How to Make a Twitter Thread on Mobile

Making a Twitter thread on your phone is one of the best ways to share a longer story, delve deeply into a topic, or connect a series of thoughts without jumping between different apps. This guide will walk you through the simple, step-by-step process of creating a thread directly within the X (formerly Twitter) mobile app, covering everything from the basics to pro tips for making your threads engaging and effective.

What Exactly is a Twitter Thread and Why Bother?

A Twitter thread, sometimes called a "tweetstorm," is simply a series of connected tweets from one person published in sequence. Instead of being limited to 280 characters, a thread allows you to weave a longer narrative, present a step-by-step tutorial, tell a detailed story, or repurpose bigger ideas for the bite-sized format of social media. It signals to your audience that you have something substantial to say, encouraging them to stop scrolling and spend more time with your content.

There are several great reasons to use threads:

• Tell a Complete Story: Sometimes, one tweet isn't enough. Threads let you build an argument, share a behind-the-scenes look, or unfold a narrative one piece at a time. It keeps readers hooked and lets you add nuance and context.
• Boost Engagement: Because users have to tap "Show this thread" to read it all, they are actively engaging with your content. This can lead to more replies, likes, and a longer dwell time on your profile, which the algorithm loves. Each tweet in the thread is another opportunity for people to like and reply.
• Repurpose Existing Content: Have a blog post, YouTube video, or a list of a client's wins? A thread is a fantastic way to summarize the key points and share them with a new audience. Each tweet can represent a core idea from the bigger piece of content.
• Establish Authority: Regularly sharing insightful, high-value threads on topics related to your industry positions you as an expert. It's a way to provide genuine value and build trust with your followers without ever coming across as salesy.
• Keep Your Thoughts Organized: By connecting your tweets into a single thread, you keep the conversation focused and make it easy for people to follow along and refer back to your full line of thought later on.

How to Make a Twitter Thread on Mobile: The Step-by-Step Guide

The X mobile app makes creating a thread incredibly intuitive. Gone are the days of having to reply to your own tweet over and over again. Here's exactly how to do it.

Step 1: Open the Compose Window

First things first, open the X app on your mobile device. Tap the blue compose button in the bottom-right corner of your screen. It's the one with the plus (+) sign and a feather icon. This will open up a blank tweet draft, just like you would for a single tweet.

Step 2: Write Your First Tweet (The Hook)

Start typing the first tweet of your thread. This tweet is arguably the most important one because it's what people will see first in their feeds. It needs to be a strong hook that catches their attention and lets them know there's more to come. A good hook promises value or creates curiosity.

For example, if you're writing a thread of marketing tips, your first tweet could be:

"Most brands get social media marketing wrong. They focus on posting, not engaging. Here are 7 simple community management tricks that will transform your audience from followers into fans. A thread:"

Step 3: Tap the "+" Icon to Add the Next Tweet

Once you've penned your first tweet, look to the bottom right of the compose window, right next to the character count circle. You'll see a small plus (+) icon. This is the button to create a thread. Tap it.

As soon as you tap it, a new tweet composition box will appear directly below your first one. You can now see both tweets on the same screen, which makes it easy to maintain your flow of thought.

Step 4: Write Your Second Tweet (and Third, and Fourth...)

Now, write your second tweet in the new box. Continue sharing your story or making your next point. Remember to keep each tweet under the character limit. As soon as you finish writing your second tweet, you can tap the "+" icon again to add a third tweet to the thread. You can repeat this process as many times as you need to complete your story.

As you add more tweets, you can scroll up and down within the compose window to review your entire thread before publishing. This is a massive improvement from the old way, as you can now edit any tweet in the thread sequence without losing your place.

Step 5: Add Media like Images, Videos, or GIFs

A wall of text can be hard to read. You can - and should - add visuals to your thread to break it up and make it more engaging. In whichever tweet you want to add media, just tap the image or GIF icon in the bottom-left of that specific tweet's composition box. You can add a different visual element to each tweet in the thread, which is great for illustrating different points or creating a step-by-step visual guide.

Step 6: Review Your Thread Before Publishing

When you've finished writing all the tweets in your thread, take a moment to read it over from top to bottom. Check for typos, grammatical errors, and make sure your narrative flows logically from one tweet to the next. Read it out loud if it helps. This is your last chance to catch mistakes before it goes live.

Step 7: Tap "Post all" to Publish Your Thread

Ready to go? Look at the top-right corner of the compose screen. Instead of "Post," the button will say "Post all." When you tap this, X will instantly publish your entire thread in the correct sequence. The tweets will appear one after another, all linked together and ready for your audience to read and engage with.

Best Practices for a Truly Engaging Twitter Thread

Knowing how to make a thread is step one. Knowing how to make it something people actually want to read is next. Here are some actionable tips to level up your thread game.

• Get to the Point Immediately: Your first tweet has to earn the click to open the thread. Don't waste it with a lukewarm introduction. Promise a clear benefit: "I grew my newsletter subscribers by 300% in a month. Here's exactly how." Or, ask a provocative question: "Would you trade half your customers for double the profit? Here's a controversial idea that just might work."
• Use Numbering or Emojis to Guide Readers: Help people keep their place in the thread. Many creators use a "1/", "2/", or "3/" format at the start of each tweet. The thread emoji is also a popular way to signal in the first tweet that there's more to come.
• Break Up Your Text: No one wants to read a dense wall of text, especially not on mobile. Use short sentences, single-line paragraphs, and bullet points (using hyphens or a bullet emoji) to improve readability. This visual breathing room makes a big difference.
• End With a Summary and a CTA (Call To Action): Not everyone will read every tweet. Use your last tweet to provide a quick summary or "TL,DR" (Too Long, Didn't read) of your thread's main points. This adds a ton of value for skimmers. Then, tell people what to do next. Do you prefer they retweet the first tweet? Follow you for more tips? Share their own experience in the replies? Guide them.
• Schedule at the Right Time: If you're building a brand, you likely know your audience's most active times. Don't post a 15-tweet blockbuster in the dead of the night. Share it when your followers are online and ready to read.

Advanced Tip: How to Add to an Existing Thread

What if you want to update a thread you've already published? You have new information or want to continue the story later. Luckily, you can easily add new tweets to a thread you created earlier.

Simply navigate to the thread on your profile and scroll to the very last tweet. Right below it, you'll see an option to "Add another Tweet." Tapping this will open the compose screen with your new tweet already linked to that specific thread. Write your update, hit "Post," and it will appear in sequence. Simple as that.

Plan Ahead Your Threads to be Successful Before Hitting Send

While the X app makes composition easy, building a fantastic thread often begins off your screen. The most effective threads feel effortless and conversational, but they're typically planned with a purpose. Drafting your idea outside of X is key.

Starting your thread in a simple notes app on your phone provides a good starting point. It lets you write, edit, delete, and rearrange your flow of thoughts without accidentally hitting "post." It gives a chance to concentrate on your narrative flow and word choice, ensuring each part is strong. Once you're happy with its flow, simply copy and paste the individual tweets on X. Pre-planning takes all of the live composition anxiety away, while letting you make sure every idea connects soundly.

Final Thoughts

Creating a thread on X using a mobile app is as simple as composing the first one and using the "+" icon to continue your story. But its effectiveness is based on more than just pressing an icon. By focusing on a strong hook, simple language, and valuable information from beginning to end, you can use this platform to not only grab an audience's interest but truly hold it too.

For me, managing posts across Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn while also trying to brainstorm content on a single notes sheet can be overwhelming. I personally use our visual calendar on Postbase to see how everything connects - for example, mapping out how big Instagram video stories can correspond to a detailed Twitter thread. Having that complete vision for a week or even months ahead helps me stay organized without digging through a complex web of separate documents to keep everything in sync.