Twitter workaround worked around again: X's lawyers cancel XCancel again
Nitter's repository archived as of September 11, 2026
Social media platforms Nitter and XCancel, which enable viewing of posts on X without an X account, have fallen offline once more due to ongoing legal disputes. Nitter's website is currently inactive, and its code repository was archived on September 11, 2026. In August, the services faced a cease-and-desist letter from X's lawyers and subsequently went offline while the consequences were assessed.
However, after a few weeks, they returned online. Zedeus, the maintainer of Nitter, had previously stated that an announcement would be made within a week once more details were available. Regrettably, the "more information" seems to have been another suspension. XCancel communicated, "We cannot share any further information," and directed users to X for content.
It is uncertain when the services might resume or if users have found alternative sources for their microblogging requirements. Options such as Mastodon and Bluesky are available for those who do not wish to create an X account. X has a history of employing legal measures to counter perceived threats or alleged abuses of its services, which is within its rights.
In the case of Nitter (and XCancel, which utilizes the project), the concern likely stemmed from the viewing of posts without an account, the use of JavaScript, or advertisements. X attempted to defend the Twitter and blue bird trademarks and branding during a conflict with tweet.app. However, X retains Twitter (despite abandoning the name after Musk's acquisition), while tweet.app claimed the term "tweet" and the bird imagery.
Written by urgent.news from The Register Science's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
