X now allows all users to make audio and video calls, not just people with premium accounts which you know on the surface sounds great for keeping in touch with people and stuff. But with this increased accessibility comes a potential privacy pitfall: your IP address. Thankfully, there’s a solution: the Always relay calls setting. By enabling this feature, you can mask your IP address by routing calls through X’s servers—a method that works similarly to a VPN. While I won’t dive into the nitty-gritty of how X’s call privacy settings function, it’s worth exploring this option to fine-tune your privacy during calls.
Enabling Always Relay Calls Setting in X
For people unaware of what IP address is, think of it as a digital equivalent of your home address. It’s through this address that devices and websites on the Internet know where to send information. The problem? Exposing your IP address leaves a trail of your online activity—something you definitely wouldn’t want plastered on a billboard for everyone to see. So, enabling Always relay calls setting in X makes sense. It’s a small but effective step toward maintaining your privacy while using the feature.
Managing your calling settings on X is simple: open the app and tap the Messages tab at the bottom-right corner.
In the DM window, hit the Settings cog in the top-right corner.
On the Settings screen, look for the Enable audio and video calling option and you’re all set!
In the same section, you’ll find the Always Relay Calls toggle. A quick tap turns it on—yes, it might lower call quality, but if privacy tops your priority list, this switch is worth flipping!
With these steps in check, it will be harder for the person on the other end of the line to see your true IP address.
Similarly, to keep calls on but still stay in control, customize who can reach you by tweaking the checkboxes under Allow audio and video calls from to fit your preferences.
If you’d rather limit calls to just your contacts, select People in your address book—just remember, this means sharing your contacts with X. Also see blocking controls in X.
Opinion
So, to sum it all up, we’re not totally powerless. X does gives us some control over sensitive information and that really comes down to looking at some Settings. So, it’s all about finding your comfort zone, but staying mindful of the privacy trade-offs is key.
