Make Your Twitter Account Private: Twitter Privacy Guide

PDF download Download Article
Protect your tweets easily with this helpful X, formerly known as Twitter, privacy guide
PDF download Download Article

X, formerly known as Twitter, makes your tweets public by default, which means they'll show up in search engines and be visible to anyone who views your profile. If the default privacy settings make you feel too exposed, you can easily protect your tweets so they'll only be visible to the people who follow you. When your tweets are protected, you'll have to manually approve new followers, which will give you more control over who can see your content. This wikiHow article will show you how to make your X account private on an Android, iPhone, iPad, and any computer.

Things You Should Know

  • When you protect your tweets, all of your past and future tweets will only be visible to the people who follow you.
  • Nobody can retweet you when you're private, and your replies to other users will only be visible to those who follow you.
  • After making your X account private, audit your follower list and remove anyone who shouldn't have access to your tweets.
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Mobile App

PDF download Download Article
  1. You'll see one of these two icons at the top of the screen depending on whether you're using an Android, iPhone, or iPad.
    • When you make your tweets private, anyone who isn't following you will see a padlock icon on your profile along with the message "These tweets are protected."
    • When your tweets are private, nobody can retweet you, and your tweets will not be searchable in Google or other search engines.
  2. You'll see this option near the bottom of the menu.
    • If you don't see it, tap Settings and Support first to expand the menu.
    Advertisement
  3. It's toward the end of the menu.
  4. You'll see it at the top.
  5. When the switch is active, only the users who follow you will be able to see your past and future tweets. [1]
    • To unprotect your tweets, just toggle the switch back to the Off position. This will instantly make all of your tweets public again.
  6. Once your tweets are private, everyone in your Followers list can still see and interact with them. You may want to remove any followers who shouldn't be seeing your content:
    • You can't remove a follower in the X mobile app, so sign in to https://www.twitter.com on a computer or in your Android or iPhone's web browser.
    • On your profile, click or tap your number of followers at the top of the page.
    • Scroll through your followers. When you see a follower you don't want to have access to your tweets, click or tap the three dots next to their name and select Remove this follower .
  7. If someone wants to see your tweets, they'll need to send you a follow request first. Potential new followers will not be able to see your tweets unless you approve their requests :
    • Tap your profile icon or menu at the top-left corner.
    • Tap Follower requests .
    • Tap the checkmark to approve a request, or the X to deny this user access to your tweets. [2]
    8. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

On a Computer

PDF download Download Article
  1. A menu will expand.
    • When you make your account private, your tweets will only be visible and searchable by your approved followers. Anyone who isn't following you will see a padlock icon on your profile along with the message "These tweets are protected."
    • It won't be possible for another user to retweet you once your tweets are private.
  2. You'll see this at the bottom of the menu. Another menu will expand below.
  3. This will open the Settings page for your account.
  4. This option is toward the middle of the page.
  5. You'll see this at the top of the right panel under "Your X activity."
  6. A confirmation window will appear, asking if you're sure you want to protect your tweets.
  7. Once you make this change, your past and future tweets will only be visible to your current X followers.
    • If you want to unprotect your tweets, you can return to this screen and remove the checkmark from the "Protect your tweets" box.
    • You will also need to review any pending follower requests before you switch your account back to public, as they will not be accepted automatically. If you do not do this, those users will need to follow you again.
  8. Once your tweets are private, everyone in your Followers list can still see and interact with them. Now is a good time to clean up your follower list to remove followers who shouldn't have access to your tweets:
    • Click Profile in the left panel.
    • Click your number of followers at the top of your profile.
    • Scroll through your followers. When you see a follower you don't want to have access to your tweets, click or tap the three dots next to their name and select Remove this follower .
  9. If someone wants to see your tweets, they'll need to send you a follow request first. Potential new followers will not be able to see your tweets unless you approve their requests . You'll receive an email notification of new follower requests, but you can also check for them manually:
    • Click More in the left panel.
    • Click Follower requests .
    • Click Accept to allow the user to follow you and see your tweets, or Decline if you'd prefer that person not follow you.
    10. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    What happens if you set your profile to private?
    A.J. Aldana
    Social Media Specialist
    A.J. Aldana is a social media specialist who has been using platforms such as Tik Tok, Instagram, and YouTube for over 5 years. A.J. has worked with brands to curate content that has garnered thousands of interactions for various social media campaigns and is passionate about contributing to innovative and trending articles on wikiHow. He holds a BS in Product Design from Stanford University.
    A.J. Aldana
    Social Media Specialist
    Expert Answer
    All of your tweets will be hidden from your profile, and the only thing visible on your profile will be your picture, name, and bio. People will have to send you a request to follow you, and you have to approve that request before they can see your tweets.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 12
  • Question
    If I switch from public to private tweets, will my current followers have to re-follow me or will they stay as they are now?
    Community Answer
    When you switch to a private account, your current followers will be automatically validated - they will still see your past and future tweets, unless you remove them from your followers manually.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 5 Helpful 24
  • Question
    How can I tell if my personal information is public?
    Community Answer
    Log out of Twitter, then search for your name and Twitter on Google. The results you see will be what the general public will see when they search for your information.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 6 Helpful 21
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • Users who are not following you will not be able to read your replies to their tweets . If you want certain users to have the ability to read your replies, encourage those users to follow you.
        Thanks
        Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
      • Even once you've made your tweets private, your bio, name, location, registration date, website, and follower/following count remain visible to anyone who comes across your profile. While you can't hide this information completely, you can edit your profile to display less personal information.
        Thanks
        Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      • If someone favorited or retweeted one of your now-private tweets that used to be public, your tweet will still be publicly visible on that person's timeline.
        Thanks
        Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0


      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Sign Into Twitter or Add an Existing Account
      Easy Ways to Unlock or Unsuspend Your Twitter Account
      2 Simple Ways to Make a New Twitter Account
      How to
      View Twitter Without an Account
      How to
      Contact Twitter: Email, Support Tickets, Forms, & More
      3 Easy Ways to Completely Delete All of Your Tweets
      The Complete Guide to Twitter/X for Beginners
      How to
      Search Tweets from a Specific User
      5 Quick Ways to Sign Out of Your Twitter (X) Account
      Am I Shadowbanned on Twitter? Here's How to Check
      How to
      Delete an Old Twitter Account You Can't Access (Deactivate Without a Login)
      How to
      Use Your Twitter Archive File
      How to
      See Who Unfollowed You on Twitter
      How to
      See All Comments on a Tweet
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://help.twitter.com/en/safety-and-security/public-and-protected-tweets
      2. ↑ https://help.twitter.com/en/using-twitter/follow-requests

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Log into your Twitter account. Click on "Settings and privacy".
      2. Scroll down to "Settings." Click on the "Privacy and safety" tab.
      3. Scroll down to the privacy section. Check the "Protect my Tweets."
      4. Scroll down to the bottom of the page. Hit "Save changes".

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,548,963 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Kaira Viper

        May 22, 2017

        "I'm new to Twitter, and this helped me loads!"
        Rated this article:
      Share your story

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement