- Building a new thread in the X app
- What each control in the thread composer does
- Saving a half-written thread as a draft
- Adding posts to a thread you've already posted
- How your thread shows up for followers
- Mentions and notifications inside a thread
- Thread or longer post?
- Controlling who can reply
- My advice on threads
- Frequently asked questions
To make a thread on Twitter (X), tap the compose icon, write your first post, then tap the highlighted plus icon to add the next post and keep going. When every post is in, tap Post all and X publishes them together as one connected thread.
X's Help Center describes a thread as a series of connected posts from one person, used for extra context, an update or a longer point. Below are the exact controls, as of October 2026, including the bits people miss: saving a thread as a draft, adding to it a week later, and why your followers might only see part of it.
Building a new thread in the X app
- Tap the compose icon to start a new post and write your first post.
- Tap the plus icon to add the next post. It only lights up once you've typed some text in the current one.
- Keep adding posts. If you go over the character limit, X highlights the extra text so you can trim it before posting.
- To remove one post from the thread, tap its gray delete icon. To bin the whole thread, tap the blue delete icon.
- When you're happy, tap Post all.
If the plus icon looks dead, that's usually why: it stays grey until there's text in the box. Type something first.
What each control in the thread composer does
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Plus icon | Adds another post below the one you're writing |
| Gray delete icon | Deletes that single post from the thread |
| Blue delete icon | Deletes the whole thread, or lets you save it as a draft |
| Post all | Publishes every post in the thread at once |
| View (number of) posts | Opens a saved thread draft so you can review or edit it |
| Add another post | Shows on a thread you've already posted, to the author only |
| Continue Thread | Appears when you pull down in the compose window, to add to your last post |
Saving a half-written thread as a draft
You don't have to finish a thread in one sitting. X says you can save it as a draft by tapping the delete icon. Thread drafts look different from single-post drafts because they show how many posts are in them. Tap View (number of) posts to review or edit the draft before you post it.
Adding posts to a thread you've already posted
This is the bit most people don't know exists. You can extend a thread after it's live, in two ways:
- From the thread itself. Open the thread's detail page and tap Add another post. Only you, the author, can see that prompt.
- From the compose window. Tap the compose icon, pull down from the compose window and tap Continue Thread to add to your last post. To attach to an older post instead, choose Select another post.
It's handy for live updates: post the news, then add to the same thread as things change, so everything stays in one place.
How your thread shows up for followers
Here's the sourced detail that changes how I'd plan a thread. On someone's Home timeline, X says a thread of 2 or 3 posts will generally appear connected by a line, as a bundle. Once a thread has 4 or more posts, it's truncated and people see a Show this thread option they have to tap.
So the first post does the heavy lifting. If it doesn't make people want more, a long thread gets cut off before they reach the good part. If you want help with that side of it, here's how to write a thread people finish reading.
On your own profile, each post in the thread appears as a separate post in reverse chronological order, and each one carries Show this thread so visitors can open the full thing.
| Where it's seen | How the thread appears |
|---|---|
| Home timeline, 2 or 3 posts | Connected by a line, as one bundle |
| Home timeline, 4 or more posts | Truncated, with a Show this thread option |
| Your profile | Separate posts in reverse chronological order, each with Show this thread |
| Shared in a Direct Message | The recipient sees Show this thread to open the rest |
| Reposted or quoted | The repost or quote includes Show this thread |
Mentions and notifications inside a thread
If you mention someone in a thread, they get a notification in their Notifications timeline, and possibly a push or email notification depending on their settings. Each mention counts, so mentioning the same person in several posts means several notifications. Go easy.
If someone has turned on push notifications for when you post, X says they'll get one notification when you send a thread, not one per post.
Thread or longer post?
Every regular post has a 280 character limit. Longer posts are a paid feature of X Premium and the Plus, Premium, Super and Ultra plans, and X's Help Center isn't consistent on the size: its How to Post page says up to 4,000 characters, while its types of posts page says up to 25,000. A thread is free and works on any account.
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One catch with longer posts that makes threads look better: X says if you mention an account after the first 280 characters, they currently won't be notified. In a thread, every post starts fresh.
Each post in a thread can carry its own media too. X allows up to 4 media items per post, such as 2 photos, 1 GIF and 1 video.
Controlling who can reply
Before you post, the compose box shows Everyone can reply next to a globe icon. Tap it to choose Everyone, Accounts you follow, Only accounts you mention, or Only verified accounts. You can change it after posting from the More icon on the post, using Change who can reply. X says replies and reposts inherit the restriction on the original post, but quote posts don't.
My advice on threads
I'd write the whole thread first, save it as a draft, and come back to it before you tap Post all. Make the first post stand on its own, because past 3 posts most people only see that one plus a Show this thread link. And if you want the thread to stay visible, pin the first post to your profile.
Related guides live in the Twitter (X) Help: 21 Guides to Features, Verification, Video Fixes and Tools.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add another tweet to a thread?
While writing, tap the highlighted plus icon. After posting, open the thread and tap Add another post, or tap compose, pull down and choose Continue Thread.
Why can't I tap the plus icon to start a thread?
X says the plus icon only highlights once you've entered text in the current post. Type something first and it becomes active.
Can I save a Twitter thread as a draft?
Yes. X says you can save a thread as a draft by tapping the delete icon. Thread drafts show how many posts they contain.
Why does my thread show Show this thread?
X says threads of 4 or more posts are truncated on Home timelines, with a Show this thread option to expand them. Threads of 2 or 3 posts generally appear connected by a line.
Is there a limit on how long each post in a thread can be?
Each regular post has a 280 character limit. Longer posts are a paid X Premium feature, so a thread is the free way to say more.
