintainer of Nitter, stated, “An announcement will be made within a week as soon as we are able to give out more information.”
The additional information seems to concern another cessation. XCancel merely said, “We can’t give more details,” and included a link to X for anyone wanting to see the content.
X has a good record in employing lawyers to deal with perceived threats or alleged misuse of its services, and that it is within its rights to do so; in the case of Nitter and XCancel, which makes use of the project, the worry probably stemmed from the way posts were displayed without an account, JavaScript, or ads.
X has also defended the Twitter and blue bird trademark and branding in a separate conflict with tweet. Although it gave up the name after Musk took over, X has retained possession of Twitter, while tweet.app has taken on the term ‘tweet’ and the bird imagery, at least for the moment.
Alternatives to Nitter and XCancel and Their Current Status
For users who do not want to sign up for an X account, there are alternatives:
- One could look at other microblogging services such as Mastodon or Bluesky since they don’t require a user to have an X account.
- You can access X directly, since XCancel currently provides a link to it for users who want content, even though this involves agreeing to X’s account, ads, and trackers.
Nitter and XCancel are once again offline, having had their code repositories archived on September 11, 2026. It is not easy to determine whether or when the services might come back online or if users have shifted to other platforms.
Neither of the services has provided any information about the legal proceedings that led to the most recent suspension.
