How to Check Twitter Trends

Want to know what hundreds of thousands of people are discussing at this very moment? Twitter (now known as X) Trends is your dashboard for the global conversation, and knowing how to use it is a superpower for any marketer, creator, or curious individual. This guide will walk you through exactly how to find and customize trends on both desktop and mobile, and more importantly, how to use them to make your content more relevant and engaging.

What Are Twitter (X) Trends, Anyway?

In short, Twitter Trends are topics, keywords, and hashtags that are popular on the platform right now. An algorithm determines these trends based on the volume of conversation, picking up on subjects that have a sudden spike in a short period. It’s what makes X the go-to platform for breaking news, live event reactions, and real-time cultural moments.

By default, the trends you see are personalized. The algorithm looks at who you follow, your location, and the topics you’ve shown interest in to serve you a list it thinks you’ll find most relevant. But the real power comes from moving beyond this default view to see what’s capturing attention in specific regions or across the platform as a whole.

For brands and marketers, trends are a goldmine. They give you a real-time pulse on your audience's interests, provide opportunities to join relevant discussions, and offer inspiration for timely content that drives engagement farther than a standard post ever could.

Your Guide to Finding Trends on Twitter (X)

Finding the trends list is simple once you know where to look. The process is slightly different depending on whether you’re on a web browser or the mobile app.

On a Desktop Browser (The Classic View)

The desktop version of X gives you the clearest and most comprehensive view of what's trending. Here’s where to find it:

1. Log into your account at X.com.
2. On the navigation menu on the left side of your screen, look for the magnifying glass icon labeled Explore. This is your hub for discovery.
3. Click on Explore. The page will likely open to the “For You” tab, which is a mix of videos, posts, and trends tailored to you.
4. At the top of the Explore page, click on the Trends tab.

You’ll now see a clean list of the top trends in your area. Each trend shows the topic or hashtag, an optional category (like Music, Entertainment, or Sports), and an approximate number of posts that have been made using that term recently.

On the Mobile App (iOS and Android)

Checking trends on the go is just as easy from your phone. The user interface places discovery features front and center.

1. Open the X app on your smartphone or tablet.
2. At the bottom of the screen, tap the magnifying glass icon, which serves as the Explore tab.
3. The Explore page greets you with the "For you" tab, which includes a curated list of trends, often located just below the search bar. This section typically shows the top 5-10 personalized trends.
4. To see the complete list, tap on Trends from the top navigation menu.

Just like on desktop, you can tap on any trend to be taken directly to the search results for that term, allowing you to see the live conversation, top posts, and the latest news about it unfolding in real time.

Going Beyond the Default: How to Customize Your Trends

The personalized “For You” Trend list is fine for a casual scroll, but you'll get far better market insights by customizing your view. You can see what’s popular in a specific country you’re trying to reach or get a broader, non-personalized view of the platform.

Switching Trend Locations

This is an incredibly powerful feature for businesses and creators with audiences in different geographical areas. A local cafe in Austin can check for city-specific trends, while a global e-commerce brand can see what’s captivating their audience in the United Kingdom or Japan.

How to change your trend location:

1. Navigate to the Explore page and click on the Trends tab.
2. Look for the small gear icon (⚙,) on the right side of the screen, next to the "Trends" title. Click it to open your Explore settings.
3. The first option you’ll see is a checkbox labeled “Show content in your current location.” Uncheck this box.
4. Once you uncheck it, a new option will appear called “Explore locations.” Click it.
5. You can now browse through a list of countries or use the search bar to find a specific country, state, or even city. Select the location you want to monitor.

Your trends feed will instantly update to show what’s popular in that specific location. You can change this as often as you like to keep an eye on different markets.

Getting a Less Biased View

Your personalized “For You” trends are helpful, but they also create a filter bubble, reinforcing subjects and accounts you already follow. Turning off personalization gives you a raw, organic view of what’s truly gaining steam across the platform - not just within your corner of it.

1. Go to the Explore page settings by clicking the gear icon (⚙,).
2. Uncheck the box next to “Trends for you.”

Now, the trends you see will be based purely on site-wide popularity within your selected geographical location, rather than your personal interests. This can highlight new opportunities and conversations you might have otherwise missed.

So You've Found the Trends... Now What?

Simply knowing what’s trending isn't enough. The next step is creatively and strategically putting that knowledge to use. Trends give you an invitation to enter a conversation that millions of people are already having, how you show up matters.

Spotting Opportunities for "Trendjacking"

Trendjacking (or newsjacking) is the art of participating in a trending conversation to expose your brand to a larger audience. The key is to do it authentically. Instead of just spamming a hashtag, find a clever or helpful way to connect the trend to your industry or brand ethos.

• Example: A local hardware store sees #FirstDayOfFall trending. They could post a photo of their autumn decor display with a caption like, "It's officially here! What's the first project on your fall home improvement list? 🍁, #FirstDayOfFall."
• Example: A SaaS company specializing in productivity tools sees #MondayMotivation trending. They can share a quick, inspiring graphic with a productivity tip related to starting the week strong.

A word of caution: Never jump on a trend without understanding its context. A seemingly innocent hashtag could be related to a tragic news event, a political crisis, or a sensitive social issue. Always click through and read what people are saying before composing your post. Jumping into the wrong conversation can do more harm than good.

Understanding Your Audience's Deep-Seated Interests

Trends are the ultimate listening tool. Pay attention to the recurring topics that appear in your personalized trends list. Does your audience constantly talk about a specific sports team, a new show on Netflix, or sustainability topics? This is priceless audience intelligence that can inform your entire content strategy.

If you're a fashion brand and notice that your audience consistently joins in on trends related to environmentalism, it might signal an opportunity to highlight your sustainable materials or production processes. This is about discovering what your audience truly cares about beyond their relationship with your brand.

Creating Timely and Relevant Content

Trends shouldn't just inspire a single tweet, they can be the seed for a much larger piece of content. Seeing a topic repeatedly take off can inspire a blog post, a short video for TikTok and Reels, or a poll on your Instagram Stories.

For example, if a marketing professional constantly sees trends related to AI tools, they could create a social thread of "5 AI tools I'm using this week." It’s relevant, immediately useful, and leverages an existing, high-interest conversation.

A Quick Guide to Using Trends the Right Way

To avoid common pitfalls and get the most out of your trend-spotting efforts, follow these simple best practices. Treat this as your quick-reference checklist before you jump into a conversation.

• Always, *Always* Understand the Context. We've said it before, but it bears repeating. Click the hashtag. Search the term. Spend two minutes reading the top posts to understand the sentiment and context. Is it celebratory? Critical? Grieving? Sarcastic? Knowing the tone is vital.
• Stay Relevant to Your Brand. If you're a financial services company, it probably doesn't make sense to jump on a trend about the series finale of a reality TV show. Forced connections feel awkward to your audience and can dilute your brand message. If it isn't a natural fit, let it pass.
• Add Value, Don't Just Add Noise. The worst way to engage with a trend is to post the hashtag with no added context or value. Offer a unique perspective, ask a thoughtful question, share a helpful resource, or make a funny and relevant joke. Aim to contribute to the conversation, not just echo it.
• Act Fast, But Think First. Trends on X are fleeting. A topic can rocket to the top of the list and be forgotten in a few hours. Responsiveness is important, but not at the expense of judgment. The two minutes you spend researching a trend's context is much more valuable than being the first - but wrong - brand to post.
• Mix Trending Topics With Your Core Content. Your social feed shouldn’t become a mirror of the trends list. Weave trending topics into your regular schedule of high-value, evergreen content. A healthy content mix includes both timely conversations and the foundational content your brand is known for.

Final Thoughts

Checking Twitter Trends gives you more than a list of popular hashtags, it offers a direct connection to public consciousness. Mastering how to find, customize, and intelligently participate in these conversations helps you build a brand that feels present, aware, and genuinely connected to the audience it serves.

After finding a trend that's perfect for your brand, speed is everything. We built Postbase with today's fast-paced social landscape in mind. Our visual calendar lets you quickly drag-and-drop posts, while our scheduling tools allow you to upload a video that will be natively published on Reels, TikTok, and Shorts. You can spend less time wrestling with formats and focus on getting your timely content live before the conversation moves on.