How to use X for iOS and iPhone
The X for iOS app can be used on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch device.
- Download the X for iOS app, if you haven't already installed it.
- Once the app is installed, you can log in with an existing account or sign up for a new account directly from the app. Learn about managing multiple X accounts through your app.
- You will be guided through our sign up experience and prompted to enter information such as your name and email address.
- If you provided an email address while signing up, we will immediately send you an email with instructions so we can verify your email address.
- If you provided a phone number while signing up, we will immediately send you a text message with a code so we can verify your number.
- Learn how to customize settings for your new account.
Editing your profile
- Tap the navigation menu, and then tap Profile.
- Tap Edit profile.
- From here you can change your profile and header image (also referred to as “banner”), display name, location, website, and bio. Learn more about customizing your profile, including instructions for adding your birth date.
- Make the changes you’d like, then tap Save.
Note: These instructions apply to versions of X for iPhone or iPad used on iOS 7 and above.
How to reduce your data usage
You can reduce the amount of data used by X by enabling data saver mode. Control what media you want downloaded in real time to help save data.
- From the navigation menu, tap or click Settings and privacy.
- Under Accessibility, display, and languages tap or click Data usage.
- Tap or toggle on Data saver to turn on.
In this mode, images will load in lower quality and videos won't autoplay. To view image in high quality while data saver is on, long press the image or tap the more icon, and select Load high quality.
How to post and delete a post
To post a post:
- Tap the post icon
- Compose your message and tap post.
- A notification will appear in the status bar on your device and will go away once the post successfully sends.
To save a post as a draft:
- If you would like to save your post as a draft, tap Cancel in the post compose window and select Save draft.
- To access your drafts at any time, tap the post icon, then tap Drafts. You’ll only see the Drafts prompt when you have at least one draft saved. Should you log out of your account through your app or uninstall your app, any drafts you have saved will be deleted and cannot be restored.
To reply to or mention an account:
- Tap the @ symbol to bring up a list of suggested accounts you follow.
- As you start typing a username the list will narrow down to fewer results.
- Once you've found the account you're looking for, tap their username and it will populate in the post. Your character count will adjust, as needed.
- Learn about the difference between replies and mentions.
To include a hashtag in your post:
- Tap the # symbol and as you start typing, a list of current trends beginning with that letter(s) will appear.
- You can choose to include one of these suggested hashtags (tap to select) or add your own hashtag text.
To post a photo or GIF with your post:
- Tap the photo icon to take a photo, or to choose a photo or GIF from your gallery. You can select up to four photos in a post.
- When you are finished selecting your photos, tap Add.
- Once you have taken or selected your photo, you will have the option to apply a filter and crop the image by tapping the pencil icon on the attached photo(s).
- You can tag people in your photo(s) by tapping Who’s in this photo? Type in the full name or @ username and then tap Done.
- Learn more information about posting photos, including instructions for changing your photo tagging privacy settings.
To post with your location:
- Tap the location icon to add your location to your post.
- To learn more about using the location feature on your mobile device.
To include a URL in a post:
- Links are automatically shortened using X's own t.co service.
- Typing or pasting in a URL will automatically deduct the characters from your character limit—no matter how long the original link is.
To delete a post:
- From the navigation menu, tap Profile.
- Locate the post you want to delete.
- Tap the icon located at the top of the post.
- Tap Delete post.
- Tap Delete to confirm.
To select text from a post:
It’s easy to select portions of text from a post to copy and paste and to search with. To get started, tap on a post to view in full screen mode.
- Press, hold, and drag to highlight a word or section of text from the post.
- From the pop-up you can select Copy, Select All, Look Up, Search, or Mute.
- If you select Search, the selected text will auto-populate within X’s search bar. You’ll be redirected to the search results page to navigate through.
- If you select Mute, the selected text will be presented in a mute settings pop-up page. You can choose to mute the selected text from your Home timeline and/or Notifications. Additionally, you can set the time duration of the mute, and select From anyone or From people you don’t follow. When done, tap Save. Learn more about how to mute on X.
How to use keyboard shortcuts
You can use shortcuts in your X app through a bluetooth keyboard connected to your iPhone or iPad. Additionally, you can use the Smart Keyboard or other compatible keyboards for your iPad. Tip: on an iPad, hold down the command key to see the full list of available keyboard shortcuts.
Navigation
- cmd-1 = home (press again to scroll to top)
- cmd-2 = Explore tab (press again to scroll to top)
- cmd-3 = Notifications tab (press again to scroll to top)
- cmd-4 = Direct Messages
- cmd-` = navigation menu
- space = page down
- shift-space = page up
- ⇧ = scroll page up
- ⇩ = scroll page down
- cmd- = back
- cmd- = go to top
- cmd-shift-] = next sub tab
- cmd-shift-[ = previous sub tab
- cmd-F = search
- cmd-, = settings
- cmd-R = refresh
- cmd-M = enable/disable dark mode
- cmd-\ = account list
- cmd- + = increase text size
- cmd- - = decrease text size
- cmd-0 = default text size
- cmd-W = close
- esc = close
Moments and media view
- = navigate through Moments, media viewer
post detail and media view
- R = Reply
- T = repost
- L = Like
- cmd-U = Go to user profile
post composer
- cmd-N = new post
- cmd-return = send post
Direct Message
- cmd-N = new Direct Message
- return = send Direct Message
How to approve or deny your follower requests
If you have chosen to keep your posts protected, you’ll receive follower requests from other accounts that wish to follow you. You can approve or deny your follower requests from your profile tab.
How to create and manage Lists
- In the navigation menu tap or click Lists.
- View your Lists by Following or Member of.
- To create a new List, tap the new List icon
- To manage a List, tap a on the List name, and then tap Edit. From here you can edit List properties, manage List members or delete the List.
Learn more about Lists.
How to customize your view
- From your profile menu, tap Settings and privacy.
- Tap the Accessibility, display, and languages.
- Tap the Display and sound tab.
- Drag the font slider to adjust font size
- Tap the Dark mode slider to adjust display settings.
- Choose Dim or Lights out by tapping your preference.
- To turn the feature off, tap the Dark mode slider again.
How to quickly enable dark mode from the menu
- Tap your profile menu.
- Tap the light bulb icon to access Dark mode settings.
- Tap the Dark mode slider to turn feature on.
- Tap Dim or Lights out to select a theme.
How to clear your media and web storage
X for iOS stores content in the app, which can take up space on your device. In order to clear up space, you can clear your X media and/or web storage.
To clear your media storage:
- From your profile menu, tap Settings and privacy.
- Under Accessibility, display, and languages tap Data usage.
- Under Storage, tap Media storage.
- Tap Clear media storage.
- Tap Clear media storage to confirm.
To clear your web storage:
- From your profile menu, tap Settings and privacy.
- Under Accessibility, display, and languages tap Data usage.
- Under Storage, tap Web storage.
- Choose between Clear web page storage and Clear all web storage. Tap to make your selection.
- Tap Clear web page storage or Clear all web storage to confirm.