How to Use Threads App

Meta's Threads app offers a fresh space for real-time discussions, giving brands and creators a powerful text-based channel to connect directly with their audience. This guide walks you through everything from account setup to crafting content that sparks genuine conversation and grows your presence.

What is Threads, Really?

Think of Threads as Instagram's conversational sibling. While Instagram is built around visuals - photos, Reels, and Stories - Threads is built around text, ideas, and public dialogue. It’s designed for sharing timely updates, opinions, and participating in community discussions, all powered by your existing Instagram social graph. It directly competes with platforms like X (formerly Twitter) but with the distinct advantage of being integrated with Meta's ecosystem, giving you a built-in audience from day one.

For brands and marketers, this is a unique opportunity. It’s a place to show a different side of your personality, share thoughts that don't fit into a perfect visual, engage in industry chatter, and build a community around ideas, not just images.

Getting Started: Setting Up Your Profile in Minutes

The setup process is incredibly streamlined because it leans on your existing Instagram profile. If you have an Instagram account, you're 90% of the way there.

Step 1: Download the App &, Log In with Instagram

First, download the "Threads, an Instagram app" from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. When you open it, you won't need to create a new username or password. The app will prompt you to log in using your Instagram account. Select the account you want to connect, and you're in. This integration is mandatory, you can't have a Threads profile without an Instagram account.

Step 2: Customizing Your Profile

Once you're logged in, you can set up your profile. You have two main options here:

• Import from Instagram: With a single tap, you can pull your existing Instagram bio and profile link directly into Threads. This is the quickest option and is great for maintaining brand consistency across platforms. Your username will automatically be the same as your Instagram handle.
• Write a new bio: You can also choose to write a custom bio and add a different link specifically for your Threads profile. This is a smart move if you want to cultivate a slightly different persona or have a unique call-to-action for your Threads followers. For example, your Instagram link might go to your homepage, while your Threads link could direct people to your newsletter or a specific blog post you're discussing.

Your profile picture is automatically synced from Instagram, so if you want to change it on Threads, you'll need to change it on Instagram first.

Step 3: Following Accounts

Threads makes it easy to find people you already know. The app will present you with a list of all the accounts you currently follow on Instagram. You can choose to follow all of them with one tap, or you can go through and selectively add the accounts most relevant to the kind of experience you want on Threads.

Our advice? Be selective. A cluttered feed is an uninspiring one. Start by following key industry leaders, creators you admire, and accounts known for great conversations. You can always follow more people later.

Mastering the Basics: How the App Works

The user interface is clean and intuitive, centered around five main tabs at the bottom of the screen. Understanding each one is your first step to navigating the app like a pro.

The Five Core Tabs Explained

• Home Feed: This is where you'll spend most of your time. By default, it shows you an algorithmic "For You" feed, combining posts from people you follow with recommended content Meta thinks you'll like. You can switch to a chronological "Following" feed by tapping the home icon or the Threads logo at the top to see *only* posts from accounts you follow.
• Search (Magnifying Glass): This is your portal to discovery. Here, you can search for specific accounts or keywords. It's also where you'll find a list of trending topics and hashtags, which provides a snapshot of what everyone is talking about on the platform.
• New Thread (Pencil &, Paper Icon): Tap this button in the center to open the composer and write your own post. This is where the magic happens.
• Activity (Heart Icon): Your notification hub. This tab tracks all your likes, replies, mentions, reposts, and new followers in one place, so you can easily keep up with engagement.
• Profile (Person Icon): This takes you to your personal profile page. Here, you can see all your original threads, the replies you've made, and edit your bio, link, and privacy settings.

How to Create Your First Thread

Composing a post on Threads is straightforward, but its features offer a surprising amount of creative flexibility. Here's a breakdown of how to craft engaging content.

Understanding Character Limits and Formatting

A single thread can be up to 500 characters long. This is nearly double the limit on X, giving you more room to flesh out an idea, tell a micro-story, or ask a detailed question. You can also create a multi-post "thread" (the original meaning!) by tapping "Add to thread" in the composer. This allows you to chain multiple 500-character posts together to tell a longer, more complete story.

Adding Multimedia to Your Threads

While Threads is text-first, it supports a rich variety of media types to make your posts stand out:

• Photos: You can add up to 10 photos in a single post, creating a carousel-style gallery. This is great for behind-the-scenes content or step-by-step visual guides.
• Videos: Threads supports videos up to 5 minutes long. This works well for quick AMAs, product demos, or just sharing a personable clip.
• Voice Notes: You can record and post short audio clips. This feature is incredibly underrated for building a personal connection - hearing your actual voice adds a layer of authenticity that text can't match.
• Polls: Ask your audience a question with up to four customizable options. Polls are one of the easiest ways to drive engagement and gather quick audience feedback.
• GIFs: A built-in GIF library lets you add humor and personality to a text-based post.

Using Hashtags (Tags) Effectively

The hashtag system on Threads works a bit differently than on Instagram. You are only allowed to add one clickable "tag" to your post. When you type "#" and start writing, a menu will pop up allowing you to create or search for a tag. Because you only get one, you need to make it count.

Best practice: Use a single, broad, and highly relevant tag that best represents the core topic of your post (e.g., #SocialMediaMarketing, #ContentStrategy, #EntrepreneurLife). This makes your content discoverable to others interested in that topic.

Tagging and Mentioning Others

Just like on other platforms, you can use the "@" symbol followed by a username to mention another account in your post or reply. This is essential for giving shout-outs, asking specific people questions, tagging collaborators, or bringing others into a relevant conversation.

Growing Your Presence: Strategies for Engagement and Content

Now that you know the mechanics, let's talk strategy. Growth on Threads isn't just about posting - it's about participating.

Finding Your Voice and Content Pillars

Don't just be a robot that copies and pastes your Instagram captions. Threads is your chance to showcase a different, more conversational side of your brand. Define a few content pillars (core topics) you'll consistently talk about. These might include:

• Industry insights and observations: Share what you’re learning in your field.
• Behind-the-scenes looks: Show the process, the team, and the culture.
• Ask engaging questions: Spark conversation by polling your audience about their challenges or preferences.
• Share helpful resources: Link to articles, tools, or podcasts you've found valuable. Don't be afraid to be a curator.
• Personal reflections (if appropriate for your brand): People connect with people. Sharing personal learnings and stories builds loyalty.

The Art of the Conversation: Replying and Quoting

Your timeline is a starting point, but the real community-building happens in the replies. Spend time each day replying to others. Add thoughtful comments to conversations happening in your niche. And when you do, aim to provide value - ask a follow-up question, offer a different perspective, or share a helpful resource. A meaningful reply is far more effective than just posting into the void.

You can also "quote" a post, which is similar to a quote-tweet. This reposts someone else's thread and adds your own commentary above it for your followers to see. Use this to share industry news with your take on it, or to amplify a creator you admire.

Leveraging Trending Topics

Check the Search tab daily to see what topics are trending. If you see a relevant conversation, join in! The key is authenticity. Don't force your brand into a trend where it doesn't belong. But if people are discussing a topic related to your industry, it's a perfect opportunity to share your expertise and get discovered by a wider audience.

Cross-Promoting Your Threads Content

The biggest growth hack for Threads is built right in: its connection to Instagram. You can easily share any of your threads directly to your Instagram Stories or Feed.

When you share to Stories, it creates a clean, clickable sticker that drives your Instagram followers directly to that specific thread, encouraging them to follow you and join the conversation. Do this regularly, especially with your best-performing content, to siphon your established Instagram audience over to your new Threads profile.

Final Thoughts

Threads offers a significant opportunity to build community and establish authority through authentic conversation. By mastering the core features, finding your unique voice, and prioritizing genuine engagement over passive posting, you can turn this text-based platform into a valuable asset for your brand.

Of course, keeping your content calendar full across Threads, Instagram, TikTok, and other platforms can easily become a headache. We built Postbase to streamline that exact process. Our visual planner lets you map out all your content in one simple view, while our scheduler helps you post everywhere without the chaos. You can manage everything - from video to text threads - in one place and finally stop jumping between so many different apps.