Short answer
Go to x.com or the app, tap Create account, sign up with a phone number, email, Google or Apple, verify it, pick a username, then add a photo and bio, turn on two-factor login and follow a few accounts before you post.
Key takeaways
- You need a phone number or email; phone verification may be requested later anyway.
- Turn on two-factor authentication on day one.
- A photo, bio and a few posts before you follow people make new accounts look real, not spammy.
Creating an X account takes two minutes. Setting it up so it's secure and doesn't look like a spam bot takes ten more, and saves trouble later.
How do I sign up?
Use Create account on x.com or in the app, and verify the email or phone you give.
- Open x.com or the X app and choose Create account. You can also continue with Google or Apple.
- Enter your name and a phone number or email, plus your date of birth.
- Enter the code X sends to verify it.
- Set a password (long and unique; use a password manager).
- Choose a username. X suggests one; you can change it now or later.
- Pick a few interests so the For You feed has something to show.
What should I set up first?
Security, then privacy, then the profile.
- Two-factor authentication: Settings and privacy > Security and account access > Security > Two-factor authentication. Use an authenticator app or a security key; X limited text-message codes to paying subscribers in 2023, and apps and keys are safer anyway.
- Privacy: decide whether to protect your posts, whether people can find you by email or phone, and who can tag you in photos. Our privacy settings guide goes through each one.
- Profile: photo, header, bio, location and link. See how to set up a profile that works.
How do I pick a good username?
Short, easy to say out loud, and consistent with your name elsewhere.
Usernames are 4 to 15 characters of letters, numbers and underscores. Avoid strings of numbers (they look like bot accounts) and underscores where people won't remember them. If your name is taken, add a word that describes you (photos, studio, writes) rather than digits.
How do I avoid looking like a bot?
Fill in the profile and post a few times before following lots of accounts.
New accounts that follow hundreds of people in an hour, with no photo and no posts, get limited quickly. Follow 20 to 50 accounts you actually care about, reply to a few posts with something real, and post an introduction. Our guide to spotting bots shows the patterns X looks for, from the other side.
Questions people ask
How old do you have to be to use X?
X's terms require users to be at least 13. Some features and content settings are limited for younger users, and some countries set higher ages.
Can I have more than one X account?
Yes. You can add several accounts in the app and switch between them. Using multiple accounts to manipulate conversations or evade suspension breaks X's rules.
Why does X ask for my phone number?
To fight spam and bots. New accounts that trip automated checks are asked to verify a phone number before they can continue.