How to See Twitter Posts in Order

Tired of endlessly scrolling through algorithm-picked tweets only to miss updates from the people you actually follow? You’re not alone. Twitter, now X, defaults to a “For You” feed designed to show you popular content, but often at the expense of real-time conversations. This guide will walk you through exactly how to switch your feed back to a chronological timeline, plus share some pro-level tips to take full control of the content you see.

Why Your Twitter (X) Feed Isn’t in Chronological Order By Default

If you feel like you're fighting the app to see the latest posts, it’s not just you - it’s by design. The platform uses two main timelines, and understanding the difference is the first step to curating a better experience.

The "For You" Feed: An Algorithmic Mix

The "For You" feed is the default view when you open X. It’s an algorithm-driven timeline that curates posts based on a huge range of signals, including:

• Your past engagement: Tweets you’ve liked, replied to, or reposted.
• Topics you follow: Interests you've selected, like "tech" or "filmmaking."
• Accounts you interact with frequently: The algorithm prioritizes content from users you engage with most.
• Popular or viral tweets: Content that is trending across the platform, even from accounts you don't follow.
• Promoted Posts: advertisements relevant to your interests and online behavior.

The goal of the "For You" feed is to maximize your time on the platform by showing you content it thinks you'll find interesting. It’s great for discovering new creators and seeing what’s buzzing, but it can easily feel chaotic. You might see a tweet from three days ago placed right next to one posted two minutes ago, making it impossible to follow real-time events or conversations.

The "Following" Feed: Your Chronological Lifeline

The "Following" tab is the classic Twitter timeline you probably remember. It’s a pure, reverse-chronological feed of tweets exclusively from the accounts you have chosen to follow. The newest tweets appear at the very top, and as you scroll down, you go back in time. No algorithms guessing what you want to see, no posts from strangers injected into your feed - just the latest updates, in order. This feed is ideal for staying up-to-date with breaking news, following live events, or simply keeping track of what your friends and favorite accounts are sharing right now.

How to See Twitter Posts in Order: The Step-by-Step Guide

Switching from the algorithmic "For You" feed to the chronological "Following" feed is refreshingly simple. Here’s how to do it on any device.

Viewing the Chronological Feed on Desktop

When you’re using X on a desktop browser, toggling your timeline view takes just one click.

1. Open your browser and go to X.com.
2. Once the homepage loads, look directly above the "What is happening?!" post composer. You'll see two tabs prominently displayed: "For You" and "Following".
3. Click on "Following".

That's it! Your timeline will instantly refresh to show you a chronological stream of tweets from only the accounts you follow. X should remember this preference for your future sessions, but sometimes a cache clear or update can reset it. If you find yourself back on the "For You" page, just click "Following" again.

Viewing the Chronological Feed on the Mobile App (iOS & Android)

The process is just as easy on your phone, and the mobile app is generally better at remembering your preference.

1. Open the X app on your iOS or Android device.
2. At the very top of your home screen, you'll see the same two tabs: "For You" and "Following".
3. Simply tap on "Following" to switch to the chronological feed.

On mobile, you can quickly swipe left and right between the "For You" and "Following" tabs, giving you the flexibility to check in on algorithmic recommendations when you're curious and switch back to your curated timeline when you want to catch up.

Beyond the Main Feed: How to Master Chronological Reading

Switching your main timeline to the "Following" tab is a great start, but if you want to truly tame your feed and create a focused experience, Twitter Lists are your secret weapon.

Use Twitter Lists for Ultimate Control

A Twitter List is a custom, curated timeline you build yourself. You can create a List of specific accounts, and that List's feed will *only* show you tweets from those accounts in perfect chronological order. There are no algorithmic recommendations, no ads, and no noise. It’s the purest way to consume content on the platform.

Imagine creating separate feeds for:

• Close Friends: To ensure you never miss personal updates.
• Industry News: A dedicated feed of experts, journalists, and publications in your field.
• Project Monitoring: A list of accounts relevant to a specific work project or client.
• Favorite Creators: A single place for all the artists, writers, and YouTubers you follow.

How to Create and Use a Twitter List:

1. Find the Lists Page: On desktop, click "Lists" in the left-hand sidebar. On mobile, tap your profile picture and then "Lists."
2. Create a New List: Look for the "Create new List" icon (it usually looks like a page with a plus sign).
3. Name Your List: Give it a clear name (e.g., "Digital Marketing News") and a brief description. You can also choose to make the list Private (only you can see it) or Public (anyone can see and subscribe to it). For most personal organizing, Private is the way to go.
4. Add Accounts: Start adding users to your list. You can search for them directly. A quick tip: you don't even have to follow an account to add them to a list.

Pin Your Lists for Quick Access

The most powerful feature of Lists is the ability to pin them to your home screen on the mobile app. By pinning a List, it appears as a new tab right alongside "For You" and "Following," giving you one-tap access to your custom chronological feeds. You can pin up to five Lists for easy swiping between your most important timelines.

Use Advanced Search to Find Posts From a Specific Time

Sometimes seeing content "in order" means finding everything from a specific date range. For this, X's advanced search is incredibly powerful.

After you perform a search, you can click the "Latest" tab to see all results in reverse-chronological order. But you can get even more specific with search operators. Try these in the search bar:

• (from:username) since:yyyy-mm-dd: Finds all tweets from a specific user since a certain date.
• (#hashtag) until:yyyy-mm-dd: Finds all tweets with a specific hashtag up until a certain date.

For example, searching for (from:Postbase) since:2024-05-01 and then sorting by "Latest" will show you every tweet the Postbase account has sent since May 1st, 2024, in perfect chronological order. It's a great way to research a topic or catch up on what an account has been talking about over a specific period.

Bonus Tip: A Mute Button Can Be Your Best Friend

Making your feed chronological means you get everything, including content you'd rather not see from accounts you otherwise like. Don't forget about the "Mute" feature. You can mute specific words, phrases, hashtags, and even entire conversations to quietly filter them from your timeline without having to unfollow an account or hurt any feelings.

Final Thoughts

Regaining control over your social media feed is about being more intentional with your time and attention. By switching to the chronological "Following" tab and using powerful tools like Twitter Lists, you can transform your X experience from a passive, algorithm-driven stream into an active, curated source of information that works for you.

In the same way we organize the content we consume, organizing the content we create is vital for building a brand online. For our own workflow, seeing our social media plan in a simple, chronological order is non-negotiable. We rely heavily on our visual calendar in Postbase to see everything scheduled for brands across all networks. It lets us spot any gaps, plan cohesive campaigns, and ensure our content is telling a consistent story over time - all without the clutter.