Why X links won’t open on Android and how to fix it: a bug that shows the home timeline instead

When you try to open an X link while browsing the web on Android, a bug may occur where the link destination does not open, the link cannot be opened, or the app opens but shows the home timeline instead.

This issue has been fixed in the latest version of the app, and this article clearly explains both the cause and the workaround you can use until the update becomes available on your device.

A bug that prevents X links from opening properly

Right now, when you tap an X link while browsing the web on an Android phone, the app may open but show the home timeline instead of the intended destination.

If any of the following applies, this bug may be the cause:

• You try to open a link to an X post, but it does not take you to the destination
• You try to open a link to an X profile, but the target screen does not appear
• You tap an X link, the X app opens, but it only shows the home timeline

In my testing, I was able to reproduce this on the following setup with version 11.84.0-alpha.0 of the X app for Android:

• Google Pixel 8
• Android 17 Beta 4
• X for Android version 11.84.0-alpha.0

At the time of writing, this bug had already been fixed in the latest version, 11.84.1-release.0.

One thing worth noting here is that the version number changed from 11.84.0 to 112.84.1.

That final .1 is commonly referred to as a patch version, and it usually indicates bug fixes or small improvements.

I should also note that I participate in X’s alpha test program, so updates may be delivered to me earlier than they are to general users.

【Android】Xのアルファ/ベータ版をインストールする方法

X（旧：Twitter）の新しい機能をいち早く体験したいと思ったことはありませんか？そんなときにぴったりなのが、TwitterのAndroidアプリのベータ版やアルファ版です。この記事では、そのメリットとデメリット、リスクを詳しく解説し、ベータ版やアルファ版をインストールする方法をご紹介します。

March 7, 2024

If an update for the X app is not yet available to you, try the workaround described later in this article.

Why the destination page won’t open

On Android, intents are used as the mechanism for handing off tapped web links to the corresponding app.

For example, when you open a link to x.com or twitter.com, the X app receives that URL and opens the corresponding post or profile.

This mechanism, which opens a specific screen directly rather than just launching the app, is generally called a deep link.

Normally, a post URL should open the post screen, and a profile URL should open that profile page.

With this bug, however, the link itself is still being passed to the X app, but the app may be failing to interpret it correctly. As a result, it appears to be falling back to the home timeline instead.

What to do when X links won’t open

1. Update the app

First, check whether an update for the X app is available.

As mentioned above, the issue is fixed in the latest version, 11.84.1-release.0, so if you are using an older version, updating the app should resolve it.

You can check for an X app update as follows:

1. Open the Google Play Store

2. Open the X app page

3. If you see the [Update] button, tap it to update the app

4. After updating, try opening the link again and check whether it now opens correctly

2. Open the link in a browser

App updates are not rolled out to everyone at the same time, and depending on your environment, it may take a while before the update appears for you.

If the update does not show up, or if the issue still is not fixed even after updating, the best temporary workaround is to open the link in a browser.

Normally, if the X app is installed, tapping an X link automatically sends you to the app.

That means if you tap the link normally, the app opens instead of the browser, and you end up unable to reach the destination page.

To open the link in a browser, press and hold the link and open it in a new tab.

I have summarized the detailed steps in the following article, so please refer to it if needed.

How to deal with the browser version of X (Twitter) redirecting to the app and not opening

Have you ever tried to open the browser version (web version) of X (Twitter) on your smartphone and been redirected to the app? This article explains how to open the web version of X on a smartphone with the X app installed.

October 17, 2025

This method also works as a temporary workaround for the current bug.

What to check if the issue still does not go away

If the same issue continues even after updating the X app to the latest version, the following causes are possible.

The app version is different

As mentioned earlier, this bug occurs in version 11.84.0-alpha.0, but not in version 11.84.1-release.0.

So even if you update the app, the same problem may continue if the updated version is still older than 11.84.1-release.0.

You can check the X app version as follows:

1. Find the X app on your phone’s home screen or in the app list

2. Press and hold the X app icon to open the menu

3. Tap the i icon in the menu to open app info

4. Scroll to the bottom of the app info screen to check the version number

The link is incorrect

If you are trying to open an incorrect link in the first place, it may fail to open even when this bug is not involved.

For example, on the X web client, URLs often work whether or not they include a trailing slash, but in the app, a trailing slash may prevent the destination from opening.

If the destination still will not open even after updating the app, try opening other X links as well.

If other links open normally, the one that fails may simply be incorrect.

The post has been deleted

If you try to open the URL of a post or account that has already been deleted, the app may also fail to load it and show the home timeline instead.

Try opening a different X link, or try opening the web client using the method described earlier.

If other links open normally, and the web client says the post has been deleted, that means the app is failing because the post has been deleted.

Conclusion

There is currently a bug in the Android version of X where trying to open a link does not take you to the destination and instead shows the home timeline.

Since the issue does not occur in the latest version, 11.84.1-release.0, you should update the app.

If the update has not yet been rolled out to you, using the web version is the best temporary workaround.