Elon Musk New TV App: What Most People Get Wrong

Elon Musk New TV App: What Most People Get Wrong

Elon Musk wants your living room. Honestly, he’s been eyeing it for a while. If you’ve spent any time on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter) lately, you might have noticed a shift toward long-form video. It wasn't an accident. Musk's grand plan to turn X into an "everything app" has officially landed on the big screen with the Elon Musk new TV app—properly titled the X TV app.

It's currently in a beta phase. That means it’s a bit rough around the edges, but it’s out there. You can find it on Google Play, the Amazon Appstore, and LG’s content store. If you're looking for it on Apple TV, you're still out of luck for now.

Why the Elon Musk New TV App Actually Exists

The strategy is pretty simple: keep people on the platform longer. Social media is a game of minutes. Mobile scrolling is great for quick hits, but the real money—and the real "stickiness"—is in the living room. Musk wants to steal eyes away from YouTube and Netflix.

He’s even gone as far as personally inviting big-name creators like MrBeast to post full-length videos on X. The idea is that if the content is there, the viewers will follow. The app looks surprisingly like YouTube. If you’ve used a smart TV in the last five years, you already know how to navigate it. There’s a side rail, a grid of videos, and a "Recommended For You" section.

It's Not Just a Mirror of Your Phone

Most people think this is just a way to cast your phone to the TV. It’s more than that. The app includes specific features like:

  • Replay TV: You can catch up on up to 72 hours of past content.
  • Startover TV: If you join a live stream late, you can jump back to the beginning.
  • Free Cloud DVR: You can record up to 100 hours of content without paying extra.

This sounds a lot more like a cable replacement than a social media feed. X CEO Linda Yaccarino has been vocal about this "video-first" approach. They aren't just letting people post clips anymore; they are signing exclusive deals. We’re talking about content from the WWE, NFL, and creators like Khloe Kardashian and Paris Hilton. Even Tucker Carlson and Tulsi Gabbard have found homes here.

The Reality Check: Is It Any Good?

Here is the thing. Beta software is usually buggy, and X TV is no exception. Some users have reported that the app is "puzzling" or even "irritating." Why? Because the algorithm doesn't always know what you want to watch on a 65-inch screen.

On your phone, you might tolerate a random 30-second clip of a car crash or a political rant. On your TV, you usually want something more substantial. Currently, the "Recommended" feed can feel like a fever dream of content you never asked for. I’ve seen reports of people getting videos in languages they don't speak or strange conspiracy theories right next to an NFL highlight.

The app is free for now. There are no ads yet, but don't expect that to last. X has already told corporate partners that monetization—specifically ads—is the eventual goal. They just need to get you hooked on the interface first.

Privacy and Integration

You can’t just browse anonymously. You have to log in with your X credentials. This allows for cross-device viewing, so you can start a video on the train and finish it on your couch. But it also means the app is tracking your "big screen" habits just as closely as your mobile ones.

As of January 2026, the platform is under massive scrutiny. Between the UK's Ofcom investigating AI-generated content and the ongoing "InfoFi" crypto spam bans, the ecosystem is a bit chaotic. Musk’s TV app is launching into this storm. It’s a bold move, but it’s also a risky one if the content quality doesn't stabilize.

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How to Get X TV on Your Set Right Now

If you want to try the Elon Musk new TV app yourself, you don’t need a specialized "Tesla TV" or anything like that. It’s a software play.

  1. Check Your Device: It currently works on Amazon Fire TV, LG webOS, Android TV, and Google TV.
  2. Search the Store: Go to your TV's app store and search for "X" or "X TV."
  3. Login: Use the QR code or link provided on the screen to authenticate with your phone.

It’s worth noting that Samsung TV support was mentioned early on, but the rollout has been staggered. If you have a Fire Stick, that’s currently your best bet for a stable-ish experience.

What’s Next for X Streaming?

We are seeing a move toward more "traditional" entertainment. The app is basically a hybrid of a social feed and a streaming service. Musk is betting that the "digital town square" can also be the "digital cinema."

Whether people actually want to watch a two-hour interview on a platform known for 280-character bursts is the billion-dollar question. For now, it's a fascinating experiment in how we consume media.

Next Steps for You:
If you're a creator, start looking at your video aspect ratios. Vertical video is great for the phone, but it looks terrible on a TV. If you're a viewer, download the beta on your Fire Stick or LG TV to see if the "Recommended" feed has improved since the initial launch. Keep an eye on your data usage too—high-def streaming on a TV app eats through bandwidth much faster than scrolling on mobile.