How to Set up a New X Account

Sign up with X to join the tweeting fun

What to Know

  • Go to the website on your internet browser, or download the app.
  • Then, select Sign up or Create account. Enter the requested information, and then verify your account via text or email.
  • Finally, select the camera icon to add a profile image. Continue personalizing by adding your bio, contacts, and interests.

This article explains how to join X (formerly Twitter), set up your profile, and make your account private.

How to Create a New X Account

To join from an internet browser or mobile app:

  1. On your internet browser, go to the official website and click Sign up. In the app, tap Create account.

    You can create your account using an email/phone number or a Google account. Mac and iPhone users can also use their Apple ID.

  2. Enter your name, phone number or email, and date of birth. Then select Next.

    Signing up on Twitter; enter your name, phone or email and date of birth
  3. Enable or disable the Track where you see content across the web option. Then select Next.

    Track where you see Twitter checked and Next
  4. Select Sign up if your name, phone number or email, and date of birth are correct.

    Click Sign up
  5. Enter the verification code from text or email. Then select Next.

    Twitter sign up - enter verification code from text or email
  6. Enter a new Password. Then select Next.

    Twitter signing up - create password, click Next

How to Complete Your X Profile

At this point, you can go to the home page to access your account, or you can continue the setup process. Before you start following and tweeting, it's a good idea to finish setting up your profile so that it looks compelling enough for people to follow you back. You know, upload a profile image, or change your background to grab some attention.

The following items are optional. Select Skip for now or Not now if you want to add the information at a later time.

  1. Select the camera icon to upload a profile image.

    Twitter - uploading profile image - click camera icon
  2. If necessary, reposition the image by moving it up or down. Resize it by adjusting the scale at the bottom of the pop-up box. Click Apply when you're finished.

    Twitter - resize and reposition profile image - click Apply
  3. If you are satisfied with your profile image selection, click Next.

    Twitter - profile image upload > click Next.
  4. Briefly describe yourself in the bio.

    Twitter - Enter bio information
  5. Select Upload contacts to import your Gmail or Outlook contacts, which the platform can use to recommend followers that you know. If you don't want to do that, click Not now.

    Twitter - select Upload contacts
  6. To personalize your experience, select your topics of interest. If you don't see a specific interest, search for it in the Search for interests bar.

    Twitter - chose interests

    Interests to choose from:

    • Music
    • Sports
    • Gaming
    • Arts and culture
    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Home and family
    • Science
    • Movies and TV
    • Technology
    • Fashion and beauty
    • Travel 
    • Outdoors 
    • Food 
    • Careers
    • Business and finance
    • Paragraph anime and manga
    • Fitness
    • Only on X
  7. Based on your profile and interests, X suggests pages for you to follow. Click Follow next to the pages you want to follow.

    YouTube - suggestions for you to follow
  8. Click Allow notifications to enable notifications on your mobile device.

    Twitter - Turn on notifications

    Notifications include:

    • Mentions
    • Replies
    • Retweets
    • Likes
    • New followers
    • Direct Messages
    • Your contacts who join
    • Recommendations
    • Highlights
    • News
    • Moments
    • Emergency alerts
    • New features
    • Tweet notifications from accounts you follow

Add a Header Image to Your Profile

X also allows you to add a background header image. The header image is larger than the profile photo, and it displays behind the profile photo.

To add a header image:

  1. In a web browser, go to the home screen and click Profile in the left menu pane. On the mobile app, tap the three-lines menu icon, then choose Profile.

    Twitter - click Profile to add Header image
  2. Select Edit profile under the header placeholder.

    Twitter - click Edit Profile
  3. Select the camera icon in the center of the header placeholder, and then choose an image stored on your device.

    Twitter - select camera icon in middle of header place holder
  4. If necessary, reposition the image by moving it up or down. Resize it by adjusting the scale at the bottom of the pop-up box. Click Apply when you finish.

    Twitter - resize header image

You can also enter your location and website information in the Profile section.

How To Make Your X Profile Private

Unlike other social media websites, such as Facebook, X accounts are made public by default. That means that anyone on the internet can see your profile details (such as location) and tweets.

To make your X profile private so that only users you approve can see your information, go to the left menu pane and select More. Then choose Settings and privacy. On the Settings page, select Privacy and safety and then choose Audience and tagging > Protect your Tweets.

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