X launches History tab to centralize bookmarks, likes, videos and articles
X launches History tab on iOS to centralize bookmarks, likes, videos and articles in a private space, aiming to keep readers in-app and attract creators.
X has introduced a new History tab that collects bookmarks, likes, videos and articles into a single, private place on iOS, positioning the app as a save-it-for-later destination. The X History tab replaces the previous Bookmarks button in the app’s left-side menu and is intended to make it easier for users to return to content they want to finish reading or watching. The feature was announced by X’s head of product, Nikita Bier, who described it as a streamlined way to track and re-open content across the platform.
X renames Bookmarks to History on mobile
The visible change in the interface is the Bookmarks button being relabeled History and moved into the left-side menu of the mobile app. Users who tap the new History entry will find four distinct tabs that separate saved and viewed material for faster retrieval. The redesign consolidates items that were previously found in different locations, such as bookmarks in the main menu and likes tucked away on profile pages.
History splits content into bookmarks, likes, videos and articles
Inside the History tab, X organizes material into four panes: bookmarks, likes, videos and articles, each intended to reflect different user behaviors. Bookmarks and likes represent intentional saves, while the videos and articles tabs are populated automatically based on what a user watches or reads within the app. The division is meant to help users quickly find unfinished videos or long-form pieces they may want to revisit without hunting through timelines or profiles.
Automatic tracking aims to act like an in-app browser history
By capturing consumed content in the videos and articles tabs, X is effectively offering a browser-like history function inside the social feed. That approach allows items to be discoverable even if a user did not tap a save button, creating a running record of what a person has engaged with on the platform. For many users this will feel like a personal news reader or watchlist embedded in X, reducing the need to open separate apps or browser tabs.
Privacy controls remain in place, company says
X has emphasized that the History section is private to the account holder and is not shared publicly, according to the product announcement. The company framed the feature as an organizational tool rather than a public archive, and it does not change the visibility of posts, likes or bookmarks outside the user’s control. Users who are concerned about data use should check their app settings for any additional controls tied to engagement tracking and saved content.
Feature aligns with push for long-form writing and creator retention
The History tab arrives as X has been encouraging longer-form posts and on-platform articles as a means to keep content and discovery inside the app. By making it easier to save and resume articles, X aims to increase the time readers spend with native long-form content and to make publishing on the platform more attractive for creators and organizations. The aggregated history could help writers and businesses find steady audiences without relying solely on external links or referral traffic.
Context for publishers and referral traffic shifts
Web publishers have experienced declines in referral traffic from larger social and search platforms in recent years, driven in part by evolving feed algorithms and new AI-driven surfaces that reduce outbound clicks. X is marketing its in-app article and history features as an alternative distribution channel where discovery and return visits happen on the platform itself. That positioning may draw publishers looking for direct engagement and recurring readers, though it also raises questions about how external sites will be valued in an increasingly self-contained ecosystem.
The rollout of the History tab begins on iOS, with X indicating it will be available to users in that environment first while broader availability may follow. Product leadership framed the change as a quality-of-life improvement aimed at easing content retrieval and strengthening the platform’s role as a place to read, watch and save material for later.
