Using X (Twitter) search queries for a fresher home timeline

Up to the beginning of 2025, using X (formerly known as Twitter) still comes with the old mangled-up algorithms. No matter which side of the anti-Elon campaign you sit, the app itself has become extremely unnavigable since the early 2010s. On the "Home" feed, you see mutual followers replying to each other, reposts (if you don't turn each individual account's reposts off), sponsored ads, and so on.

You just want to read original posts!

What about lists?

Sure, you could use "Lists", but that always comes with reposts and replies. X Premium comes with a "Pro" option that allows you to view a timeline without reposts, but you have to pay for that...

The solution: search querying!

In order to view only original posts, we can use the following simple search query trick!

(Now, as the title of this post suggests, this works best for the desktop version. It still works for the mobile app, but it requires some copy-and-pasting.)

The query template

So, we would enter the following query template in the search bar :

(from:username1 OR from:username2 OR from:username3 ... OR from:usernameX) -filter:replies

A concrete query example

Replace each of username1, username2 and so on with actual usernames. For example, one could use something like this in the Search bar:

(from:elonmusk OR from:tesla OR from:x) -filter:replies

Do the search, then click on the "Latest" tab. You will also see that the URL changes. Bookmark this URL as this will become your new "Home" on X!

The URL structure

In the concrete example just above, the URL would look something like this:

https://x.com/search?q=(from%3Aelonmusk%20OR%20from%3Atesla%20OR%20from%3Ax)%20-filter%3Areplies&src=typed_query&f=live

A better X feed for everyone!

Not very pretty ... but still very useable, showing:

• your favourite users' posts!
• in reverse chronological order! ("Latest" tab)
• without reposts!
• without replies!
• without ads!
• ...best of all: without having to pay for X!

🥹🥹🥹

On the mobile app?

Personally, I would avoid the app altogether! Just login to X via a browser. Then, simply use the aforementioned bookmarked URL to access your new "express home timeline"!