TwittrAPI

Free tool

Twitter (X) shadowban checker

Enter an @username to test the account for the common kinds of X shadowban: search ban, search suggestion ban and reply deboosting (ghost ban), plus whether the account is suspended or protected. Free, no sign-in, no password.

X does not publish who is restricted, so each check is a signal from the logged-out view, not proof.

With or without @, or paste the profile link. Public accounts only.

Complete the captcha to run the check. A few free checks per day; each takes about 10 seconds.

Four checks appear here: account status, search ban, search suggestion ban and reply deboosting.

How it works

How the shadowban checker works

Every check looks for something the account did publish. If it is public on the profile but cannot be found where other people look, the row shows Possible restriction.

  1. 01

    Account status

    GET /user/by/username/{username} tells whether the account exists and is protected; if it does not, /user/usernames/status tells a suspension from a deleted or renamed account.

  2. 02

    Search ban

    We take the recent posts from the account's posts and replies, then run a Latest search for from:username. Public posts older than 15 minutes that never show up there point to a search ban.

  3. 03

    Search suggestion ban

    A People search for the username should list the account near the top. If it is not in the first 10 results, X likely does not suggest it either. This is an approximation of the typeahead.

  4. 04

    Reply deboosting (ghost ban)

    We open the post the account last replied to and check whether the reply is in the visible thread. Logged-out views can differ from what signed-in users see, and big threads load in pages, so this one is best effort.

Limitations

What a shadowban checker can and can't tell

  • X does not publish shadowban status. No outside tool can read it; all of them, this one included, compare what was posted with what others can find.
  • Results are signals, not proof. One Possible restriction can be a ranking quirk; the same result over several days is a stronger sign.
  • X's search index lags a few minutes behind new posts, so posts younger than 15 minutes are left out of the search test.
  • The checks use the logged-out view. Signed-in users can see more or less, depending on their settings and who they follow.
  • The search suggestion and reply checks are approximations: people search is not the typeahead, and long threads only show their first page of replies.
  • Protected and suspended accounts cannot be tested for visibility: their posts are hidden from everyone but approved followers.

Need this at scale? Get an API key

Watch many accounts, not one: run the same searches on a schedule with your own key. Each check is a handful of calls, $0.09 per 1,000 calls at the standard price. See the social listening guide for polling patterns.

Get an API keySearch docs →Tweets and replies docs →Tweet with replies docs →

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is a Twitter (X) shadowban?

A shadowban is when X limits who sees an account's posts without telling the owner. The account still works and the posts are on the profile, but they stop showing in search, in suggestions or in reply threads for other people. X calls this visibility filtering or reduced reach; it does not use the word shadowban and does not publish who is affected.

What types of shadowban are there?

Four are commonly described. A search ban hides the account's posts from search results. A search suggestion ban keeps the account out of suggestions and people search. Reply deboosting, also called a ghost ban, moves replies behind "Show more replies" so most readers never see them. And there are the visible limits: a protected account, a temporary lock or a suspension.

How does this shadowban test work?

It loads the account and its latest posts and replies, then looks for them the way a logged-out visitor would: a Latest search for from:username, a People search for the username, and the thread the latest reply was posted in. If posts or replies are public but cannot be found, that check shows Possible restriction. One check makes up to 5 API calls.

Is the result proof that I am shadowbanned?

No. X does not publish shadowban status, so every checker, this one included, compares what you posted with what others can find. Search indexing lag, a very busy thread or ranking changes can look like a restriction for a while. Treat a single Possible restriction as a signal and check again later.

Why does a new post not show up in search?

X's search index lags a few minutes behind new posts. The checker ignores posts younger than 15 minutes for the search test. If all your recent posts are that new, the search check says Couldn't check; try again in a quarter of an hour.

How do I fix a shadowban on X?

There is no appeal button for a shadowban. What usually helps: stop what may look like spam (mass follows or unfollows, many identical replies, many links or hashtags, automation), delete posts that may break the rules, confirm your email and phone number, and post normally for a few days. Most limits lift on their own after a few days to two weeks. If your account is locked or suspended, X shows a notice and you can appeal in the Help Center.

How often should I check for a shadowban?

Once a day at most is enough while you wait for a limit to lift, and once a week when nothing is wrong. Results are cached for 10 minutes and the free tool allows a few checks per day, so checking every few minutes shows the same answer.

Can I check someone else's account?

Yes, any public username works, and you do not need to sign in or share a password. Protected accounts cannot be checked: their posts are only visible to approved followers.

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