How to Get a Twitter User ID

Finding a Twitter User ID might seem like a small, technical detail, but it's a powerful piece of information that unlocks a more stable and reliable way to work with any X (formerly Twitter) account. For developers, marketers, or anyone integrating third-party apps, it's the permanent identifier that never changes. This guide will walk you through several easy methods for finding your Twitter User ID - or the ID of any other user - without needing to write a single line of code.

What a Twitter User ID Actually Is (And Why You Need It)

On Twitter, every account has three core identifiers, and understanding the difference is the first step. They each serve a distinct purpose, but only one is permanent.

Twitter Handle vs. Display Name vs. User ID

• Display Name: This is the personal or brand name you see in big, bold text on a profile (e.g., "Jane Smith Marketing"). It's not unique - thousands of people could have the same display name. You can change it as often as you like with zero restrictions.
• Username (or Handle): This is your unique identifier that starts with an "@" symbol (e.g., @JaneSmithMktg). It's what people use to mention you, and it's tied to your profile URL. While it has to be unique, you can change it. When you do, the old one becomes available for someone else to claim.
• User ID: This is a unique and permanent string of numbers assigned to an account the moment it's created (e.g., 1234567890). Unlike your username or display name, your User ID will never change. It's the account's true, unchangeable digital fingerprint on the platform.

Think of it like this: your display name is your nickname, your username is your email address (which you could change), and your User ID is your Social Security Number - it's assigned once and stays with you forever.

So, Why Should You Care About an Account's User ID?

At first glance, a long string of numbers doesn't seem very useful compared to a memorable @username. But in the world of social media management, marketing technology, and data analysis, that stability is everything. Here's why you might need to find a User ID:

• Reliable App Integrations: Many third-party tools, from social media schedulers to analytics platforms, connect to your account via the API. By using your User ID instead of your username, these apps guarantee they’ll never lose track of your account, even if you decide to rebrand and change your handle. The software remains connected to 1234567890, regardless of whether the handle is @JaneSmithMktg or @JanesNewBrand.
• Clean Data for Marketing &, Analysis: If you're running reports, tracking competitors, or analyzing a list of followers, using the User ID is far more accurate. Usernames can change, potentially polluting your data if you can't distinguish between the old handle and a new one owned by someone else. The User ID eliminates this confusion, ensuring all historical data remains tied to the correct account.
• Developer and API Use: For anyone building custom tools or scripts with the X/Twitter API, the User ID is the recommended way to reference a user. It's the most stable and performant method for fetching tweets, follower lists, or profile information, preventing bugs that could arise from a username change.
• Whitelist and Blacklist Management: Some community management tools or moderation bots use User IDs to create permanent whitelists (approved users) or blocklists. Since the ID is constant, changing a username won't allow a banned user to slip through the cracks.

How to Find Your Twitter User ID: 3 Simple Methods

You don’t need to be a developer to get this information. Here are three straightforward methods, ranging from point-and-click simple to slightly more hands-on.

Method 1: Use an Online Lookup Tool

The fastest and easiest way for anyone to find a User ID is with a dedicated web tool. There are many free websites built for this exact purpose.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Open your web browser and search for a phrase like "Twitter ID finder" or "find Twitter user ID online." Several reliable options will appear at the top of the search results page.
2. Click on one of the top results. These sites typically have a very simple interface: a single input field asking for a Twitter username.
3. Enter the Twitter handle of the account you want to look up (including the "@" symbol is usually optional, so @YourUsername or YourUsername will work). This can be your own handle or anyone else's.
4. Click the "Convert," "Get User ID," or similarly labeled button.
5. Instantly, the tool will display the numerical User ID associated with that handle. You can now copy and paste this ID wherever you need it.

This method is perfect for quick lookups when you need the ID for a single account without any fuss.

Method 2: Check Your Twitter Data Archive

If you want to find your own User ID and prefer to get the information directly from the source (Twitter itself), requesting your data archive is a fantastic option. It takes a little more time, but it's 100% official and provides a complete backup of your account activity.

Steps to find your ID in your archive:

1. Log into your X/Twitter account on a desktop or laptop browser.
2. Navigate to your “Settings and privacy” menu. This is usually found under the “More” button in the left-hand sidebar.
3. Go to the “Your account” section and click on “Download an archive of your data.”
4. You’ll be prompted to re-enter your password to confirm your identity. Twitter will then begin preparing your archive.
5. This process isn't instant. It could take several hours or even over a day, depending on how long you've had your account and how active you've been. You’ll receive both an email and an in-app notification once your file is ready to download.
6. Follow the link to download the `.zip` file of your archive. Unzip it on your computer.
7. Inside the unzipped folder, look for a file named `Your archive.html`. Open this file in any web browser.
8. This will open a local webpage that acts as an interface for exploring your data. Navigate to the "Account" tab or section. Your User ID will be clearly listed there, alongside other key information like your account creation date.

This method only works for accounts you have access to, but it’s a foolproof way to verify your own ID. Plus, having a backup of all your tweets is a great bonus.

Method 3: View the Page Source (Looks Technical, But Isn't)

This approach might seem intimidating if you’ve never looked at a website's code, but it's surprisingly simple and doesn’t require any coding knowledge. You're just using your browser's find function to spot the ID in the page's underlying HTML.

Here's the step-by-step process:

1. In your web browser, navigate to the Twitter profile page of the account you want the ID for.
2. Right-click anywhere on the blank space of the page and select “View Page Source” from the context menu. (The wording may vary slightly by browser, on Chrome, it’s “View Page Source,” and a common shortcut is Ctrl+U on Windows or Cmd+Option+U on Mac).
3. A new tab will open, filled with a massive block of code. Don’t panic! You don't need to read or understand any of it.
4. Press Ctrl+F (on Windows) or Cmd+F (on Mac) to open the search bar for that page.
5. In the search box, type in rest_id and press Enter. The browser will instantly jump to and highlight all instances of that term.
6. The very first result should look something like this: "rest_id":"123456789012345678"
7. The long string of numbers inside the quotation marks is the User ID you're looking for. Simply copy it, and you're done.

This method is quick, works for any public profile, and doesn’t rely on third-party tools.

For Developers: Get an ID via the X (Twitter) API

For those building applications or needing to find User IDs in bulk, the official X API is the only way to go. It is programmatic, scalable, and guaranteed to be accurate. The primary endpoint for this is in the v2 API.

You can use the users/by/username/:username endpoint to look up a user’s profile information, which includes their User ID.

A sample request using cURL would look like this (you'll need your own Bearer Token from a project inside your Twitter Developer account):

curl "https://api.twitter.com/2/users/by/username/TwitterDev" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_BEARER_TOKEN"

The API will return a JSON object containing the user's data. The User ID is in the `id` field:

{
"data": {
"id": "2244994945",
"name": "Twitter Dev",
"username": "TwitterDev"
}
}

In this example, the User ID for the @TwitterDev account is 2244994945. This is the gold standard for getting User IDs programmatically for your apps and services.

Final Thoughts

Knowing how to find a Twitter User ID elevates your understanding of how the platform works, shifting your focus from a changeable handle to an account’s core, permanent ID. Whether you use a quick online tool for an instant result, download your archive for official confirmation, or pull it directly from the API for a development project, you now have the skills to grab this vital piece of information whenever you need it.

As a social media manager, you shouldn't have to get bogged down with these technical details just to make sure your tools work correctly. At Postbase, we handle all the behind-the-scenes complexities, like stable account connections, so you can focus on creativity and community instead of troubleshooting. Our entire platform is designed to be simple and modern, letting you plan, schedule, and analyze your social media content without the headaches that often come with older, less intuitive tools.