Short answer
Build Lists of accounts on a subject and pin them to your Home tab, adjust your interests in settings, and if you have X Premium, pin AI-curated Custom Timelines on topics such as sports or technology (introduced in April 2026).
Key takeaways
- Lists are free, precise and work for everyone.
- Custom Timelines (Premium, from April 2026) use Grok to label posts by topic; up to 10 topics or Lists can be pinned.
- Mute words and 'Not interested' to remove topics you don't want.
Following people is how X started. Following subjects is often more useful: everything about your team, your industry or your city, without following a hundred accounts. X offers three ways to do it.
How do Lists work?
A List is a timeline of posts from accounts you choose; pin it next to For You and Following.
- Go to Lists in the menu and tap Create.
- Name it ("Climate reporters", "Local food") and choose public or private.
- Add accounts. You don't have to follow them.
- Pin the List so it appears as a tab on Home.
Lists are precise, free and chronological. Others can follow your public Lists.
What are Custom Timelines?
AI-curated topic feeds for X Premium users, launched in April 2026, that you can pin to your Home tab.
X uses its Grok models to label posts by topic, then builds a personalized feed for each topic you choose: over 75 options at launch, from Business & Finance to individual sports. You can pin up to 10 topics and Lists in total. At launch they were on iOS for Premium subscribers, with Android coming.
What about interests?
Your interests (inferred and chosen) shape For You; review them in settings.
Look under Settings and privacy > Privacy and safety > Content you see for interests and topics. Remove ones that don't fit. Use Not interested in this post on anything you want less of, and mute words for topics you never want to see.
Which should I use?
| Method | Best for | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Lists | Following specific experts or outlets | Free |
| Custom Timelines | Broad topics without curating accounts | Premium |
| Interest settings | Steering For You overall | Free |
For tips from people who use X heavily, see how power users organize X.
Questions people ask
What happened to Twitter Topics?
Twitter launched Topics in 2019 to let you follow subjects. X has since shifted toward Lists and, in 2026, AI-labeled Custom Timelines for Premium users. Interests still shape your For You feed.
How many Custom Timelines can I pin?
Up to 10 topics and Lists combined, according to X's April 2026 launch, with more than 75 topics to choose from.
Are Custom Timelines free?
No. At launch they were for X Premium subscribers on iOS, with Android in the works.