Encrypted Direct Messages — Tutorial

Step-by-step guide to enabling encryption, checking encryption status, and sending encrypted DMs on X/Twitter using XActions browser scripts.

Works on: Browser Console
Difficulty: Intermediate
Time: 2-5 minutes
Requirements: Both users must have X Premium (verified) for encrypted DMs

Prerequisites

• Logged into x.com in your browser
• Browser DevTools console (F12 -> Console tab)
• Both you and the recipient must have X Premium (verified accounts)
• Navigate to https://x.com/messages before running

Quick Start

1. Open x.com and navigate to Messages (https://x.com/messages)
2. Press F12 to open DevTools, then click the Console tab
3. Copy the script from src/encryptedDM.js
4. Set CONFIG.action to 'send', 'check', or 'enable'
5. Paste into the console and press Enter

Configuration

const CONFIG = {
  action: 'send',              // 'send', 'check', or 'enable'

  // Message settings (for 'send' action)
  username: 'target_user',     // Username to message (without @)
  message: 'This is a secret encrypted message',

  // Timing
  navigationDelay: 3000,
  actionDelay: 2000,
  typeCharDelay: 50,

  // Safety
  dryRun: true,                // Set to false to actually send
};

Available Actions

Step-by-Step Guide

Checking Encryption Status

Use this to verify whether an existing conversation uses end-to-end encryption.

Step 1 -- Open a DM conversation

Navigate to any DM conversation in x.com/messages.

Step 2 -- Configure the script

const CONFIG = {
  action: 'check',
  dryRun: false,  // Safe for 'check' -- it only reads, never writes
};

Step 3 -- Run and check output

Checking encryption status of current conversation...
This conversation IS encrypted
End-to-end encryption is active

Or if not encrypted:

This conversation is NOT encrypted
Both users must be verified (Premium) to use encrypted DMs

Enabling Encryption on an Existing Conversation

Step 1 -- Open the conversation

Navigate to the DM conversation you want to encrypt.

Step 2 -- Configure

const CONFIG = {
  action: 'enable',
  dryRun: true,   // Preview first
};

Step 3 -- Run for real

Set dryRun: false and paste again. The script will find and click the encrypted DM toggle.

Sending an Encrypted Message

Step 1 -- Configure

const CONFIG = {
  action: 'send',
  username: 'nichxbt',
  message: 'This conversation is end-to-end encrypted. Only we can read this.',
  dryRun: true,
};

Step 2 -- Preview

Paste and check the dry run output:

Action: send
Sending encrypted message to @nichxbt...
Opening new encrypted conversation...
Enabling encryption for this conversation...
Searching for @nichxbt...
Typing encrypted message...
Encrypted message sent!

Step 3 -- Send for real

Set dryRun: false and paste again. The script will:

1. Click "New Message"
2. Toggle the encryption mode on
3. Search for the recipient
4. Select them and start the conversation
5. Type and send the encrypted message

Tips & Tricks

• Premium required. Encrypted DMs are only available between X Premium (verified) users. If either party does not have Premium, the encryption toggle will not appear.
• Use 'check' freely. The check action is read-only and safe to run with dryRun: false since it does not modify anything.
• Encryption is per-conversation. Enabling encryption on one conversation does not affect others.
• Look for the lock icon. Encrypted conversations display a lock icon in the conversation header.
• State tracking. Progress is saved to sessionStorage under xactions_encryptedDM.

Troubleshooting

Related Scripts

• src/sendDirectMessage.js -- Send regular (non-encrypted) DMs
• src/groupDM.js -- Create group DM conversations
• src/dmCalls.js -- Start audio/video calls in DMs
• src/dmManager.js -- Node.js DM management library