X Launches TikTok-Style 'React with Video' for iOS—Here's How It Works

X has officially rolled out a feature that brings TikTok-style video reactions natively into its iOS app, giving users a direct way to record and share video commentary on any post. The tool, called "React with Video," was launched on June 2, 2026, by X's Head of Product, Nikita Bier . It represents the latest concrete step in the platform's aggressive pivot toward video, a shift that has been publicly underway since early 2024.

How the Feature Works

To use React with Video, you tap the repost (retweet) button on any post and select the new video reaction option from the overlay menu . The app then opens a recording window with the front-facing camera activated . The original post remains visible on the screen as a backdrop, and you can choose from three distinct layout modes for your recording :

• Green screen: Your video is superimposed directly over the original post, mimicking the popular TikTok green-screen effect.
• Split screen: Your reaction video and the original post appear side by side in a divided layout.
• Picture-in-picture (PiP): Your selfie video floats as a smaller, resizable window on top of the original content.

While recording, you can resize and reposition the video overlay on the screen, pause the recording mid-capture, and choose to display the original post in a full-screen media mode . Once finished, the reaction video is posted as a reply to the original content .

Target Audience and Purpose

The feature is primarily aimed at creators and influencers. X is positioning it as a built-in studio tool that lets creators produce reaction content without needing to leave the app or use third-party editing software . The company is also pitching it as a more engaging alternative to a standard repost or quote post, encouraging active video commentary over passive resharing .

Fitting Into X's Video-First Strategy

React with Video did not appear in a vacuum. It is part of a prolonged strategic overhaul that began in earnest after Elon Musk's acquisition, with X declaring itself a "video-first platform" in early 2024 . The company backed up that statement with a series of video-centric launches: long-form video uploads, an Immersive Video surface that surpassed 100 million daily users, a dedicated Video Tab for US users, a TV app for smart TVs, and exclusive content deals with media personalities .

This feature directly competes with TikTok's native video reply tools—which have existed since 2021—and aims to capture the same creator-driven, high-engagement format that has fueled short-form video platforms . The move makes X's ecosystem more self-contained for video-first creators who previously had to export content to other apps.

A Look Back at Testing

X did not develop this overnight. App researcher Radu Oncescu first spotted early prototypes of a "React with video" option in March 2025, which allowed testers to overlay a video selfie onto a post . By April 2025, the platform was actively developing green-screen capabilities and entity segmentation to isolate a user's video from their background . Those features have now materialized in the public launch.

When Will It Arrive on Android and Web?

As of launch, React with Video is available exclusively on iOS . X representatives have said a rollout for Android and the web version is coming "soon," but the company has not provided a confirmed date or timeline . For now, the feature remains limited to iPhone users.